The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-04
MORNING, JANUARY 4, 1861.

electors, leaving but one hundred and thirty
four for all the Others. With wha. assur-
ance then, can 1t be urged that Mr.. Lincoln
owes his election to the distractions Of his
adversaries
But suppose he edoes-what oft? Had he
received bot fourth Of the popular vote and
yet been elected, that fact would only have
rendered the reasonable antics Of the cotton
states by no much the less excusable; for
they are based on an assumption that the
North is uniaithiul to her Constitutional OBJ
legations, whereof Lincolns election is the
proof; but if Lincoln's election was not
really affected by Northern fanaticism"
but by Southern fatuity and factiousness,
what becomes Of the chief pretext for Seces-
sion i!
Mr.. Senator Crittenden, one Of the old.
est ,ablest, and most moderate OF the repre-
sentatiyes of the Slave States in Congress
one who, because of his moderation, has been
superseded by the Legislature OF his State,
ridge to replace him-he has devised scheme
Of compromise which he hopes to make ac-
ceptable to all parties. Its outline is US fol.
lows
" First, the extension Of the Missouri line
to the Pacific by an amendment to the Con-
stitution. n.-Second, no abolition Of Slavery
in the District Of Columbia, or in forts, ar
senals. and dock-yards of the United States
in the Southern States. Third, whatever
additional legislation may be needed for the
better enforcement OF laws against the Airi-
can Slave Trade. Fourth, notifications Of
the Fugitive Slave Law, removing the OBJ
noxious features offensive to Northern sensi.
bility, with claus, providing that, in case
OF forcible rescue. the county where it hap
pens shall be liable for the value Of the slave.
Fifth. repeal all the State laws subycrsiyc Of
the Constitution or laws Of the United
States"
Mr.. Crittenden has seen nearly half cen.
tury of public service, and has ever eyinced
courtesy, aud consideration for the opinions
of Others which entitle him to our profound
respect. Yet II is impossible net to see
that the essence Of the above is skilllnl eva.
sion rather than practical solution Of tho
problems now convulsing the country. Tho
extension of the Missouri line to the Pacific
wouldsurrender to slavery the greater portion
of New Mexico. with all of Arizona and q
good part of Utah--an arid, generally ster-
lilo region, but rich in mineral wealth now
ON the point of profitable and extensive de-
yelopemcnt. Ii would virtually say to the
Sir George Bickleys and Gen. llenningsens
of tho South, 4" Make haste to clutch Mexi.
co and Central America, since all you can
seize in that quarter has been sOlemnly con-
secratcd to slavery" Ii would stimulate
and intensity tho slaycholding lust ofacqui-
sition with regard TO Cuba, and cause il TO
expand 50 as to include Hayti and other fer
tile islands, In short, it would DO to surren-
der the future of our rcpublic to slavery extcn-
siOnists, and proclamation that all future
acquisitions oftcrritory were their lOrcordain-
ed and lawful prey.
Mr.. Crittendcns other propositions are OF
subordinate Importance, but their prevalent
tendency is the same. They all rest upon q
quiet assumption that the free States have no
right to regard slavery as wrong in which
they may lawfully decline to implicate them
selves. They all tend to make the prcserya-
ton Of. slavery national obligation II not n
national interest they will utterly fail TO-
satisly'the rampant secesionists they can
not be acceptable to earnest Republicans.
They arc 4orcdoomed to failure, either
through non-acceptunce by Congress or
through their essential incapacity to COM
pose the differences which they seem TO re-
gard as factitious and casual rather than as
the necessary result Of radically diverse con.
victions-oiirrcpressibly antagonis,ic scnti.
ments Bnd purposes.