The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-15
From the Springfield Republican.
The Plans of Adjustment.

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troversy-Mr Crittenden's, of which Mr.
Breckenridge is said to be the real author
Mr. Bigler's of Pennsylvania the border
state proposition. and that of Mr. Adams of
this state. Each of these plans involves a.
mcndments ofthe constitution, which car on
ly be accomplished by the vote of two-thirds
of both houses of Congress, and subsequent
ratification by the legislatures or special con-
ventlons of three-fourths of the states. This
will require considerable time, and will of
course be attended with general and excl
led popular agitation of the whole subject
throughout the country. There seems to be
an apprehension of immediate compromise
or concession on the part of Congress, such
as will be offensive to the people. But this
is impossible under any of the plans yet sug-
gested, for if Congress adopts any one of
these. or any other scheme of adjustment in
Guiding changes or additions to the constitu-
tion it will be of no effect until the whole
people of the country have passed their judg-
mcnt upon it. And since the states which
have already declared their secession would
decline to vote upon it at all, there can be no
serious reason to fear that any settlement
will be reached which IS not acceptable to
majority of the free states. This fact seems
to be lost sight of in the discussion. 1t
should be recollected that Congress cannot
amend the constitution, and that none of the
settlements proposed can be made without
the consent OF the people.
The four prominent plans before Congress
are IN substance as follows
Mr. Crltenden's plan prohibits slavery in
territories North of &c . So in all territory
South of that line, now owned or hereafter
acquired, slavery is to be recognized as ex-
listing. and shall not be interfered with by
Congress, but shall be protected as property
by all departments of the territorial govern
ment and when ary territory on either side
Of the lire, within such boundaries as Con-
gress may prescribe, shall have the popula-
ton requisite for a member of Congress. it
shall be admitted to the Union, with or with
out slavery. a. its own constitution may pro-
vide. The plan also forbids Congress to a.
bolish slavery in forts, dockyards, and other
places subject to its control in the slave
states or in the District of Columbia while
slavery exists in either Maryland or Virgin
ia, or without consent and compensation to
owners or to interfere with the interstate
slave trade. 1t also provides for law COM
pelling the county in which fugitive slave
Is rescued from the officers to pay his value,
the county to recover it from the rescuers. 1t
also forbidS any future amendment affecting
these. or the basis of representation, or the
clause touching the rendition of fugitive
slaves, or enabling Congress to interfere with
slavery in a::y state forbids persons having
any African blood from holding the elective
franchise or being eligible for federal. state,
territorial. or municipal office and authori-
zes the acquisition of territory for the colo
nization of free negroes. 1t proposes to de-
clare by statute that the fugitive slave law is
constitutional, and that resistance toit should
he punished that state laws conflicting with
il. though null, are dangerous and should be
repealed and that the present fugitive slave
law should be amended. so as to make the
limit the power of calling on the posse com
hot"s to cases of actual danger of rescue
and that the laws for suppressing the African
slave trade ought to be made etfectual and to
be executed.
Mr. Crittcnden proposes that the people
shall vote on all these propositions, as we'll
as on the proposed amendments to the con-
>titution.
The border state plan. introduced by MI
Ethcrldce OF Tennessee, differs from that of
MIR Crittenden in making the protection of
slavery South of sc g 80 negative instead
of positive, by providing that neither Con-
sress nor any territorial legislature shall have
power to pass any law abolishing, prohibit
ing. or in any manner interfering with the
right to hold slaves The terms of admis
sion Of new states at the same. 1t follows
the Crittcndcn plan. also, as to the inner
state slave trade, the federal district, &c.
provides that no new territor! shall be ac
qaired without the concurrent vote Of two
. thirds OF both houses, or treaty sanctioned
by vote of two-thrds of the Senate
The Bigler plan follows Mr. Crittenden' in
all essential points. and provides in addition
that the African slave trade shall not be re.
vivcd except by the unanimous consent Of
both houses, and that the president shall be
elected for six years and not be eligible for q
second term.
Mr. Adams plan is to admit New Mexico
and Arizona, which include all present terri
tory South of 36 ; so, as a state at once
with or without slavery, as the people there
may determine and to amend the constitu
ton by declaration that Congress shall new
, er interfere with slavery in any state withou,
tie consent of every state. 1t also recon-
mends to the free states the repeal Of law.
conflicting with the fugitive slave bill, anC
provides for an amendment of that law 81 a.
, to give fugitive trial by jury in the L. S
IL.
The material difference between Mr. Crit
tendens plan and that of Mr. Adams is thai
the former provides for future territories
!. while the latter settles the question only for
existing territory. There is IN apparent de
! termination on the part of even the border
states to insist upon fixing the condition of
future and possible territorial acquisitions a,
/, this time. and this is precisely the concessio,
! to which the people of the North most deci
= lelly object The New England states will
also object to the disfranchisement of thei
= colored citizens; and perhaps some of thu
middle and Western states, although not in
:, clined 20 admit negroes to political equality
will not consent to have that matter fixed by
the general government, but Insist that it Il
= the right of each state to determine it for 1t
. self. The amendments proposed to the fugl
tive law in all these plans will be general.
!, acceptable, and the repeal ofthe state person
al liberty acts is likely to be accomplished be
: fore Congress shall suggest it. The idea of
! conciliating the states already out is aban
= doned for the present. They may return
hereafter if the other slave states remain ,bu
e probably till they have had some experience
of the difference between secession as
. dream and as reality Whether the fre
,, states will consent to any one of these plans
u or any other that will satisfy the border slav
states and hold them back from secession, re