The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-21

| GltN VI DulltluOtN IhA WV h1"hN
thanks to the firmncSS Of its Governor,
and its loyal Members of the Legislature,
refused to 60 out Of the Union. else in
the beginning, Washington would have
fallen.
Though nothing was done in Congress
to aid and comfort Union men of Mis-
saari and Kentucky, they have, like those
of Maryland, held their States, while
Western Virginia and E'ixf'rn Tennessee,
unaidrd, aud by their own indunitablc
courage, stand, with their property con.
tiscatcd and their breath in their noStrilS,
firmly by the Union!
This brings ms to the practical object Of
this article. Three States, viz Virginia,
North Carolina and Tennessee. were lost
because Congress rejected their PROPOSE
tionS Of adjustment; while three other
States, viz Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, are struggling TO maintain their po.
sitionS in the Union.
Congress, after the War had existed for
three months, re-aSscmbed. Its Mem
bers, now called to face its stern realities,
discovered that something more than the
Chicago Platform" was needed. Now il
had become evident to minds that could
not, in February, be raised above the no.
rizon Of party, that the Union and It's
Government were endangered. Aud now,
with II unanimity almost unparalleled, the
following Crittcndcn Compromise Rrsolu-
tion was adopted by Congress:
Mr.. Crittcndcn introduced a resolution
as follows
ReSOirrl, That the present civil wal
has been forced on MS by the DiSunioniSts
Of the southern States now in rebellion
against the Government of the United
States; that in this National emergency
Congress, baniShing all feelings of passion
and resentment, will rccollcct only their
duty to their country; Mqt tie r"r IA
not oo"gA for conquest on aHljugdtioh, ~
interfering TiM the riyhts Gr established
WSdges Cf these States, but to maintain and
defend the supremacy Of the Constitution
with the rights and equality under it un'
impaired; that, as soon rs these objects
shall bc accomplished, the war ought 1t
cease.
The first branch Of the resolution, tina
the present deplorable civil war was forceC
on the country by the DiSunioni>tS of tn,
Southern States now in revolt against the
Constitution and the Government, and il
arms around the Capital. Adopted =
Yeas, 1911; nays. 2, viz: Burnett, ant
Reid, Of Missouri.
The remainder Of the resolution wa:
adoptcd-ll7 against ., viz: Potter ant
Riddle.
The resolution, or any other hrvathin!
the same spirit, would have kept thrc,
powerful States in the Union, and render
ed Secession" comparatively powerlesS
That resolution, adopted in season, though
it would not have averted the war, woul,
have secured an early and glorious tri
umph for the Union.
The resolution was voted for h0r by tn
Representatives who loudly aud vehc
mently denounced it last winter. 1t i
accepted hpn by the journals that so un
sparingly denounced us for S"gytSttny i
when it was needed and would have beer
effective. Then the New York Tribune
though it melted the GulfStatcS to sccedr
was law for Congress, for the LcgiSla
ture, for the press, and for the people
Then, for venturing to "Suggcst" tn
propricty Of chcrishing Union Scntimrn
in border States, this journal was de
nounccd in Congress, asSailed in the lie
giS!aturr, arraiSncd bv the press, and rc
proved BY many'of its oldest patrons AM
friends. We told them all that in tn
conflict which approached. the question
Of extending slavery into the Territories
: along with the Chicago Platform, woul
be merged" aud become "obsolete
But the arrogant and ilashy illumination
Of the Irib0ne, like the howlingS of
tempest, drowned the voice OF truth an,
reason. How much all this has cost tn
country, in treasure and blood, in diSas
ter and humiliation, in anguish and tear
we need not inquire. But We shall, it i
hoped. in view Of the obloquy which wa
hcaped upon ms, and the rrproach W
have endured, be pardoned for recalling
the past, the more especially rs it tcachc
lesson from which instruction for tn
future may be learned.