The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-15

ieins ~ MT DIecAlhi1oee, that we may seq
what be will do In the crisis
The Plans In Congress and the Pis ms an
the Herald Olice for Meeting the Crisis.
Cur readers have seen the various plans pro-
posed in the House Of Representatives, on We'd
nesday last, for solving the difficulties which
have arisen in consequence Of the election of Mr..
Lincoln, as President Of the whole Union, by q
sectional Northern anti-slavery party, in oppo-
sition to the votes and wishes of every South
ern State, and to the votes and wishes Of nearly
two-thirds Of the people Of the whole Union.
These plans are for the most part puerils,
bungling, conflicting and absurd. Some Of
them are self-coniradiciory, and some Of them
are intended 10 aggravate the already intolera-
bic grievances Of the South. With one or two
exceptions scarcely could grain Of wisdom or
craftsmanship be extracted from the whole
bushel of chaff and rubbish by any amount Of
Kidding and sitting. There appears to be
general ignorance of the case to be met, or
wilful ignoring and evasion Of the difficulties.
The Fugitive Slave law is dwelt upon in
most of the propositions as The chief trouble.
But the Southern States do not so regard II.
On the contrary those who have most authority
10 speak for the South say that the Fugitive
Slave law now on the statute books of Con-
gress is as good a law as can be made on the
subject, and that all the Presidents who have
been in oficc since the law was passed, in
1850. have conscientiously carried IL out as far
as il was in their power TO do SO. The DIFF
iculy lies not in the want of . good and
stringent law. or in the fidelity Of the federal
government, but in the unwillngness of the
people in most Of the Northern States to sus-
ian the law. In ten States unconstitutional
acts have been passed to neutralize it. or inn
pair its effect. Congress cannot compel these
States to repeal their Legislative enactmcnts or
change their sentiments. The States them
selves must do it.
The chief obstacle that lies in the way Of
licsn party and the majority of the Northern
people are committed in regard to the
Territories. But over this, fortunately,
Congress has control, Notwithstanding the
position maintained in the Chicago plat
form, that there are 10 be no more slave States,
and tina, neither Congress, nor courts, nor
Territorial Legislature nor any number Of the
people can protect the property Of master
in the labor Of. his slave in any Territory Of
the United States. Now, ii is quite competent
TO Congress 10 afford this protection in accord
snoe with the letter and spirit Of the constitu-
Jon and The principles on which the Union was
esablished-the equality Of all the States, and
he equal right of the citizens of all to settle
with their property in the common territory Of
the Union. Why do not the republican repre-
sen,atives offer this sovereign remedy for dis
union? 1t needs no change of the constitm
ton, and its operation would be speedy and
cffcctual
In pursuance Of vote OF the House, the va
rious plans submitted to Congress have been
referred to the Committee Of Thirty -three.
Now, in the HERALD Office there Is
committee ON the state of the Union in
permanent session, and the practical statesmen
of the country. believing that this committee
understand the subject better than Con-
gross. and that the HERALD is better or
gan for communicating with the people, have
sent us numerous plans, far sounder and wiser
than those proposed in the House Of Represeu-
tatives. Their number, which is between one
and two hundred, prccludes the possibility Of
publishing them, for they would Gil twenty
numbers Of the HERALD. But they are Mt the
service OF the committee-yery appropriately
called 'perilons" by the reporters-and if Mr..
Corwin iniimaics 10 Ms that he desires 10 avail
himself Of the information which they contain.
we will not burihen the oppressed mails by
sending them through the Post Once, bat we
viii iorwa - fhem by Adams Express. at cur
own expense hoping thai they may shed some
rays Of light upon the thick darkness which
seems 10 brood over the second session of the
7hirty-siath Congress.