Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-28
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY
RESTS
Would the South hare accepted the crit
tenden CompromiSe--AH Importdn
Page Of Political History.

ANplANOfOLlSj July OVi lSOl'
10 the Editor ofHc Eagar6r:
have seen Il statement in the EnquiN
rer, copied into the Sentinel, Of this city f,
that the Southern Secessonists, as repre-
sented by their leaders Jefferson Davis
land Robert Eoombs--were willing to take
the Crittenden Compromise 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 yehemently de-
MED by my Republican friends. They
say that the cotton States headed 10y Da-
Wis and TOombs-would not take that
compromise, and that no proof can be
given that they would. Several OF them
admit that if they ,0Ould ka0c tax en- Il, u ter
rible responsibility rests upon the Repub-
licans for refusing it, and they declare
/ they will never support that party hereaf-
riff it can be shown 10y documentary ev-
idence. 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, IL reference to the viii
lngness of the South to take the Critten-
den Compromise? DEMOCRAT.
| We have before us the Congressional
GloJe a1d ADpsndr for the Session Of 1860
and 1861. II our correspondent will turn
to the Congressional GhJe Of March IL,
( 1861, he will find in it debate in the
Senate, Of March ,, Upon the Corwin Res
olulon TO amend the Cons tuition of the
| United States. In the course Of the 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 beou petltioned for by Il larger 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
il would carry an overwhelming majority
of the people of my State; ay, sir, and of
nearly every other State in the Union
Before the Senator's from the State Of Mississippi
Left this Chamber Iheard one Of theH' 1Gh0, no,0
assumes at leaSt to be President Of de Southern
CoaJcdracy. propose to accept il a"d to
ntatatab, tic Union j that proposition couM re-
csigc the cote Il GugM to rccei0e from Me 0thcr
side ofhis chamber. Therefore, of all your
propositions, Of all your amendments,
knowing as do, and knowing that the
historian will write doo0a at any Gmc Jctore
7 tie lSt Of JaHwy, hGo.hrctS cote for tie Crit,
tsndca resolution IN this Chamber tCOuM haze
saved e0ery ,State in the Union but South Caro-
Tina.
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 the 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 .. MI
Douglas said:
.'The Senator has sal d, that UdG CriHendol
proposition could haze passed carly IN tie session,
Il ,gouLd lure Saoed the States except South
Cuolipa. Itrmy believe ,Ooad. While
the C,ittenden Proposition was not in ac-
cordance with my cherished views,
avowed my readiness TO accept it, in order
TO save the Union, if we could unite ups
or it. No man has labOred harder than
have to get it passed. can cogf,m tic Sen
ators declaration, that Senator Dtc;s himScG
whea on the Committee Of Thirteen, 1oaS reafy
ataH times to compromise o. the CrthcRdcH
proposition. | will 90 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 a final settlement Of
all our difficulties. We will 60 further,
however. and adduco the testimony of
Senator roombs, Of Georgia, himself. In
his speech in the United States Senate,
on the 18th January, 1861, lie said;
But, although insist upon the perfect
equality, yet when it was proposed-as |
understand the Senator from Kentucky
now proposes-that the line Of 36o3O/ shall
be extended, acknowledging and protecting
our property ON the south side Of the ine
for the sake of peace, | said TO the Cons
mittee OF Thirteen, and | say here, with
other satisfactory provisions, | would ac-
Cept H."
These declarations forever settle the
question, as a point of history, that the
adoption o! the Cr.ttenden Compromise
would have saved the Union and preserv-
ed the public peace. What terrible
mistake was its rejection
We are now embrOiled in an extensive
and dreadful civil war, without any real
attempt being made by the majority Of
Congress to settle the difficulty peaccably
and amicatly. Many propositions were
made in the last Congress, but they gener'
ollv came either from the Southern men
or from Northern Democrats, and were all
rejected 10y tic Republicans, without
whose assent nothing can be done. The
nroposition of Mr.. Crittenden was, as we
all know, rejected by this party. Then
Mr.. Gtheridge. one Of the most resolute
of the ULion men of the South, and who
is now Clerk of the House of Representa-
tiyes, chosen by the Republicans, drafted
some resolutions of com promise, which
was known as the Border State Comrrom>
ise. 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 a very excellent scheme Of
adjustment that would have satisfied Vir-
: rinia and all the Border States. This the
Republicans would not accept. They would