Chapter II: Part 2

9. That this convention and the people they represent, and the State government of Missouri, and the entire people thereof, should take such measures as to them appear suitable and just and constitutional, to prevent such disastrous consequences to their security and prosperity and peace; and confidently relying upon the sympathy and support of the entire South and South-west, whose ultimate fate must inevitably be the same with theirs, and confidently relying also upon the conservative portion of the North, they respectfully appeal to the good sense and patriotism of the entire North, to put down such fanatical aggressions as have hitherto characterized the movements of Emigrant Aid Societies, and leave the settlement of Kansas and the regulation of its domestic institutions to be controlled as the settlement and institutions of our other territories have been, by those impulses of self-interest and congeniality of feeling on the part of settlers, which, by the natural laws of climate and soil, will, if undisturbed, invariably determine the ultimate condition of the Territory.

10. That a committee of five be appointed to draw up and publish an address to the people of the United States, setting forth the history of this Kansas excitement, with the views and action of our people thereon, in conformity with the principles and positions of the foregoing resolutions; and that printed copies of the same, with a copy of these resolutions appended, be forwarded by the Secretary of this Convention to the Executive of each State in the Union.

After the reading of which, Judge Napton proceeded to address the Convention in support of the resolutions.

Judge Napton then read the following resolution, as recommended by the Committee, to the Convention:

Resolved, That in view of the acts of the legislature of the State of Massachusetts, and other Northern and Western States, practically nullifying the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress relating to the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in vindication of the Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures, discriminating against the sale of the productions or manufactures, or material of commerce, whether of importation by them or of the production of said States, within this State, as they may deem proper for that purpose, and that such measures shall be made operative as long as the offensive legislation above referred to continues on the statute books of those States.

Mr. Withers, of Clay, moved the adoption of the resolutions as reported by the Committee, and the vote being taken by counties, resulted in their unanimous adoption.

On motion of C. F. Jackson, of Saline, the vote upon said resolutions was then taken by the house, standing, which resulted in their unanimous adoption.

A motion was then made to adopt the resolution recommended by the Committee to the Convention.

Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, offered the following amendment:

"Insert after the word 'manufactures,' the words, or materials of commerce, whether of importation by them or of their production;" pending which the Convention adjourned till 2 o'clock, P. M.

EVENING SESSION.

The Convention met and was called to order by the President.

Major Morin, of Platte, from the committee appointed to wait on President Shannon, reported that President Shannon would address the Convention at any time, at the pleasure of the Convention.

Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, withdrew the amendment offered by him this morning to the resolution recommended by the Committee, and offered the following substitute:

Resolved, That in view of the acts of the State of Massachusetts, and other northern and north-western States, practically nullifying the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress relating to the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in vindication of the Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of the State of Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures as may not be inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, or the State of Missouri, discriminating against the sale of the productions, manufactures, or goods and merchandise of any description whatever, of said States, within this State, as may be deemed proper for that purpose, and that such retaliatory measures shall be made operative as long as the offensive legislation above referred to continues on the statute books of those States.

Col. J. B. Brown, of Ray, moved to recommit the original resolution, together with the substitute, to the Committee on Resolutions.

The previous question was called for and sustained by the Convention. On this, the President decided, the effect was to require a direct vote on the adoption of the substitute as offered by Mr. Torbert. From this decision an appeal was taken by Gov. King, of Ray, and the decision of the Chair was sustained by the vote of the Convention. The vote then being taken on the substitute, it was adopted.

Mr. Withers, of Clay, offered a set of resolutions to the Convention for adoption; whereupon a discussion arose, pending which Mr. Withers withdrew his resolutions.

Col. T. M. Ewing, of Lafayette, presented to the Convention a letter from Gov. Metcalf, of Kentucky, which being read, on motion of J. B. Clark, of Howard, was entered upon the record, and made a part of the proceedings of this Convention.

FOREST RETREAT, KY., July, 1855.

_Gentlemen of the Committee_:

Allow me to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favor of the
21st ult., inviting me to meet in Convention at Lexington, Mo.,
on the 12th inst. Your letter having been addressed to me at
Carlisle, instead of Forest Retreat, Kentucky, delayed its
reception a few days, in consequence of which this reply may not
reach you in due time for your meeting. It would indeed afford
me great pleasure to meet you on that patriotic occasion. But,
the delicacy of my health at present, although it has not cut
off all hope of ultimate recovery, is such as to forbid me from
attempting the journey to Lexington.

If I am not ungraciously and unfairly treated by my friends of
the Louisville Journal, a _second_ letter of mine must by this
time be published in that paper, intended as a reply to their
editorial commentary upon the _first_--the one referred to in
your postscript. My first letter that appeared in the Journal,
had been elicited by one previously received from a friend in
that place, whose pleasure it was to hand it over for
publication, to the editor of that paper; and it was published
accordingly, with a long editorial commentary, in which,
although kind and even generous enough in a _personal_ point of
view, they did not fail, _politically_, to give _Old
Stonehammer_ a right severe pelting with their ingenious and
hard-twisted sophisms, intended to cast _great blame and all
sorts of dishonor_ upon the southern section, for having
supported the Nebraska bill, &c.

Believing myself, that the North had redeemed itself from the
disgrace--the dishonor of having disregarded its constitutional
obligations in refusing to admit Missouri as a State, except
upon the condition of _restriction_, _north of_ 36° 30', and not
then, except by a few votes from that section--the most of whom
were condemned and prostrated by their constituents
respectively, who at that time denied that the few truant votes
of the North constituted a bargain on their part, or placed that
section under any legal or moral obligation to abide by it, I
was induced in my feeble way to vindicate the voters, North and
South, who supported the Nebraska bill. It is true, that in 1820
the southern section yielded to the glaring imposition of
restriction, rather than keep Missouri any longer out of her
constitutional right of admission, that being the only
alternative presented by the North for the time being. But, did
not all the parties know full well that no power was lodged in
that Congress to repeal, alter or modify any one of the
constitutional rights of succeeding generations? Was it not well
understood by all, that the Federal Convention alone had the
right to fix upon the line of 36° 30', or upon any other line?
and just as well known that the Union would never have been
formed if such an alternative had been presented to our
illustrious forefathers of that Convention? If in 1820 Congress
had the power to legislate upon the subject at all, by what
means has the same body been deprived of the right of
legislation upon the same subject in 1855?

To put any other construction than this upon the intention or
designs of the Congress of 1820, would, to my mind, amount to an
imputation of great arrogance on the part of that body, in the
assumption of power not conferred upon it. Admit the right of a
subsequent Congress to alter or obliterate the line of 36° 30',
and let this latter _compromise_ be sustained, together with the
Fugitive Slave Law, and all will be well for the future. Repeal
these acts, and we shall soon hear of retaliation in other forms
than described by Mr. Calhoun, which God forbid. But, pardon my
brevity, and allow me to refer you to my forthcoming letter,
expected in the Louisville Journal, for my further views
touching this question.

With many sincere thanks for your kind invitation, allow me
respectfully to subscribe myself your honored and ob't servant,

THOS. METCALF.

Messrs. T. M. EWING, WM. SHIELDS, WM. T. WOOD, F. A. KOWNSLAR.

P. S.--It is my intention to visit Missouri, if I can once more
recover my health so as to justify the undertaking; and in that
event will certainly call on my Lexington friends of the
Committee.

T. M.

Mr. F. A. Kownslar, of Lafayette, offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the peace, quiet, and welfare of this and every other slaveholding State, as also a regard for the integrity of the Union, require the passage, by the respective State legislatures, of effective laws, suppressing within said States the circulation of abolition or freesoil publications, and the promulgation of freesoil or abolition opinions.

Mr. Graves, of Howard, moved that the Convention take a recess of fifteen minutes, and then re-assemble to hear the address of President Shannon. Motion sustained, and Convention took a recess.

The Convention re-assembled.

President Shannon came forward and delivered his address, after which Col. Anderson, of Lafayette, moved that the President appoint a committee to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy of his address for publication.

Col. S. A. Young moved to amend said motion by the following: That a committee be appointed to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy of his address for publication, and that the speech be published in connexion with, and as a part of the proceedings of this Convention.

Pending which motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-night.

NIGHT SESSION.

The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.

Col. Anderson explained his motion made previous to adjournment, and Col. Young withdrew his amendment; whereupon a discussion followed, when F. C. Sharp, Esq., of Lafayette, offered the following resolutions:

1st. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to President Shannon, for his able and patriotic address delivered before us.

2d. That President Shannon is hereby requested to furnish a copy of his address to this Convention for publication; and the Convention hereby expresses the desire that he will deliver his address in as many counties in this State, as his duties will allow.

Pending the discussion of these resolutions, Mr. Sharp withdrew his resolutions and offered the following:

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to President Shannon, for his address delivered before us, and he is hereby requested to furnish a copy of the same for publication.

And the vote being taken by counties, the resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Yeas--Boone, Carroll, Cooper, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Pettis, Platte, St. Louis, Ray.

Noes--Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Saline. Two other counties voting in the negative.

(The minutes of the clerk upon taking this vote being imperfect, the vote by counties cannot be given with certainty.)

Mr. Cook appeared as a delegate from St. Louis, and took his seat in the Convention.

On motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-morrow morning.

THIRD DAY.

SATURDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock.

The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.

The President announced the following named gentlemen, to compose the committee to draw up and publish an address, as required by the tenth resolution:

Hon. W. B. Napton, of Saline county, (Chairman;) Hon. M. Oliver, of Ray county; Gov. Sterling Price, Col. Sam. H. Woodson, of Jackson county, and Hon. A. A. King, of Ray county.

The President also announced the following committee, to procure and superintend the printing, under the action of this Convention, as required by the resolution of Mr. Peabody:

Wm. Shields, Edward Winsor, and Charles Patterson.

It is also made the duty of said last mentioned committee, to call on President Shannon, and obtain a copy of his speech for publication.

Col. S. A. Young rose and informed the Convention, that he had information that a letter had been received by a member of this Convention, Mr. Field, from a distinguished politician, advising and urging him, that unless certain resolutions were adopted by this Convention, to secede from the Convention and break it up in a row; and he wished this matter investigated, and the facts properly brought out.

Mr. Field required of Col. Young to give the name of the distinguished politician who had written the letter, and whether he referred to him.

Objection was made to the Convention hearing anything further of the matter complained of by Col. Young.

The President decided that Col. Young was out of order, there being no proposition before the Convention.

Mr. Moss, of Clay, moved that the Convention proceed to inquire into, and investigate the matters charged by Col. Young.

Gen. Clark moved to lay the motion of Mr. Moss on the table.

Mr. Field desired to make an explanation. He had called for the name of the author of the letter; did not get it; could not get him to say he was the member of the Convention alluded to, as having received the letter, but, from rumor, supposed he was the Field alluded to, and Maj. J. S. Rollins the alleged author of the supposed letter. He had a private letter from Maj. Rollins, which, amongst other things, spoke of this Convention and its objects, but in terms of approval--giving his opinions and views in strict accordance with the platform of, and principles adopted by, this Convention, and denied that there was one word of truth in the charge that Maj. Rollins advised a secession from the Convention, or to break it up in a row in any contingency. He said the letter of Maj. Rollins was at his office, and, although a private letter, any gentleman who desired could see it; that he had intended, if the investigation proceeded, to show it in Convention, and appealed to a number of members of the Convention who had seen the letter, to say whether he had not given a true statement as to its contents.

Col. Doniphan, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Grover, and Mr. Moss, who had seen the letter, confirmed the statement of Mr. Field, as to the contents of the letter.

Col. Young acknowledged himself satisfied, and expressed his gratification that the rumors on the street to Maj. Rollins' prejudice were so fully proven to be false and groundless, and said his object in bringing this matter up was to do but an act of justice to his friend and neighbor, Maj. Rollins.

The motions to lay on the table and for investigation were withdrawn.

On motion, the thanks of the Convention were tendered to the President and other officers of the Convention, for the faithful manner in which they had discharged their duties.

On motion of Maj. Morin, of Platte, a vote of thanks was tendered to the citizens of Lafayette, for their kind hospitality.

On motion, it was Resolved, That the proceedings of this Convention, together with the address to be prepared by the committee appointed for that purpose, be published in pamphlet form; that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair, to superintend their publication, and that a contribution be made by the delegates to this Convention and others present, to defray the expenses of said publication.

Resolved, That ten thousand copies of said proceedings and address be published, and that they be distributed to every part of the State, by the publishing committee, in such manner as may be practicable and advisable.

On motion of Mr. Staples, of Pettis, the Convention adjourned _sine die_.

WM. T. WOOD, _President_.

L. A. WISELY, } _Secretaries_.
L. J. SHARP, }

Transcriber Notes:

Passages in italics were indicated by _underscores_.

Small caps were replaced with ALL CAPS.

On page 5, "manumiting" was replaced with "manumitting".

On page 9, "statesmanshp" was replaced with "statesmanship".

On page 9, "he ways" was replaced with "the ways".

On page 16, "Resolved, that" was replaced with "Resolved, That".

On page 17, "Johnson county" was replaced with two quotation marks.

On page 17, "Davis" was replaced with "Daviess".

On page 17, "Cass County" was replaced with "Cass county".

On page 18, "W Y. Slack" was replaced with "W. Y. Slack".

On page 19, "H. D. Russell" was replaced with "H. D. Russell".

On page 19, "Clinton Co" was replaced with "Clinton Co.".

On page 19, "Jackson, Co." was replaced with "Jackson Co.".

On page 19, "J. M," was replaced with "J. M.".

On page 19, "Manion." was replaced with "Manion,".

On page 20, "Ray Co" was replaced with "Ray Co.".

On page 20, the comma was removed after "Mr. C. T. Worley".

On page 27, "upon t" was replaced with "upon it".