Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-28
THE COMPROMISE PROBLEM

A despatch from Washington states that
the slave interest will finally unite most OF its
representatives in demanding various impor-
tant concessions, among which is the exten.
sion of the Missouri compromise line to the
Pacific. At present the secessonists will not
agree 10 anything; but one of their leading
spirits, A II. Handy, disunion commissioner,
declared in Baltimore the other day :-"Our
plan is Tor the southern states to withdraw
from the Union, for the present, to allow amend
mendments to the constitution to be made
guaranteeing our just rights" The PROPOSE
ton named is similar TO that of Mr.. Rust of
Arkansas 1t requires such an amendment
of the constitution as will establish and pro-
tect slavery south of the Missouri line but
although several southern men have proposed
measures substantially of this character, there
is at present no agreement among them.
An extension of the Missouri compromise
line to the Pacific cannot be made, for neither
an act of congress nor an amendment of the
constitution can carry it across the state of
California. 1t could go only to the eastern
limit Of that state, and all the territory of the
United States south of it would be New
Mexico, Arizona, and the Indian Territory.
New Mexico, however, is not wholly south
of it. If the proposition to restore that line
meant only what appears at first on the face
OF it, those southern men who favor it would
be willing to accept something like what
has been proposed in the committee of thirty
three by MIR. Adams of Massachusetts,, oil
rather what the telegraph says he has pro
posed, viz: the immediate admission of New
Mexico as Il state, with such constitutional
provisions in regard to slavery as the people
may see fit to adopt. AT present Arizona
not having been organized as territory, is a
part of New Mexico. and would of course be
included in the new state But this would
not suit the purposes of those who desire to
transform all Mexico into new slave states
And compromise" which would become an
irrepressible stimulus to every kind of fill.
clustering movement for the annexation of
question.
But what is demanded is an amendment OF
the constitution which will suppress the re-
publican party, make is principles unconstitu-
tional, and nationalize slavery Such com.
promise is impossible. 1t would be as well
to reconstruct the government at once into
an hereditary monarchy with slavery fol
king-maker. If compromise could be made
with those secessionists with any good assur
ance that they would honorably observes its
conditions no man who believes in free inst
tutions could listen to any measure which
would break down the constitution itself nor
could he entertain any proposition fol
a compromise from men who claim q
right to dissolve the Union at their
pleasure. If obligations which they con
tract to day will not bind them next year
we must take things as they are, and do will
them the best we can. The republicans pro
pose nothing unconstitutional and nothing con
trary to the views of the founders of the gov
eminent The republican party is pledged
against interference with slavery in the states
ani discusses the institution only when it pro
poses to spread itself into free territory OF
when it shocks the whole civilized world by
such atrocities as its Kansaa work. 1t really
has nothing to compromise but its own exist
ence, and the right Of free principles to appeal
to public opinion and the ballot box.