Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-26
LRTTER FROM
HON. H. IG< BLAKE.
q Demoorutic - Iuatructlauu Oouuidgrod--N'
Compronlse win Traitors,



sentative In Congress from this District, be
and IS hereby instructed 70 vote for either
the Douglas or Crittenden amendments %
the Constitution, Or sneh other Of like kind
as may hasten q speedy settlement Of the
present difficulties that now threaten 3 dis
solution Of the Union, and that if he cannot
vote for such amendments consistent with his
Republican principles, that we then demand
that be rssign bis seat in Congress, and give
the people a. opportunity 70 elect one who
viii represent the Union sentiment OF this
District.
The respectable character and standing Of
mauy of the gentlemen who compose that
Convention, induces me 70 give the above
resolution a passing notice, and at the same
time let my constituents have the benefit OF
my views on the pending crisis before the
American people,
The first article Of Mr.. Crittenden's pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution, declares
that
In all territory Of the United States no'0
held Or hereafter acquired situate north Of
latitude thirty-siE degrees and thirty min
utes, slavery or involuntary servilude, except
as a punishment for crime, is prohibited,
while such territory shall remain under ter
ritsrial government In all OF the territory
sonth OF said line Of latitude, slavery Of the
African race is hereby recognized as existing,
aud shall not be intel fered with BY Congress
but Shall b protected a. properly by all the
departments Of the territorial government
during its continuance; and when any ter
ritorv, north or south Of said line, within
such boundaries as Congress may prescribe,
shall conrain the population requisite for a
member Of Congress, according % the then
federal ratio Of representation Of the people
of the United States, it shall, if its form Of
government be republican, be admitted into
he Union on an equal footing with the
original States, usifh 0T irith0ut siaveTy, as
the Constitution Of the new State may pro-
vide" hl-
It will be seen BY an examination, that this
proposed amendment is to give protection q
slavery in all Of the territory Of the United
States south of Sc deg. 80 min, not only in
the territory we NV have but what 1t is in
tended BY aegoaaioR, robbery OF theft here
n, sr to acquire. The whole controversy in
regard TO the question of slavery in the ter
ritories turned on giving protection 10 il in
rbe territory south Of s6 deg. 30 min, in the
Democratic Convention al Charleston and
Baltimore, and which disrupted and destroy
I'd the party. It was admitted that as to all
territory north Of &c deg. 30 min, the ques-
ton had been settled in favor Of freedom
the Breckinridge men eontending for, and the
Douglas men opposing protection 70 slavery
in their platform. How comes it now, that
what the northern Democratic party would
not give at Charleston and Baltimore, | am
instructed by a portion Of that Verg party, and
bv one of he delegates from my dJstriet TO the
charleston and Baltimore Convention, to
have put into the Constitution of the United
States2 Less than one ye7r ago these men
pretended to be opposed to forcing slavery on
the people any wherej now by the resolu-
lion before me they declare their viii
Iinguess to carry this institution into an en-
Dire in defiance Of the will Of the people
last 9ctober and November Popular SoUsr-
signtl3 and nv '!grsaf prinepk' was the cry
hat animated those who opposed the Repub-
lean party, but now the great Priaeipls is con-
,fitua0HqL protection TO slavery, not by the
Constitution as our fathers made it, bat by
IN amendment VIII rely property iV man shall
Be- recognised N our national charter.
Il was with the greatest care the patriotic
men who framed the Constitution excluded
eve-v word that could possibly be made TO
convey the idea that man could hold property
IN man; but now the great effort is being
made By the shareholders of the South to put
INTO the Constitution what Madison and his
compatriots declared they never would con-
sent should 90 there; and l am sorry to say,
that the resolution before me affords evidence
that there are men in Wayne Comfy, who
desire to aid the men Of the slave States to
accomplish the purpose Of destroying the
Constitution Of Madison and Jefferson, which
established freedom, and to make one, TO suit
Yancey and Rhett, to establish slavery.
desire to be frank and fully understood
5y those whom / have the honor 10 represent
aere. therefore say never shall vote for
the Crittenden amendment to the Constitu-
lion, or an other amendment or proposition,
avOring or sanctioning slavery in the terri
fories of the United States. When my con
-tituents want my seat in Congress because
10 not properly represent them, thg can haze
G; but they can never have my vote in Con-
gress to extend OF protect slavery Gfyl0here.-
Ind under present circumstances, 1 intend tc
9ots against al eoMPTsmiSss, SVhdtSDer, 1Cith
,raitoTf9 When the South viii eoResds, that
we have q government proper, and not a
mere compact Of States; that State canRot
hssoIus the GaioR at pleasure; that the gen
raj government has 3 right to enforce its
property; that il is the duty Of the govern
nsnt to take from the traitors, who now
nave possession Of them, the forts, arsenals,
Z a. - FT~fF Naao
hat the will Of the people when constitution
Ally expressed through the ballot-box shall bC
,beyed; that Abraham Lincoln, having been
airiy, and accof ding to ali-the forms Of law
elected President Of the United States, shai
)e inaugurated, and If armed opposition !:
made thereto, it shall be put down BY slithS
lower of the government; that when Mr.
lincoln shall have been inapgnrated, -anC
aiken the oath of Office TO support the Con
stitution of the United States, and take cart
bat the laws are faithfully executed, he shall
10 if that the seeding States have violated
he Constitution and lalos and are now il
open rebellion agaisst the government Of the
United States; hat it IS the duty Of federal
government to put down such rebellion; :hat
be taking Of our forts, stealing our money,
nd firing on our national aag are ofenses
lgainst the people OF tle United States which
hould never be atOned for BY any conpro.
Mise; that the people of the North shall have
right 10 collect their demands in the court:
If the South; that the persons and properly
IT people from the free States shall be pro.
.ected from southern mobs that slavery is q
Ocal institution, which can exist only where
il has the protection Of the local law, Ia the
several States 10 which il now exists under
municipal regulations; and that there shall
be no future acquisitions OF territory for Il G
purpose Of extending slavery, then, may,
perhaps consider compromise. In most oi
lhese concessions, it will at once be seen, that
hey are simply the requirements Of the 'Ion
stitution Of the United States. Can the South
.xpect the North 70 make concessionsto favor
heir interests when that section is in open re-
Jszlioa Ggaiast tks CoHsht1toN aadths Union
Jur national flag has been insulted, the stars
and stripes made 70 trail in the dust By trait