Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-28
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY
ot RESTS.
Would tie South haze accepted the CRIT
tendea ComprOmjse--An Important
Page Of Political History.

~ We iuHV y nc enquirer:
hayeseen statement in the EnuuiN
FER, copied into the Sentinel, of this city,
that the sSpntbern Secessionists, as repre-
sented by their leaders Jefferson Davis
and Robert Ioombs-were willing to take
the Crittenden. .CompIomise last winter,
and save the Union, but the Republican
Senators refused to adopt that measure.
and hence our present troubles and disas-
ter. This statement is vehemently de-
MED 10y my Republican friends. They
say that the cotton States headed by Da-
Wis and Toombs--would not take that
compromise, and that no proof can be
given that they would Several of them
admit that i they ,2ouR haze taken Il, q ter
ribIe responsibility rests upon the Repub-
llcans for refusing II, and they declare
/ they will never support that party hereat-
ter If it can be shown 10y documentary ey-
idcnce. Can you give me any additional
particulars of the circumstances under
which Mr.. Douglas bore the testimony
which you published in the Enquirer a
few days since, liz reference 10 the will
| linguess of the South to take the Crtten-
den Compromise? DEMOCRAT.
We have before us the Congressional
Globe u,d ADpeHdir for the Session OF 1860
and 1861. Ii our correspondent will turn
to the Congressional GhLe Of March ii d.,
1861, he will find in it u debate in the
Senate, of March ,, Upon the Corwin Res
olulion to amend the Cons tuition OF the
United States. In the course of tho de.
bate, Senator George L. Pugh said:
The Crittenden proposition has been
endorsed by the almost unanimous vote
OF the Legislature OF Kentucky. 1t has
been endorsed by the Legislature OF the
noble old Con munwealth of Virginia. 1t
has been petitioned for by lNrger mum.
Der Of electors OF the United States, than
any proposition that was ever before Con-
g:ess. believe in my heart, to-day, that
it would carry an overwhelming majority
Of the people Of my STATE; ay, sir, and Of
nearly every other State IN the Union
Betorc tie Senator'S from tie State Of Mississippi
igJt Mi8 Chamber Ihcard one Of them, ,eho, no,o
assumes at ieaSt to be President Of tie Southern
Coatcacracy propose to accept anil TO
naattaiH tic Union if that proposition couH re-
c5i0e the cote il cigh 10 recCivG from He other
side ofHiS chamber. Therefore, of all your
propositions, Of all your amendments,
knowing as | do, and knowing that the
historian will write il do,0R at d,,y time Jetorc
tie LIST of JantrH u hoo.thiriS uote for tie Crit>
te5.dea resolution IN this Chamber WOuM haze
Savca eocry Satc IN the Union but South caro-,
Ina.
Mr.. Pugh said this in the hearing of
Seward, of Wade, of Fessenden, of Trum.
Lull, OF all the Republican Senators, and
not one denied tha truth of his assertion.
Mr.. Douglas heard it, and confirmed its
truth thus. We quote from the GLOBE re,
port OF the discussion, of March .. Mr.
Douglas said:
'IAe Senator ha8 sal d, that little CiHendm
proposit,a could haze passed carly in The session,
Il sgouM haUe Sa0cd all the StateS except South
CUoEna. / firmly JeAcre Il ,0ouH. While
the Cittenden Proposition was not i'll ac-
cordance with my cherished views,
avowed my readiness to accept it, in order
to save the Union, if we could unite ups
on it. No man has labored harder than
have to get it passed. lean confirm tie Scu-
at0,'s declaration, that Senator DWis himScG
whca on tic Committee Of Thirteen, oaS ready
Ut all times 10 compromise 6l the CrhcRacn
proposition. will go further and say that
Mr.. Toombs was also"
I This makes the matter beyond dispute,
that the South would have taken the Crit
tenden Compromise as final settlement Of
all our difficulties. We will 60 further
however, and adduce the testimony of
Senator Toombs, of Georgia, himself. In
his speech in the United States Senate,
Oh the Eth January, 1861, he said:
"But, although insist upon the perfect
equality, yet when it was proposed-as |
understand the Senator from Kentucky
a. 4 lt,n ,fp l,nl |
be extended, acknowledging and protecting
our property on the south side Of the line,
for the sake of peace. ! said TO the Cons
mittee OF Thirteen, and | say here, with
other satisfactory provisions, | would ac-
oept it,"
These declarations forever settle the
question, rs a point Of history, that tho
adoption o! the Crttenden Compromise
would have saved the Union and preserv-
ed the public peace. What terrible
mistake was its rejection.
We are now cmbroiled IN an extensive
and dreadful civil war, without any real
attempt being made 10y the majority of
! Congress to settle the difficulty peaceably
and amicat ly. Many propositions were
made i'm the last Congress, but they gener"
ally came either from tue Southern men
or from Northern Democrats, and were all
rejected by tie Republicans, without
whose assent nothing can be done. The
proposition of Mr.. Crittenden was, rs we
all know, rejected by this party. Then
Mr.. Gtheridge, one Of the most resolute
of the UEion men of the South, and who
is now Clerk of the House of Representa-
tiyes, chosen by the Republicans, drafted
some resolutions of compromise, which
was known as the Border State Comrrom>
Use. This compromise the Republicans
rejected. 1t was not satisfactory to the
Cotton States, but it would have kept all
the Border States in the Union, and In
that event the Cotton States could not
have remained long ou! of it. Mr.. Doug
lass introduced very excellent scheme Of
adjustment that would have satisfied Nlr-
rigia and all the Border States. This the
Republicans would not accept. They would