Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-06-25
plan orComnromIse.

The following plen of adjusting our sec
ton difficulties, proposed by a gentlemaQ
of Louisville, from the neutral ground e
Of Kentucky, is taken from the New YORK
Journal Of Commerce The article exhib.
its not only true spirit of patriotism, but
clear conception Of the real difficulties
under which we labor. The remedies are
plausible, and probably would prove ehecz
tual, except the one relating to the short
ening of the Presidential term:
MEssRs. EDIToRs Why is this UnioH
dissolving? Because of disagreement %
the question of slavery in the Territoris<
Or the tariff? The Charleston Mercur9.
the leading secession organ, says no ! but
that it is because of the usurpations by the
General Government of powers reserved to
the States.
In my judgment, no one Of these is the
true cause. 1t is, rather, that great fact
which has demonstrated itself, and can no
longer be ignored, that our country is split
into two great and opposing sections. .of
interests and ideas so diverging that they
cannot lire together in union, unless eac's
holds CONSTITUTIONAL negative over the
others action. This fact has demonstrated
itself in the election by one of the sections
of e man to act as President of all the
States who represents a party and princi-
Piles so insufferahly odious to the people of
fifteen of these States that he die not get Ia
majority in any county of them, and in all
probability not a single vote in them of
native of southern soil.
Where bad laws are enacted, or good
laws perverted from their spirit so as to
produce unequal action, revolution newt.
ably asserts itself
Lincoln's election is in accordance with
the letter of the law, but not with its shirt,
tor the spirit OF the Constitution is that all
shall have voice in choosing the Presi-
dent OF the nation, and the presentation and
election Of such a man by the majority of
section, demonstrates the necessity of a
change in the letter of the law, because it
has permitted the acknowledgements of the
whole fifteen southern States.
10 say that the sOutherners have not
been deprived of the elective franchise. be-
cause they voted at the same time for other
candidates, Is but to aggravate the wrong;
II anything in the shape of a respectable
minority had voted for Lincoln in the slave
States, such plea would be correct, bnt
not, when as at present, he is utterly re-
pudiated.
Where sections are SO marked, interests
50 c!ashing, and all ideas so divergent. as
IN our north and south, union is only made
possible by giving to each part full power
OF self defence, 50 that they NAV feel easv
and not have cause to fear oppression.
To be magndnimous is the first duty of
power.
therefore propose that the Constitution
be irrepealably amended so that the States
which now holds slaves and any future &C
cessiOns of slave States shall constitute the
Southern section, and the present free
States and any future accessions of free
States shall constitute the northern section.
and that no man shall be declared elected
Presidentor Vice President, unless he shall
have received majority of the electoral
votes OF each section respectively and no
man shall be declared elected Sneaker of.
the House OF Representatives unless he has
received majority of the votes of Repre-
sentatlves from each section respectiyely.
If the electoral college or House of Repre-
sentatlyes do not succeed in making an
eiectioa by three ballOtings in this way,
then let them proceed to ballot for an en-
tlrely new set of candidates, (ruline cut
those first ballotted for and so go on, cast
ing only three ballots for any ono set of
candidates until an election is had.
MIR. Calhoun's plan of two Presidents
might be fifty represented by two pillars
standing side by side without pCipt of
union, and liable to be separated at the top
by any force acting between them.
Mine, think, has for its emblem. the
human body-two feet separated, to prevent
loss of balance and insure progress-and a
head In common to EMILY the aim of all
progressive exertion.
The Senate has heretofore been the bal
auce wheel of our system, and to keen nm
an equality there, has been the cause of
the South's continued grasping for more
territory, in order to maintain the power
of self-defence.
The balance wheel having become discr.
dered, the machine is tearing Itself to
pieces.
My plan provides a new balance wheel.
By this mode the veto power and the ar.
pOintment Of the committees which share
the legislation of Congress, would be in the
hands of those chosen as umpires bv both
sections, ana north and south could feel
safe from sectional outrage. The utter i'm.
possibility of any party then ACCOMPLISHING
any election Or legislation without deferrirg
tionalism from our national councils. as
the proper division of cares and mutual
defence best promotes cordial and united
feeling between man and wife.
The President should not be elipihle for
second term, and the term of that Office
should be shortened to three, or even two
years, so as to give ambitious men sufficient
chances for attaining the position u pre.
vent them from inaugurating revolution.
and at the same time give more chances for
the reform of abuses and the prevention of
So much venality and corruption as we
have had, by thus lessening the Presidents
patronage without lessening his efficiency
as an Executive, which latter is done when
his power Of appointment and removal is
restricted When our Constitution was
framed there were sectional interests. IL !.
true, but not 50 sharply defined nor consol
idated INTO two OF such imposing magni-
tudes ana opposition as we now have.
The division of our country into two
great and opposing sections must now be
recognized as an uncomfortable fact, and
one that will endure ferever To act for
the future on the supposition that we will
one day all be free or all slave, can end on
ly In disruption and war, unless the blacks
are exterminated.
Any union whatever of the sections
which is honorable, is preferable, far pre-
ferable for both, to disunion 1t will give
each strength against outside enemies, and
If in such union we provide for defer &c
against each other, we will have accom-
plished all that is possible.
Providing for territorial acquisitions and
divisions is merely temPorizing, but the
idea have above presented goes directly
to the fountain head, and makes radical
change in the organic law, which exactly
meets radical change in the political
character of our people
1t changes sectiona,ism from its present
form of positive and aggressive power in
to merely negative power, powerless for
any greater evil than that of producing a
dead lock.