Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-21

I sent 10 division, the line, OF cOuise, would
60 to the Pacific This proposition was al
most unanimously rejected by Republicans
and met little favor in any quarter.
Now we regres to see the same influential
journal coming forward with another PROPOSE
ton OF compromise It proposes az an Ell.
cient but not revolving, fugitive slave act and
the repeal of the personal liberty bills; (2)
that every Territory be left to take care ol
ITSELF until it shall contain population enough
/ for q Representative in Congress, and then
i admitted into the Union with or without sla-
very and (3l division Of the Territory not
now organized -info- -States, between Slavery
and Freedom, in accordance with the prinei-
Piles Of the Missouri COMPROMISE. The third
of these articles is presented as an alternative
which may, or may not, be preferred to the
secoud. -sia
1t is suggested through the teIegraph---nOt
from Springfield, but from Albany-that
these propositions represent the views of Mr..
LincolRy We must have mnch better evi-
dence Of that before we believe it. Mr.. Lin.
coin, we are sure, has authorized no such
statement l.u-.
As TO the propositions themselves, we have
only to say that we regard them as ill-timed
and inadmissibie. " dfA d-A1 ..t..
1) More than half of the Republicans,
with many able men Of the slave States, be-
lieye that Congress has no authority at all to
legislate on tie subject of fugitives from ser
vice; and they certainly will never consent to
] the enactment of law by Republican votes
which shall, in any way pledge them, di-
Feetly or indirectly, to participation in catch
/ ing and carrying back fugitives from slavery
/ 1t needs no prophet to foretell the enactment
of such 3 law by Republicans will be followed
/ by the defeat of the Republican party in
more than half the Free States at the next
general election. g.
Republicans may scquiesce in the fair en-
| tOrcement of the present law after amend
mentso as to relieve it OF its most odious fea-
1 lures; but they VIII never willingly consent
/ to the brutal and ferocious execution Of it
which has disgrsced every administration
/ since it was enacted. Nor do we believe
that the People Of the Free States are pre-
/ pared to offer general repeal of their per-
sOnal liberty bills as an oblation on the altar
1 Of Slavery. Some of them may perhaps be
! prOI erly repealed but most of them as has
been repeatedly shown, contain no provisions
inconsistenteven with the loathsome Fugitive
Slave Act, which now conta inmates the
Statute Book. They simply protect the lib
critics of freemen against unlawful invasion
under false pretences Of enforcing that act
TOrepeal such laws, under menace, would be
foul dishoner. Better thousand times any
extremity than such humiliation.
2. The second proposition is not so revolt
ing as the first but is equally inadmissible. 1t
/ contemplates the abnegation by Congress of
all power over Territories, and, at the same
time, a pledge TO be given by the present
I Congress that future Congresses will admit
/ the States, which may organize therein, with
| just such institutions as their Constitutions
may chance to recognize. We see no sound
statesmanship in either branch Of the propo-
sition.
Abnegation of Just authority over the Ter
ritories is exactly as unwise as the exercise
of unjust power would be; and no Congress
can have any right to pledge the action of a
/ future Congress, upon q subject which the
Constitution con6des exclusively to the dis
/ cretion Of Congress in being when its exer-
Use may be demanded. If the represents
| lives Ofthe slave States woutd consent - ac-
oept what may be properly offered as a basis
/ df settlement Republicans might agree TO
The JetfersOnian plan, to which Gov. Chase,
in his Covington speech, said he was prepared
| to consent for the sake Of peace:-that is to
say, to the division of the Territories into
| districts of proper extent for new States, with
| suitable provisions authorizing the people to
| organize their own political institutions, to
! elect their own officers, to choose delegate
to Congress, and, when sufficiently numerous
to form State Constitution, and apply for
admission into the Union. This plan avoids
all difficulties about slavery, as well as all
complications growing out OF action by future
/ Congresses. Beyond this we are very sure
the Republicans, as an undivided party, can
not be carried.
2. The third proposition which contem-
plates virtual or positive sanction by Con-
| gress to slavery in a portion of the Terrific
ries need not be discussed. It is in direct
conflict with the most vital declarations of
the Chicago platform, and is totally mad
missible. We write plainly, for the times
require it. We regret to see Republicans
busying themselves with projects of COM
promise of any description. Let them attend
/ to the proper business of legislation. They
began very well. The prompt action of Mr.,
/ Grow and Mr.. Sherman in regard to the
Homestead Bill and Treasury Note Bill, and
the equally prompt action of the House, un-
der their lead, was most acceptable to the
country. Let that line of action be followed
/ up in both branches Let the acts necessary
to secure the early election of members Of
Congress in the States which have not elect
ed be promptly passed, SO that Mr.. Lincoln
may have it in his power to convene Con-
gress if expedient, Immediately after his in
auguration. Let sll legislation necessary to
the prompt enforcement Of existing laws by
the present Executive be provided without
delay. Then let the Senate pass the Tariff
bill, the Homestead bill, and the Kansas bill
which have already passed the House, and
we are much mistaken if the happiest cOnse-
quences do not follow in the restoration of
| confidence the revival of business, and the
revival Of prosperity. ,r-
| Let the existing Administration and the
/ party in power take their Just responsible
I tY in upholding the Unicn and enforcing the
! laws. Republicans will not be backward to
second every honorable endeavor to reach
these great ends. Bullet Republicans wait
before taking the responsibility of measures
of adjustment till they have Republican
| Administration. We have perfect faith in
/ AIr. Lincoln. He will fulfil, we confidently
believe, every expectation as a wise, faithful
and upright Chief Magistrate, devoted to
the Union and just to every section of the
country. . f
Let us wait for his administration, and
then take counsel together, and see if some
measure Of adjustment may not be devised,
Just to all the States, and all the citizens Of
! the Republic, but offending neither the NOR
/ a convictions nor honorable sentiments of
any, through which permanent peace and
ga more perfect Union" may be established
IN our land.
The copyright Of Webster's Dictionary
yields $4,000 a year, and of his eElemen-