The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-15
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Would the South Have Accepted the
Ciittenden Compromise-An Important
Page of Political History.
indianapolis, July 30, 1851.


indianapolis, July 80, 1851.
To TIE EDITOR THE ENoUIREE:
have seen statement in the Enquirer copied
into the Sentinel, of this city, that the Southern
Secessionists, as represented by their leaders
jefferson Davis and Robert Toombs-were willing
to take the Crittenden Compromise last winter,
and save the Union. but the Republican Senators
refused to adopt that measure, and hence cur
present troubles and disaster This statement is
vehemently denied by my Republican friends
They sly that the cotton States-hcaded By Davis
and Toombs-wouli not take that Compromise and
that proof be given tha. they would
Several of them admit that if tiey ,couH hare Ia
ken it, terrible responsibility rests upon the Re-
publicans for refusing it and they declare they Will
never support that party hereafter if it can be
shown by documentary evidence. Can you give
me any additional particulars OF the crcu instances
under which Mr.. Douglas bore the testimony
which yon Published in the Enquirer few days
since in reference to the willingness Of the South
to take the Crittenden Compromise
DEMOCRAT
We have before us the Congressional Globe and
Appendix for the session of 1860 and 1861 If
our correspondent will turn to the Congressional
Globe of March II lsGl. he will find i'm it a debate
Resolution to amend the Constitution of the
United States. In the course of the debate,
Senator George f. Pugh said:
"T'he Critten1eH proposition has been indorsed
by the almost unanimous vote of the Legislature
of Kentucky. 1t has been indorsed by the Legis-
lature of the noble OLD Commonwealth of Virginia
1t has been pe:itioned for by larger nuinber Of
electors of the urited States than any proposition
that was ever before Congress. | believe III nv
heart, o-day that it would carry an overwhcl-
ming majority of the people of my State ay, sir,
and of nearly every other State in the Union Be
fore the Senators from the State of Mississippi left
this Chamber, heard one Of them who now as
sumes, at least, To be President of the Southern
Contclerlcv, propose to accept it and TO maintain
the Union if that proposition could receive the
vote it ought to receive from the other side of
this CHI Therefore, of all your PROPOSE
tons, of your amendments. knowing as 10 and
knowing that the historian will write it down, at
any time before the lst Of January, two thirds
vote tor the Crticnden resolutions in this Chamber
would have saved every State in the Union, but
South Carona.''
Mr.. Pugh said this in the hearing of Seward, of
Wade, of Fressenien, of Trum5ull. of all the
Republican Senator's, and not one denied the truth
of his assertion. Mr. Douglas hearel it, anl con-
firmed its truth thus. We quote from the Globe
report of the discussion, of March ., Mr. Douglas
said
The Senator has said that if the crittenden
Proposition could have passed earlier in tke scs-
sion, it would have savcl all ihe States except
South Carolina. firmly believe it would While
the Crittcnden Proposition not in accordance
with my cherished views, avcwed my readiness
and eagerness to accept it, in order TO save the
Union, if could unite upon it. No man has
hbored harder than | have to get it pls.ed' can
confirm the Senator's declaration, that Senator
Davis himself when on the Committee of Thir-
teen, was ready at all times to compromise on the
Crittcnden Proposition. will so further, and say
that Mr. Toombs was also.
This makes the matter beyond dispute, that the
South would have taken the Crittenden Compro-
mise final settlement of all our difficulties
We will go further however. and adduce the t,s-
timony of Senator Toombs, of Georgia. himself
In his speech in the United States Senate, on the
9TH of January. 1861 he said
But, although insist upon this perfect cquali-
ty, yet when it was proposed-as understand the
Senator from Kentucky now proposcs--that the
line of SO 80 shall be extended, acknow lodging
and protecting our property on the south side OF
the line, for the sake of peace permanent peace,
said to the Committee Of Thirteen, and. say
here, with other satisfactory provisions. would
accept it,
These declarations forever settle the question,
point of history that the adoption of the Crit
tcnden Compromise would have saved the Union
and preserved the public pcacc.-What a terrible
mistake was its rejection