The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-30
Settlement and Compromise Abandoned
by the senate.

Settlement and Compromise Abandoncd
by the senate.
Our readers have seen the announce
ment that the Select Committee of the
Senate, appointed to draw up measures of
compromise to heal the breach between the
North and the South, had "agreed to report to
the Senate on Monday next that they had been
unable to agree upon any basis Of settlement"
This is not unexpected news to us. The ex-
trcmes Of both sections rejected all COM
promises, and ought to be held responsible for
the consequences which may ensue.
The principal of these propositions-th ex-
tension of the Missouri line of compromise
which was originated by John Cochrane and
the New York delegation in the House of Re-
representatives., proposed by various members
houses, and submitted by Mr.. Crittenden to the
Senate Committee, was most reasonable, and
if adopted Immediately by Congress and sent
to the people to be voted for in convention, as
an amendment to the constitution. it would
have operated as charm in arrestng the
rapidly spreading spirit Of disunion, and restor-
ing that domestic tranquility" which was one
OF the declared objects of the "more perfect
Union" established by the adoption of the con-
stitrtion. 1t was proposed to extend to the
Pacific the line of thirty-six degrees thirty
Misunderstanding slavery legal on the southern
side of it and illegal on the northern side-a
measure which is but the extension of that
which saved the country from civil CONFUSION
forty years ago.
AS by this division Of the territory the North
would secure two-thirds free forever from
slavery, and the South would have only one
third for the extension of its institution, the
acceptance of this arrangement on the part of
the South would be extremely liberal. BY
the decision Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States in the bred Scott case, every
STAKEHOLDER has perfect right to go into any
part of the common territory and settle with
his slaves, despite of all territorial legisla-
ton and all laws of Congress. The constitu-
ton, as expounded by the Supreme Court, is
the supreme law Of the land. The South would
therefore be giving up its legal and constitu-
tional right in two-thirds Of the territory for
the sake Of peace and harmony, and the North
ought to be content with the concession for
the sake Of the Union, which is worth far more
than all the territory.
1t is sad to think of the government founded
by the patriots of the Revolution being dis
solved for o mere abstraction, which climate,
soil and the natural laws of migration have
practically settled; for no one believes that
slavery could ever be established north Of the
Missouri line. The competition Of white labor
would Dust 1t more cffectually than any laws
that could be enacted by Congress or Territorial
Legislatures. On the other hand, it is folly on
the part Of the North to attempt to pre-
vent the extension of slave labor in
the territory lying west of the South
ern States. As the republicans disclaim any
intention or any right to interfere with slavery
in the Southern States, they can gain nothing
by circumscribing it in q small area. BY
such policy there would not be one slave the
less. On the contrary, the most effectual way
to get rid VI slavery is TO permit it to expand.
BY diffusng it over o large surface it Is diluted
and weakened. By combining 1t to narrow
compass II Is concentrated and rendered more
compact. II slavery be an evil, it Is aggra-
waited tenfold by increasing in any locality the
number Of slaves in proportion to the whites. 1t
is humanity, on the principles Of the republicans
to permit slavery to expand west
ward, where it Is destined TO become gradu-
ally extinguished by the competition of free
labor. Thus the mistaken policy OF the re-
publican party really tends to perpetuate and
strengthen slavery instead Of diminishing It.
As far as the abstract right is concerned II
Is undoubtedly with the South, and all the ter
ritorial legislation of Congress since the forma-
ton of the constitution has been aggressive
upon the rights Of the Southern States. In
of the plain principle that terri
tory acquired by the common efforts and
common treasure OF all the States belongs
equally TO ali, and that citizens Of the Southern
States have the same right to enter II with their
negro slaves as citizens Of the Northern States
with their hired labor or their horses and muies,
there IA an express stipulation In the treaty
with France ceding the territory in disputewest
Of the Mississippi, that the rightsand immunities
Of the citizens occupying il should be held in
violate. Now, II Is not disputed that one OF
those rights was to hold slaves; and as treaty
becomes the supreme law Of the land, equal In
authority to the constitution itself, prohibition
Of slavery by Congress or Territorial Legisla-
lures cannot legally operate in any part Of
the Louisiana territory. No power can inter-
fere with II till new State, on admission into
the Union, prohibits II by its constitution. Yet
in violation Of these principles Of justice, the
Northern members of Congress In 1919 refused
to admit the State Of Missouri into the Union
because II would not prohibit slavery, and at
last they only consented to its admission on
the condition Of the South surrendering Its
right to emigratc into any part Of the territory
lying north Of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes,
slavery being prohibited north Of that line
This was therefore q compromise which was
ex,ortcd from the South by the power OF the