The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-01

49, H., III, min. II was to use q legal phrase
a nayment down or in hand at the time II the
trans.ctiOn. The South, on its part accepted
the admission Of Missouri as full considera-
ton for its agreement to the Anti-Slayery pro-
hibi,On contained in the act Of admission. IL
was neither agreed. understood, implied, nor
anticipated, either by the North or the South,
that tolerance or protection OF slavery SCUM
Of 80 deg. 30 min. constituted any part vi the
bargain or compromise of $50. Nothing was
SAID or done in regard to that matter, nut IL
was LEFT undisturbed precisely where the parties
found il when the controversy commenced.
". Now, Mr.. Crittenden's proposition to
amend the Constitution Is something totally
different from ''the restoration OF the Missouri
COMPROMISES" True, he proposes 10 prohibit
slavery in all the national territory lying north
OF 81 deg. 80. min. But. he also proposes to
incorporate into the Constitution an article
recognising and protecting sldrery, by Federal
power, in all the territory we now have, or may
hereafter acquire south Of that line. SO far
from this being revival Of the Missouri Com
promise, IL would be the incorporation OF the
Brcckinrdge Presidential Platform, including
a Territorial Slave Code, into the Constitution
Of the United States.
Originally Mr.. Crittenden's plan did not
embrace governmental protection to Slavery or
relate to hereafter acquired Territory. These
features were inserted by way Of amendments,
after they were proposed in the Senate, through
the agency Of Mr.. Northumberland for the
purpose doubtless Of furthering the interests Of
the seccssionists by rendering the plan obnox-
ious TO the Republicans. Truly rs the Tribune
says. its adoption ''would be the incorporation
Of the breckenridge Presidential Platform in
GLIDING territorial Slave Code into the Con-
stitution Of the United States and who asks
thls-not Mr.. Crittenden, for the most obnox-
ious Of the provisions were inserted as We have
said, at the instance OF Senators from slave
States who,were favorable to Mr.. Breckinridse''
election. The Republicans cannot sanction the
plan, because it would be an abandonment
of their principles. The supporters Of Mr.
Douglas whose platform denounced congress
sional protection to slavery in the territories
could not, and retain their consistency sanction
ii. The Bell and Everett supporters could
not sanction II because their platform was,
",he Union, the Constitution, and the ekecu-
ton Of the laws" and this proposes an altera-
ton of every plank in their platform.
Only about six hundred thousand voters in
the United States voted for the breckenridge
Platform, while nearly four millions voted for
men standing on Platforms which were an
tagonistieal to the protection Of slavery in the
territories, and it is sublimity of impudence
to ask that the platform of q defeated Presden-
tial aspirant should be made the basis of a set
Element of the controversy.
IL was this very demand OF the Southern men
in the Charleston Democratic Convention for
the protection of slavery in the territories by
Congressional statutes that caused the breaking
up Of the Democratic party then and there, the
free State Democracy refuseing to agree to it,
and now, we Republicans are grayely asked to
coneede for Peace. what the Democracy Of the
free States spurned. Republicans will never
consent to thus degrade themselves, we are
sure of this-and we do not believe that the
Douglas men are quite prepared to eat brave
worls and stultfy themselves, by turning their
backs upon their declared principles, and go
for Congressional protection Of slavery in the
Territories.
What is asked of the North by the Crittendea
Planl This question the New York Courier
and Enquirer. paper that is ready to make
any reasonable compromise, answers thus:
WHY no more or less, than that we shall be-
come slavery propagandists and bind ourselves
and our pOsterity forever, To extend, establish,
aud protect the Institution Of Negro Slavery
down TO the lsthmus Of Panama Mexico in
1910, abolished slavery Throughout her Domin-
ions; AMI all the Territory we have acquired or
may hereafter acquire from Mexico, Is conse-
qucnty, Free Territory. Aud now we are
told by Mr.. Crittenden that If we would have
peace and preserve the Union, we must bind
ourselves and our pOsterity forever, TO become
slavery prOpagandists II is scarcely necessary
Ia say, that once explained. this proposition
would not receive the vote Of one out of a hun
drcl OF the DemOcra'ic party in the Northern
States. As evidence of public opinion upon
this subject we refer To a tact which occurred
in Railroad car day ortwo since. A Demo-
crat OF no little prominence ,accOsted US with the
questiOn-'Why do you not advocate Mr.. Crit
tenden's Compromise prOpositionsy" We re-
piled By the questiOn,-"AIe you in favor OF
extending slavery all over Mexico and down to
the Isthmus of Panama ?" Certainly not" was
bis reply;'I would do nothing OF the kind, but
1 woul let the South have New Mexico and thus
settle this question and preserve the Union by
peaceable means" "But II | understand you.
you would not give up all Mexico To slavery,
even fOrlihe sake of Peace" "No would not.
Sooner than make such a sacrifice, would re-
sort TO Civil War at once, and whip the
Rebels into obedience" swell then, do you
doubt that in process Of time-say within fifty
years, possibly within twenty, We shall absorb
all MexicOl" al do not" Snow read Mr..
Crittenden's Compromise. and answer me,
whether IL adopted IL is not binding the United
States to extend and protect slavery over the
whole Of MexicOl''
Our Democratic friend read Mr.. Crittenden's
proposition attentiyely, and then said, 81 see
now, how il Is, but did not understand il till
now" No, can't 20 that. am willing To
give them all we now have South Of 80 80 in
order 10 preserve the Union by peaceful means:
but no honest man who does not cling 10 Slave
~ as n blessing, can consent tn its extension
over the whole Of Mexico and South oft The
Union must be preserved at any cost; and
Civil War with all its horrors, Is preferable TO
such terms as Mr.. Crittenden proposes"
We have prepared this article because we de-
sired our readers to understand the real charac-
ter Of the "Crittenden Plan" Signatures are
being set to petitions got up in various parts of
the country for the passage ofMr. Crittenden's
propositions, Every man who signs them,
gives his assent:
First, To propositions altering the Consti-
tuition so to give new guarantees to slavery in
both States and Territories,
Second, To so change the Constitution from
recognizing slavery as purely local affair in
the care and keeping ofthe States, to the position
ofen,hroning 1t as national institution and to
introduce ii into Mexico. and Central America,
and wherever else south of 90 30 may suit
the Southern men to have il introduced.
Third, To policy which carries with Il
first. fillibustering; second, War with Mexico,
and perhaps Spain, and England; third. a heavy
national debt; fourth. either defeat or annexa-
ton Of all Mexico; ffth. n Grand net NJ seces-