Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-15
TFrom the Boston Traveller.l
HOW SHALL 4 COMPROMISE BE
MAINTAINED

Suppose that the present troubles Of the coun-
try should be removed by the adoption Of a com
promise project, which is far from improbable, as
MN who assume to speak for the country are now
demanding that something or anything. shall be
done, not 70 maintain the law but TO satisfy the
South. In the three weeks of life that Congress
yet has, much can be done, as all our Congresses
are given 10 working hard az their last hours
come upon them. Supposcg your compromise
adopted, and that even South Carolina shall be
'aisfed with its terms-that is, much satisfied
AS she ever Is with anything that imperfect NOR
Isl man can do; how will you secure the prize.
and enjoy il permanently, Should it nssume;the
form Of az act Of Congress, could it have more
binding force than the Missouri Compromise had
And the Missouri Compromise, after having its
sscredness admitted by all men Of ali parties from
1920 TO 1854, was repealed by combination Of
men from all parties. What one Congress has the
power TO enact, another Congress has the power to
repeal; md that one law has any more sacrcdness
taan another law, is proved not 10 be the case by
lhe events Of 1853, when the compromise Of CON-
promises was denounced, not only being worth
lsss but positively tyrannioal cruel and uiola-
i've Of the Constitution. II would not therefore
be possible 10 rely upon any Congressional enact
ment for the restoration Of permanent peace see
Ing what costly example VIC have Of the frailty |
4 that kind Of work We should then, have to |
amend the Constitution. and to place in it two or
three little articles admitting the nights Of slavery,
and providing that the property Of Shareholders |
should be great deal more sacred in Massachu- |
sets and otner free States than Northern property
is or is ever likely to be, in the South. That |
would settle the dispute, particularly if there |
should be another article added TO the Constitution
providing for the extension Of slavery into terri
tory yet to be acquired by purchase, by fraud, or
by violence. Surely, constitutional provisions |
would be sacredly observed. Would they, in
deel Present events do not warrant any such
simple faith in the sacredness of constitutional
provisions. Is it not a constitutional pr revision
i1at the whole country shall submitito the legal
ly expressed will Of the people at a Presidential
election And was not Mr. Lincoln legally cho-
sen President Of the Union in 1850 Even South
Carolina does not deny that the forms of the Con-
Htutlon have boon faithfully observed; and be-
You'd that man or State has the right to GO
let even Southern States have seeded from the
Union because a majority OF the Electors have
oonstltutionally decided that Mr.. Lincoln is Pres-
dent elect Of the United States. When one Of the
most important provisions Of the Constitution is
thus disregarded, a provision that no one ever
thought Of disputing for seventy-two years, and
We are told by respectable men that the Constitu-
ton must not be enforced, is it probable that a
new provision in that instrument, and one made
against public opinion, and und, coercion, would
be much revered No the compromises are
taking the course best calculated TO make their |
work worthless and they would find that tie ex
ample they mad set. Of submission TO threats,
would lead not even 20 temporary peace, but to
perpetual war.