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MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS.
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Official Congratulations and Greetings on Emancipation in Missouri. St. Louis, Jan. 17. As a portion of the proceedings of the State Constitutional Convention yesterday were in connection with the action of your Legislature, in the reception by that body of the announcement that Missouri was free, I give a more extended report than I otherwise should, believing your readers will be interested therein. It being announced that Col. John S. Loomis, Aid-de-Camp of Gov. Yates, was in the ante-chamber awaiting to present a communication from Governor Yates, on motion he was conducted to the platform by a committee, who welcomed him in a warm and [feeling?] terms [offering?] glowing language to the [illegible] [illegible] by Illinois to the emancipation of Missouri from the black curse of slavery. Col. Loomis responded as follows: "On the 11th day of January, 1865, the loyal States of America were electrified with the gratifying intelligence that the Constitutional Convention of Missouri had, by very decisive vote of 60 to 4, reported an ordinance of emancipation. In none of these States were glad tidings more joyfully received than upon the proud and free prairies of Illinois. The Legislature then in session, inspired by universal enthusiasm of our people, took up the notes of praise and thankfulness expressed by every tongue, and passed congratulatory resolutions, which, at the direction of His Excellency, Governor Yates, in pursuance of the instructions of the General Assembly, I have the honor to submit to your honorable body. We hail this action on your part as a sacred covenant uniting Missouri with the other free States in bonds of an indissoluble National Union, and assure you that Illinois will ever be found ready in sentiment and with strong arms, and to the extent of her matured resources, to start by the loyal people of Missouri in maintaining the resolve of the Convention, that, from the [soil?] of Missouri, slavery shall be excluded forever." The Secretary then read a communication from Governor Yates, incorporating the resolutions passed by the General Assembly of Illinois, upon receiving notification of the passage of the Emancipation Ordinance by the Convention, as follows:
STATE OF ILLINOIS. Executive Department. Springfield, January 13, 1865. To the Honorable President of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Missouri: Sir -- It is with feelings of unalloyed gratification that I transmit to you the the enclosed resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, congratulating her sister State on the passage by the Constitutional Convention of the ordinance abolishing slavery in the State of Missouri. Illinois was the third State which came into the Union under the glorious Ordinance of 1787. Missouri is the the third State to abolish slavery in accordance with the still more glorious Proclamation of Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln. -- May the two sister States henceforth run hand in hand together in the race of liberty, prosperity and happiness. -- They have hitherto been united by the ties of race and blood; hereafter they will be united forever by the ties of universal liberty, acknowledging the fraternity of but one brotherhood of humanity, and the supremacy of but one God, who is the father of all, without respect to race or color. All the natural and inevitable consequences of freedom must now be showered down upon the noble State of Missouri. She has accomplished the will of God and of all good men, and has her reward in being prepared for her by Him who holds the nations of the in earth the hollow of His hand. With sentiments of great respect, I am, sir, your obedient ser'vt. RICHARD YATES. Governor.