Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-12-28
From the State Journal.
Compromises.

Il
pealed, the people found one grain Of right
in the enormous wrong. 1t was the sup
posed certainty that the ruthless breach and
overthrow of the Missouri Compromise,
cousummated by that repeal, made final
end of all compromises, founded on extra
constitutional concessions to slavery. Gov.
Chase, opening the Kansas Nebraska de-
bate, declared that the repeal would con-
vince the people that compromises outside
the Constitution were mot worth the paper
on which they were printed" and that the
only way Of safety was "return to the old
principles of the Constitution" Subse-
quently in the same debate, Gov. Seward
congratulated the country that "the day of
compromises was over" These words from
the Senators from Ohio and New York
were but the expression of the common
mind of the freemen of the East and the
West and they found cordial responses
even throughout the South. The PEOPLE
were tired of compromises, and wished to
have done with them.
Why then are compromises now again
recommended TO favorl Why does the
Albany EVeaing Journal now come for
ward with propositions to build once more
upon the shifting sands of compromise,
rather than upon the sclid rock of the Con-
stitutionY
Weeks ago the Evening Journal put
forth proposition for the restoration Of the
Missouri Compromise Line, extending
through to California as a basis of the set
tlement of existing difficulties. If Califor-
mia would consent to a division, the line, of
course would 90 to the Pacific. This prop
osition was almost unanimously rejected by
| Republicans, and met with little favor in
any quarter
Now we.regret to see the same infuen-
tial journal coming forward with another
proposition of compromise. 1t proposes
(1) an efficient but not revolving fugitive
slave act, and the repeal of the personal
liberty bills; (2) that every Territory be
left to take care of itself until it shall con-
tain population enough for Representative
in Congress- and then admitted into the
Union with or without slavery, as its inhab-
itants may decide; aud (3) division of
the Territory not now organized into States,
between Slavery and Freedom, in accord
ance with the principles of the Missouri
Compromise. The third of these articles
is presented as an alternative which may,
or may not, be preferred to the second.
}, 1t is suggested through the telegraph
not from Springfield, but from Albany
that these propositions represent the view;
of Mr.. Lincoln. We must have much bet
ter evidence of that before we believe it,
/ Mr.. Lincoln we are sure has authorized nc
such statement.
As to the propositions themselves, We
have only to say that we regard them a;
ill-timed and and inadmissible.
r (1) More than half of the Republicans
! with many able men of the Slave States
believe that Congress has no authority al
all to legislate on the subject of fugitive'
} from service: and they certainly will neve
consent to tho enactment of law by Re
r publican votes which shall, in any way pledg,
= them, directly or indirectly, to participation
: in catching and carrying back fugitives from
e slavery. 1t needs no prophet to foretel
t the enactment of such law by Republi
: cans will be followed by the defeat of tn
d Republican party in more than half tn
f.; Free States at the next general election.
Republicans may acquiesce in the fai
a enforcement of the present law after amend
Y ment so as toreleve it of its most odious fes
/ lures; but they will never willingly consen
@ to the brutal and ferocious execution of
which has disgraced every administratio
q since it was enacted. Nor do we belev
e. that the people of the Free States are pre-
RS pared to offer a general repeal of their pc
le sonal liberty bills as an oblation on th
" altar of Slavery. Some of them may pc
At haps, be properly repealed, but most of then
Of as has been repeatedly shown, contain T
q provisions inconsistent even with the loatt
le some Fugitive Slave Act, which now col
le teammates the Statute Book. They simp
s. protect the liberties of freemen against III
Il lawful invasion under false pretences of el
1t forcing that act. To repeal such laws, u
o der menace, would be foul dishonor Bett
y thousand times any extremity, than sue
humiliation.
ie q The second proposition is not so r
rs voting as'the first; but is equally inadmi
= rible. 1t contemplates the abnegation /
s. Congress, of all power over Territories, an
ut at the same time, pledge to be given /
ID the present Congress thatfuture Congress
" will admit the States, which may organil
ID therein, with just such institutions as the
- Constitutions may chance to recognize. "
III see no sound craftsmanship in either branc
n of tho proposition.
IS Abnegation of just authority over Il
ly Territories is exactly as unwise as the exc
OF else of unjust power would be; and no Co
ss, gress can have any right to pledge the 6
he tion of future Congress, upon a subje
IT. which the Constitution confdes exclusive
de to the discretion of Congress in being VIII
to its exercise may be demanded. If the Re
os- resentatives of the Slave States would co
as sent to accept what may be properly offer
lat as basis of settlement Republicans mig
of agree to the Jeffersonian plan, to viii
. Gov. Chase in his Covington speech, sa
he he was prepared to consent for the sake
ed peace-that is to say, to the division of I
rie Territories into districts of proper exte
er- for new States, with suitable provisions {
he thorizing the people to organize their o.
DIV political institutions, to elect their own
zen fcers, to choose delegate to Congress, a
ed when sufficiently numerous to form Sta
- Constitution and annlv for admission IL