Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-04-24
The Republican Vote for the Crittenden
Amendment,

The administration Journals with their custo-
mary show of virtue when there is a prospect of
manufacturing party capital at the expense of
the opposition, are endeavoring to bring up the
vote of the Republicans in Congress for the
Crittenden Montgomery bill in Judgment against
their consistency. They charge that it was a
vote for the Lecomptcn Constitution, which has
been so loudly denounced as pro-slavery, Uhey
don't deny that it is pro-slavery,) with the sim
pie p%royiso that the instrument should first be
returned Ii to the people Of Kansas. This charge
can effect nothing in the minds of persons who
understand the matter. The case as it stood
before Congress was exactly in this shape;
The Republicans were given their choice be-
tween two evils, and very wisely, it must be ad-
mittcd, took the least rather than to sickle for
an abstract question of right, and thus entail
upon Kansas the very wrong they were anxious
TO avert. If the Republican party had had a
majority III the House, the Lecompton %iniquity
would have been unceremoniously kicked out of
that body Immediately upon its presentation
They would not have stopped for compromises
or amendments. but would have throttled the
giant wrong without the least show Of mercy.
Their vote when the matter first came before
the House is fully indicative of their sentiments
i'll relation to the swindle. but it happened
that the Republicans were not in q majority, not
even with the diseilected democratic vote added
to their own. 1t became necessary to conciliate
the South American vote, or the Lecompton
Inpet,.rt;,o LII =, III "a .s:.u1 l:1...
was sure of being passed. The poll in Kansas,
last January, established the fact beyond a doubt
that if the Lecompton Constitution should be
sent to the people of that territory, it would be
rejected by a majority of 6000 votes, and of
course that would be the end of it. The South
Americans voluntarily came forward with an
amendment to the effect that the Constitution
should go to Che people, and proposed that as
the chief element of a compromise upon which
all opponents of Tie Leootnpton iniquity should
unite for the purpose of defeating the BILL
They said, and doubtless said truly, that the
terms of this compromise were as liberal as they
could afford to make them. The alternative
was thus left to the Republicans to accept these
o%vertures with the certain prospect of thus ac-
complshing their object ultimately through the
people of Kansas, or of r~epelling them upon the
pitiful plea of an abstract principle, and thus al
low the %yillainy to be accomplished.
There is more occasion for rejoicing that the
Republicans accepted the Crittcnden amend
ment than would first appear. 1t shows an hon
esty OF purpose on the part of the Republican
party that must naturally have a powerful NOR
al effect, and which will operate to strengthen
its position numerically, and command for it a
respect and confidence in quarters where it has
heretofore been regarded with suspicion. But
this is not all. The position which the South
Americans have assumed receives great impor-
lance when taken in connection with this pow
erful Republican support, and is not likely to
be overlooked by the masses at the south. 1t
will open u violent discussion there, and a hur-
ricane dissension will follow. In what shape it
will exhibit itself, it is of course impossible to
tell, but the position Of these Americans will be
vigorously attacked and as vigorously defended.
1t is not improbable that the democracy-much
as they claim to be national-will raise the BAN
Ter Of d%isunion, and emblazon on its folds
secessionism-slavery propagandism-African
slave trade. The opposition, there of which
these Americans will form the nucleus, will fling
to the breeze the banner of the Union, and the
war will rage fercely. The only possible result
Of a strife Of this character would be that five
northern slave states would emerge from the
contest on the high road to emancipation. and
Republican principles be carried triumphantlv
into the very heart of what is now intense pro-
slavery ground.
Some of the democratic papers candidly ac-
Anowledged that the Republicans would not have
voted to refer the Lccompton Constitution back
to the people had they not been quite certain of
its rejection. Undoubtedly there is much truth
in that Its converse is perhaps quite
As true, the democrats oppose its reference to
the people because they know that slavery will
have not even a ghost of a cnance when submit
ted to The popular vote of that territory. This
is the nutshell wherein lies the opposition of
the democrats to such a reference.