Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1860-01-02
91ulitiral.

d5nlltlfal.
9 The Proportions OF Senator Douglas
We publish this morriDg Mr.. DOUGLAS plan
Of adjusting the slsvery issue. It ia similar to
that proposed by Senator CRITTENDxN in many
respects. We copy from the Washington States
the remarks Of Mr.. DoUoLAs in the Senate Com
mittee OF Thirteen, on Saturday, which explains
TIC nature OF his suggested compromise, and
shows the soiIit which aetuates him in offeTing il
A COMPROMISE implies a concession of conflict
ing views. Neither the extreme North nor the ex-
treme South can expect that their demands will be
yielded by either section Ia the formation Of the
Constitution corAclirg opinions modified
and surrendered in CIDER 10 form the Union, and
the same spirit Of accommodation must now be
exercised in order 10 perpe;uate it. 10 tbs way
the Union csr be preserved II the compromise
of Mr.. DOUGLAS will salts y the moderate men Of
both the South and the North, the ultra men of
the two sections should be willing to sbate their
exIeme opinions to promote harmony and main
tain the Government Any plan of adjust
ment that will take the negro out of Congress
and out Of politics will 60 far toward
restoring peace to the country. If the Abolition
lists and the Fire Eaters are deprived of their
political capital-:he slavery issut-.here would
be but HlIie cause left for disuuion, and attach
meut for the Constitution and Union would again
be The prevailing sentiment of the people OF the
whole country Is will be noticed that Mr.. DeUG
Las proposes to make bis plan for adjusting the
present controversy part Of the Constitution By
permanent and cease to be ject Of legisla-
ton, and of STUMP newpaper and pulpit discus
sion and demagoguery.
! he propositions OF MF. DOUGLAS are elaborate
and well considered. If they will quiet the
troubled ssters-if il ia an adjustment that will
deal fairly 18th the cOntending opinions aud inter
es;s Of the different sections of the country-lei
ID people OF the North and the South, who are
willing to make sacrifices to preserve the Union,
demand iEs adoption by Congress and ratification
by the Safes. o., il this proposition will not
suit let it be modified or changed until it is sc-
ceptsble to the conservative sentiment of the
uation which the late Presidential election shows
is largely predominant. The States thus reports
Mr.. DOUGLAS, and we will only add that if the
same patriotic sentiments controlled all the Sen
stOrs and Representatives in Congress, we should
soon need day OF Thanksgiving and rejoicing,
instead Of one for humiliation, fastiag and
prayer in view of the perils which now threaten
the country:
In the FIRE Interchange of opinions which took
place, is Is snderstood that Senator Douglas ex-
pressed the opinion that no adjustment would re-
store and preserve and perpetuste peace aud haI-
mony on the slavery question which did not
Danish it forever from the halls of Congress and
the arena of federal politics, and prohibit Con-
} grsss from legislating upon the subject in any
case whatever, except to perform the constitu-
tional obligation in respect to fugitive slaves.
! While be regarded this principle OF non-inteT-
ference by Congress the essential basis of suy
d, adjustment which might be made, there were va
; rious means by which the end could be accom-
{ piished. One, and in bis opinion the best, was to
. leave the people of the organized Territories free
7 to decd the question for themselves, subject TO
the limitations of the Constitution aud the courts
to decide upon the validity aud constitutionali.y
Of the Territorial laws, without any interference
+ By Congress.
: Another was an equitable PARTITION between the
T two sections OF all the territory we now orn OF
2 compromise, and now proposed By the Senator
] from Kentucky. A third was to provide that the
status Of slavery and personal freedom, as it sx
t isted when The territory acquired, shOsld no
{ be charged, either b. Congress or oy the Terri
: tOTill Legislature, aud that the courts should de
= termine all gusstions involsiDg title 10 slave
a property and personal freedom, as was provided
s in the Clay ton compromise bill, and supported b.
: Mr.. Calhoun, in lS45.
Z, Perhsps there might be other modes by wbicl
Il the same hjsct could be accomplished The chic
IS merit OF esch of shese propositions, which Mr.
/ Douglas sad be had supported 10 turn, aud aban
II doned only when it was found impossible TO pas
r it, TO ezpel she slavery qaes,iOn AID its asi
3 tGtiOu from the halls OF Congress, and place
n beyond the reach OF Federal legislation.
He vas ready now TO unite in recommending
= to the people of the several States such amend
e meD.s 70 the Constitution would take tn
10 slavery question out OF Congress aud would en-
s. sure domestic guilty to the people of all th
p States, and fulfil every obligation OF the Const
= tuition OF the United States. In view of tae dan
IT gers which threaten the republic with disunon
II revolution, civil war staring Us in the face, b
g was prepared to acs upon the matters in contro-
IN VeFsy without any regard to previous action, AM
! as il be had never made a speech or given yot
upon the subject. He was unwilling to oeliev
I'd that Senators, north south, were going to sac
Ii6ce their country in order to maintain their pc
II itical consistency or to maintain party org1n
ik lon in the ferent sections of divided Unior
The trainers of the Constitution had yielded the
P fayorite theories and convictions on many points
in order to produce harmony and ensure geners
e Concurrence in the adoption OF the Constitution
Nv These concessions, in the opinion Of wise mel
have always been regarded as evidences of the
20 patriotism, and not of weakness. If We can met
p- the present issues, aud perform tie duties in
at posed upon US in the spirit which animated then
i'd fof1 fhofr vs
" save the Union without war or boodshed. II
ne did not believe that in the recent elec ion Il
It people Of either the North or South had decide
lsI irrevocahy that they preferred dsunon to yielI
'ns ing one ota in the extreme demands of their pal
tisln platforms. On the contrary, he did BELIEF
%, that il twc-.hirds Of each House of Congre
iy- would sgrse upon constitutional amendments
ar- a spirit of mutual concession and compromis
0g- aud recommend them to the reople of the se'
eraI States, each amendment v ould be rattle
M By three-.ourths of all the States order to tai
On the slavery question out Of Congress, and pr
ed. serve the Uaion, and maintain perpetual pea
len and good will between ell its members. lt
ng, not require any S,ae section TO surrender a
MS right which il possessed nor to assume any OBJ
Ire, CATION which the Constitution does not il
uld pose bu. in spirit Of Cancellation aud fraterni
sin to settle amcably and justly the matters in d
nd pute By an irrevocsble constitutional amen
lch ment. Il was not his purpose at this time
trs- coz nit himself for or against any proposiu
ng. which had been offered or suggested, but to
Gus clare his conscious desire for fair, just and an
at cable adjustment of all the matters in cont
iug versy, as to remove every cause OF compla
ney or irritation.
ls
{ Is GTMr. GEORGE AsHMUS. of Msssachusetts,w "
is@i was President OF the Chicago Republican q
ang venticn thus denounces the personal liberty Ia
lce, of that State.