JT-48-DIALOGUE

DIALOGUE

Between Missouri, the Eastern States, the Southern States,
and Middle States, during the session of Congress of 1821,
on the Missouri Question.

MISSOURI TO THE EASTERN STATES.

Dear sisters, why are you so bold,
That you reject my motion,
Last year I was in Union roll’d,
To have it legal portion;
But now your wit and language strain,
And in the Congress thunder,
You strive to turn me off again,
And cut our bands asunder.

You wish me not to hold a slave,
My black and stolen treasure,
Some motive else you seem to have,
I’ll tell you at my leisure;
I think you wish to raise a jar,
And sound the nation’s feeling,
To light the match of civil war,
And set us all to reeling.

You can but know what you have done,
Is very bold and daring,
Thro’ all the South loud clamors run,
A fearful omen wearing;
My sister States who hold their blacks,
Are all with me united,
We will retain those precious snacks,
And not by you be frighted,

You now pretend to say ’tis wrong,
That bondage be admitted,
I cannot hold the sable throng,
And be in Congress seated;
You err in this politic strife,
Now give the subject over,
And let me own what’s dear as life,
Your spleen no more discover.

EASTERN STATES TO MISSOURI.

You call us sisters, very well,
But if we’re true relation,
You can no longer buy and sell,
The freedom of creation;
We’ll never give our vote again,
That slavery be extended,
We’ll save you of the moral stain,
Tho’ you be much offended.

Our motive’s pure, our cause is good,
We’ve nothing kept concealed,
On freedom’s side we long have stood,
And nothing else revealed;
The Constitution is our guide,
In all our long debating,
By it you must be laid aside,
Though all your angry prating.

At this you grin and wildly stare,
And, blame the true heart Yankee,
You raise. the strife you cannot bear,
And then you call us pranky;
No other cause we have in view,
No scheme for war we’re laying,
But that you may not hold a slave,
We wish in ev’ry saying.

SOUTHERN STATES TO THE EASTERN STATES.

Dear sisters, we must tell you plain,
In this dispute we blame you,
Because this point you long maintain,
It surely will defame you;
Our property we will defend,
In spite of all your brav’ry,
We cannot think to condescend,
To lose the pelf of slav’ry.

Let us alone who love the trade,
Of bart’ring human nature,
Let this young, nymph^* be sister made,
And now no longer hate her;
You boast of freedom, so do we,
Then let us cease our jarring,
Lest we may live to see the day,
When sisters may be warring.

^*Missouri.

MIDDLE STATES TO THE SOUTHERN STATES. In justice we no more forbear,
But loudly speak for freedom,
To hold your salves it is not fair,
To whip, and starve, and bleed ’em;
And if the cold and stony heart,
Will hold those sons of sorrow,
Missouri shall not have a part,
No bondage from you borrow.

We have no wish to raise a fight,
But on this ground we settle,
We will defend fair freedom’s right,
With all our might and mettle;
Let this young nymph wash out her shame,
And then we will receive her,
Until she does we’ll spurn her name,
And keep her out forever.
THE POET TO ALL.

Restrain your tongues upon this theme,
And let no more be spoken,
Or else, it is no idle dream,
Our bands will soon be broken;
I am no friend to human sales,
Nor to such loud contentions,
O’er all the States great fear prevails,
That you will make dissentions,
I would advise to give, and take,
And not be over rigid,
Wind up disputes for friendship’s sake,
Nor longer be so frigid;
Let all unite before you rise,
And be no more divided,
And strengthen all the nation’s ties,
On this be all decided.