The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-20
The Question of a COmprOmise-Tr.S ena-
tor Bigler's Proposition for ssTaking the
Sense of the People,"

=
tor BigIer's Proposition for s.Taking the
Sense of the People,
With the closing proceedings last week in
the Senate at Washington the cause of the
Union frightened up little. Mr.. Clark's reso
luton, declaring the constitution as it stands
sufficient for all the necessities of the country,
present OF prospective, had been adopted as
substitute for Mr.. Crittenden's propositions of
compromise, and thus it was supposed there
was an end to all compromising in the Senate
But on Friday this vote was reconsidered
although the republicans were unit against
reconsideration. and thus the door of COM
promise is thrown wide open again.
Accordingly, the appointed regular order of
the Senate for to morrow is the Crittenden reso-
lutions, proposing certain amendments to the
constitution and the various substitutes or
amendments which have been or which may be
proposed. Among these substitute propositions
which will come up is the bill introduced the
other day by Mr.. Senator Bgler, 'to provide
for taking the sense of the people of the several
States, on certain proposed amendments to
the constitution of the United States.'
But before explaining this bill, let us
see what the constitution DEGREES on this sub
ject. 1t DEGREES that ''the Congress, whenever
two-thirds of both houses shall deem it ncces-
sary, shall propose amendments to this consti-
tuition, or, on the application of the Legisla-
lures of two-thirds of the several States. shall
call convention for proposing amendments,
which. in either case, shall be valid to all in
tents and purposes as part of this constitu-
ton, when ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourths of the several States, or by conventions
in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by Con-
gress"
With this provision of the constitution be-
fore him, the reader will fully comprehend the
preamble and the first section Of Mr.. Senator
Biglers bill, to wit
whereas the unien is in imminent danger Of final dis
solu the consequence Of protracted strife and a
tation about the institution Of African slavery and
whereas Is believed that legislative remedies in
sufficient to meet and the of this mpend
ing disaster and amendments to the constitution
only be submitted by vote OF two thirds OF both houses
81 Congress and owing 10 the unhappy divisions existing
in those houses at present. is not believed that the
sent OF iwohirds the members of either be had
10 such amendments to the constitution a. would re
conce the differences between the North aud the South
and whereas Is cardinal principle OF our representa-
that the representative shall obey the will Of
the people deemed proper and necessary to ask the
opinion and Judgment n the people Of the several states
proposed amendments TO the constitution. with the
their submission by vote Of two thirds OF each
branch Of Congress for the ratification OF the States
provided in the constitution, thereby restoring our dis
tractd country to its accustomed peace and prosperity
therefore,
he /, enacted &c. That the citizens of the several
states qualified TO vote for members OF Congress are
hereby requested 10 hold an election Tuesday, the
twelfth da Of February next for the purpose Of deciding
for again the annexed proposed amendments to the
constitution OF the United States.
The proposed amendments to the constitu-
ton which are thus to be submitted to the
popular vote, should this bill become law,
are
l. That the Territories now held, or which
may hereafter be acquired by the United
States, shall be divided between the North and
the South, anti-slavery and slavery, by the line
of Sc 3O-thc Missouri compromise line.
2. a denial to Congress of the power TO
abolish slavery in the federal navy yards ar
senals &c, and also with certain conditions in
the District Of Columbia
3. Providing indemnity to masters whose
slaves may be spirited away by Northern un-
foreground railroads or rescued by abolition
mobs.
A. Providing free transit throughout the
Union for shareholders with their slaves by land
and water; but requiring the unanimous con-
sent Of both branches Of Congress to reopen
the African slave trade.
8. Extending the term of the President TO
six years, and declaring him ineligible for a
reelection.
6. Requiring the consent OF all the States for
Congressional Intervention in the domestic in
situations of any Of the States.
There is every reason to believe that CON-
promise embracing those concessions to the
South would be satisfactory to the South. and
would prevent war and restore har-
mony to the Union. But, as Mr.. Big
Ter has indicated, the regular constitl.
tional processes for reaching tue people would