Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-09-11


struggling CT untry, Rebellion aoau trs'
unph, and the sun of Constitutional LIB
., erty set in the gloom of an eternal night
North Star.
/ would the South have Accept
| ed the Crittenden COmpro-
1 mise!
"A correspondent Of the Cincinnati En-
ouirer inquiries whether there is any evl,
denee that jeff Davis and Toombs were
willing to accept the Crittenden compro-
mise. and abandon the secession move
ment. The following is the Enqulrer's
reply:
We have before us the Congressional
| Globe and Appendix for the session OF
1860 and 1861. If our correspondent
will turn to the Congressional Globe OF
| March II, 1861, he will find in in de-
bate in the Senate of march 2, upon the
| Corwin Resolution to amend the Constr
tuition of the United States. In the
course of debate Senator George +. Pugh
said. 20. ao rsa 81
1.-THE Crittenden proposition has been
Endorsed by the almost unanimous vote
of the Legislature of Kentucky. 1t mas
been Endorsed by the Legislature OF the
noble old Commonwealth of Virginia -
It has been pctitioned for by larger
number of electors of the United States
than any proposition that was ever be-
fore Congress. | believe in my heart
to-day, that it would carry an overwheim-
ing majority of the people OF my state
aye, sir, and of nearly every State IN the
Union. Before the Senators from the
State of Mississippi left this Chamber, l
heard one of them who now assumes, ut
least, to be the President of the South
ern Confederacy, propose to accept 1t
and to maintain the Union, If that propo-
sition could receive the vote it ought to
receive from the other side of this Cham
Der. Therefore, Of all your propositions,
ofall your amendments. knowing as do,
and knowing that the historian will write
it down, at any time before the 1st Of
January, a two-thirds vote for the Crit
tenden resolutions in this Chamber would
have saved every State in the Union, but
South Carolina"
Mr.. pugh said this in the hearing of
Seward, of Wade, of Fessendon, of
Trumbull, of all the Republican Senators,
and not one denied the truth of his as
sertiou. Mr.. D',uglas heard it, and con-
firmed its truth thus. We quote from
the Globe report of the discussion, Of
March @ Mr.. Douglas said:
"The Senator has said that if the
Crittenden Proposition could have pass
ed early in the session, it would have
saved all the States, except South Caro-
lima. 1 firmly believe it would. While
the Crittenden Proposition was not in
accordance with my cherished views, l
avowed my cherished views, | avowed
nv readiness and eagerness to accept it,
in order to save the Union, if we could
unite upon it. No man has labored har-
der than | have to get it passsd. | can
confirm the Senator's declaration, that
Senator Davis himself, when on the Com
mittee of Thirteen, was ready, at ell
times, to compromise on the C.ittenden
Proposition. | will 60 further, and say
that Mr. Toombs was, also" '
This makes the matter beyona dispute
that the South would have taken the
Crittenden Compromise as final settle
ment of all our difficulties. We will g"
further, however, and adduce the testimo-
nv of Sc, ator Toombs. of Georgia. him.
self. In his speech in the United States
Seoate, on the 7th of January, 1861, he
says: -...r4. -..-..~.
but, although l insist upon this per,
feet equality, yet when it was proposed
that the line of 80 deg 80 min. shall
be extended, acknowledge and protecting
our property on the south side Of the line
for the sake of peace, said to the Com
mitteo of Thirteen, and l say here, with
other satisfactory provisions, | would ac-
cept it"
These declarations forever settle the
question, as point of history, that the
adoption of the Crittenden Compromise
would have saved the Union and pfeserv-
ed the public peace. What q terrible
mistake was its rejection.
| IOur own view of the matter is that
the adoption of the Crittenden comp"o
mise would have done 70 essential good
whatever. We print the above at the
suggestion of friend who thinks other
wise. ED. JoUR. .......