it
great effect in this country. Would it not, therefore, be best
not to state on the face of the publications where they were
printed? They could be printed in Philadelphia, and sent with the
goods of some merchant of St. Louis at a much less expense than
by mail.

Not being aware of any consideration which should restrain me,
but on the contrary believing that my present office increases
the obligations I am under, as a good citizen, to exert myself to
enlighten the minds of my fellow citizens, and strenuously to
oppose every measure which I am convinced is unjust in principle
or injurious in its effects, and believing Slavery to be both
iniquitous and impolitic, I conceive myself bound, both as a
citizen and as an officer, to do all in my power to prevent its
introduction into this State. I will therefore cheerfully render
you assistance in distributing any publications you may forward,
or give you any information you may desire.

The friends of freedom here propose making publication similar to
those you suggest, but they will not have the same means of doing
justice to the subject that you will have in Philadelphia. We are
particularly anxious, not only to present to the people proper
views of the immoral and anti-christian, unjust and
anti-republican character of Slavery, but also _facts_ showing
its impolicy and injurious effects in retarding the settlement
and prosperity of the State, by checking emigration to it, and
paralyzing the enterprise and activity of its citizens--that it
would impede the progress of manufactures, be prejudicial to
agriculture, and in one word, to the future prosperity, as well
as to the immediate interest of the State. The great argument
here in favor of the introduction and toleration of Slavery, is
that it would have the immediate effect of raising the price of
lands, and adding to the population and wealth of the country. We
want _facts_ to disprove these assertions, and also to show that
Slavery would operate to the injury of the poor or laboring
classes of society. Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless
true, that there are many persons who are in principle opposed to
Slavery who will yet vote for making this a slaveholding State,
under the belief that by so doing they will be enabled to ma