Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1860-01-02
SPEECHOFMR CRITTENDEN,
or KENTUCKY
On his Proposed Compromise Of the
Slavery Question.
IS SENATE, Tuesday, December Is, 1860.


IS SENATE, Tuesday, December Is, 1860.
Dir. Cfittenden said: | am gratifed, Mr..
President, 70 see in the various propositions which
have been made such universal anxiety to save
the country iromthe dangerous dissepsions which
nov prevail; and | have, under a very serious
view and without the least ambitions feeling
whatever connected with il, prepared a series of
constitutional amendments, which | desire 10
offer to the Senate, hoping that they may form,
in part 90 least, some basis for measures that may
settle the controverted questions which now so
much agigate ouS country. Certainly, sir, | do
not propose nov any elaborate discussion OF the
subject Before presenting these resolutions,
however, to the Senate, desire 10 make few
remarks explanatory of them, that the Senate
may understand d their general scope.
The questions OF an alarming character are
those which have grown cut Of the controversy
between the Northern and Southern eectioss of
our country in relation 10 the rights Of the slave
holding States IN the Territories Of the United
StGss, end il relation 10 the rights of the cit ems
OF be latter in thsir slaves. / have endeavored
by these resolutions to meet all these questions
ard causes Of discomfort, and by amendments to
the Constitution of the United States, go that the
settlement, ii we can happily agree on any, may
be permanent, and leave no cause Tor future con
trOversy. These resolutions propose, then, in the
fret place, in substance. the restoration Of the
Missouri Compromise, extending he line through
out the Territories of the United States 10 the
eastern border Of Csifornia, recognizing slavery
in all the territory south of that line, and prohit
iting slavery in all the Te7rit1ry north o5s with
2 provision, however, that when any CT these
Territories, North or South, are formed into
States, they shsll then be at liberty to exclude
0: admit slavery as they please; ard that, in the
one case or the other, il shall be no objection TO
their admittsnce into the U0ion. In this way,
sir, propose to settle the question, both as to
territory and slavery, so far as it regards the
Territories OF the U0ifed States propose, sir,
also, that the Constitution shtll be so amesded as
70 declare that Congress shall have no power to
abolish slavery in the District OF Columbia, so
long as slavery exists in the States of Maryland
snd Virginia; and that they shsll have no power
TO abolish slavery in any of the places under their
special Jurisdiction within the Southern States
Theses he constitutional q auaeDdnenis which
propose, and embrace the whole Of them in re-
gard TO the questions of territory and slavery.
Thsre are other propositions in r5l5tiOn TO griev-
ances, and in relation TO controversies, which
suppose within the jurisdiction of Congress and
may be removed by the action of Congress. |
propose, in regard TO legislative action, that the
fugitive slave law as it IS commonly called, shall
DE declared by The Senate to be a constitutional
act, in strict pursuance of the Constitution.
propose to declare, that il has been decided BY
the Supreme Court Of the United States to be
constitutional, ard that the Southern States are
entitled to faithful and complete execution OF
tha, Law, aud that no amendment shall he made
hereafter TO it which will impair its efficiency.
But, thinking that it would not impair lie eff
cheney, | have proposed amendments TO il in two
particulars. / have understood from gentlemen
of the North that there is objection to the pre-
vision giving a different fee where the commits
sioner decides 10 deliver the slsve 10 the claimant,
from that which 10 given where he decides TO dis
charge tho alleged slave; the Law declares tn It in
the latter case he shall have but FIVE dol are,
while ia the other he shall have ten dollars
twice lhs amount in one case thsn iG TIE other.
The reason for this is very obvious. In case he
delivers the servant to his claimant, be is rC-
quiGed to draw cut a lengthy certificate stating
the principal and subltantisl grounds on which
his decision rests, and 10 return him either to the
marshal or the claimant TO remove bin to the
State from which he escaped. lt was for that
reason that larger fee was given TO the commits
siOner, where be had the largest service to per-
form. Bur, sir, the act being vieEed unlavora-
bly, and with grea; prejudice, in a certain portion
OF the country. this was regarded as very obnox-
ions, because it seemed TO give an additional in
ducement to the comm ssioaer to return the slave
]
of ten dollsrs, instead OF the smaller one of ivs
dollars. ! have said lei the fee be the same il
both cases.
have understood furthermore, sir, that, mas
much Gs the fifth asction OF that Law was wordeC
some What vaguely, its general terms had admit
| ted Of the construction in the Northern State
that all the citizens we're required, upon the SUN
mons OF the Marshal, to go with hin to hunt up
as they express il, and arrest the slave; and thi
is regarded "a obuoxious. They have said, III
the Southern States you make no such requisitiol
on the citizsn;" nor do we, sir. The section, con
strued according 10 the intention of the framer
of il, | suppose, only Intended that the Mtrshs
should have the same right IN the execution o
/ process for the arrest OF q slave that be has il
| all other cases Of process that hc is required &
! execute--to call on the posse cofaisgfUs for A.
ance where he is resisted IN the Y acution Of hi
duty, or where, having executed his duty by tn
arrest, an attempt is made TO rescue the slave
| propose such az amendment SO will obvistc thi
diff ,ulty end limit the right of the master as
the duty of the citizen TO caees where, es in re
gard to all other process, persons may be calle
upon to assist in resisting opposition to the exc
cution ol the lave.
have provided further, sir, that the amend
ments to the Constitution which hCra propos,
and certain other provisions of the Constitutio
itself, shall be unllterable, thereby forming
permanent and uncbaDgesble basis OF peace an
tranquility em9ng the people Among the pre-
visions in the present Constitution, which hav
by amendment proposed to render unslterable,
that provision in the fs. article of the ConstitU
ton which provides the rule for representation
including 10 the computation three fiIhs Of ii
slaves. That is TO be rendered unchangeab
Another is the provision for the delivery of fug
tive slaves. That is to be rendered unchang'
able.
And with these provisions, Mr.. President,
seems TO me we have solid foundation upc
which We may rest our hopes for the restoratiC
Of peace and good will among all the States
this Union, and all the people. propose, 81
70 enter into no particular disCuss n. | hay
explained the general scope snd object of n
proposition. | have provided further, which
ought TO mentior, that, there having b en- sou
, difficulties experienced in the courts of the Uu
ted States in the South in carrying into exec
, ton the laws prohibit ng the Afrc q slave trad
all the additions and amendments which may
necessary to those laws 10 render th IN effeciu
should be Immediately adopted by Congress, al
especially the provisions of those laws Hh
prohibit the importation of African slaves in
the United States. | have further provided it
a recommendation to all the States OF this Unio
that, whereas laws have been passed of an u
u constitutional character, and all laws of th
character which either coLh hict With the coostit
{ tional acts OF Congress or which 10 their operati
II hinder or delay the pronsp. execution of the az
: of Congress,) which laws are null and void, q
y yet, though null and void, they have been {
e source OF mischief and discontent in the COUNT
Under the extrsordD=ry circumstances in whi
% we are placed, have supposed that it would I
be improper or uubecoming IN Congress 10 n
OI ommend 70 the States, both North and South,
repeal OF all such acts OF theirs as were intend
to control or intended 10 obstruct the operation
Nc the acts OF Congress, or which, in their ope
tion and application, have been made use of
- the purpose of such hindrance aDd opposti
ie md that they will repeal these laws or ms
OF such explanations or CORE ions of them as
prevent their being used for any such mischiev
purpose.
have endeavored to look with impartial
from one end OF our country to the otheri | h
eudeavored TO search up What appeared to mt
'i be the causes OF discomfort pervading the la
s. and as far rs am capable of doing so. b
ne endeavored to propose a remedy Tor them.
10 far from believing that, in the shape in whiC
). present these measures, they will meet With
IN, acceptance of the Senate. IL will be suihcieI
'at gratifying il, with the amendments that the
ns Derior knowedge OF the Senate may make
&c them, they sball, to any Cffectual extent,qne.
sn' country.
A' Mr.. Presdent,great dangers surround US.
- Union of these States is dear to the people Of
90 United States. The long experience Of its bl
- inge, the mighty hopes of the future have m
-, il dear to the hearts of the Americsn peo
Whatever politicians may say; whatever Of
all sension may, in the heat OF party politics
a. created among our people. when you come d.