Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-17
: -, from v,ce-Presldent Breckenridge.
,tn,ky Urged to Call State Convention.

luz TT;tod States has addressed letter to Gov. Ma
mSS of Kentucky, approving OF his course IN con-
the Legislature of that State and expressing the
V.;on that no thorough and satisfactory plan will
oPlpoospd to the States by the Congress ALI efforts
5 purpose have disclosed differences too radical to
Init of agreement
a Rrpcknridge next refers to the fact that the Sen
'ommittee of thirteen had been unable to unite upon
% satisfactory pan and then proceeds to speak OF the
"!ocOns of Mr.. Crttenden as 90 conceived 10 a spirit
PUPtriotic concession" All these propositions, how
I except the territorial question, sir. Breckenridge
ers are but deClaratJry OF the present constitution,
I therefore there is concession neither upon the one
40 nor the other. The free States are only asked to
op that they will never use their growing power to
ivp the South of existing rights which are essential
|ite safety On the territorial question embraced in
NJ Crittenden's plan however, MIR. Breckenridge thinks
Lot q vast concession to the North is made, and his
s on this point as well as that Of coercion, quote
,tlength, as follows:
The Southern States assert with great unanimty,
As rbt of all the States to enter the common Terrific
w With their property of whatever kind, including
ores and to have it protected by the common govern
nt This right is sustained by highly respectable
lass of opinion in the Northern States and has been
.rmed by the highest judicial tribunal known to the
cnsution 1t does not fall within the scope OF this
Litter to reargue the question. treat it as settled
:bt upon which the argument has been exhausted
aNr Crttendens territorial amendment offers, so far
1.-The Southern States and their ave property
ed to yield this right in threeOurths of the existing
totorv to save it in the remaining fourth. The clti
D ohe Northern States and their property are to be
0cted in all the TerrtOry-the citizens OF the South
I'm States with their property an fourth of 1t. Pro
HbiOn of slave property north of &c deg. 80 min.-re
ognion and protection of it south Of that lne-and
he rule to apply TO all territory hereafter acquired-this
the principle of the proposed amendment And the
,t named feature is vital If the territorial question
n be settled at ALL it should be settled for all tme and
licked up in the constitution. Otherwise there can be
hope of exemption from ncesSant antislavery agta
fn and the country would soon be thrown again into
Ap midst of political and financial commissions The
bern States cannot afford to be shut off from all
disability of expansion towards the tropics by the hos
tap action of the federal government.
81 am sure that tnis plan of adjustment has been
,arod not as the full measure of rights, but as
rioic concession, with the hope of obtaining prompt
+ security and peace In view of the knowledge we
lave Of the progress of political anti-slavery opinion
l Of the manner in which the federal government may
pmpOyed by hostile Influences, it falls far short of
what would be required in forming original scheme
Government or even in recOnstructing the old one
After the experience have had of the practical work
ngoftbe system, l find it difficult to cherish well
rounded hope Of permanent security except by the in
Induction OF some element which would give the South
fe power of selEprotectiOn.
II cannot suppose that Kentucky would consider her
fbs interests and honor safe under any settlement
les thorough than this proposed by Mr.. Crttenden.-
ANY attempt to emasculate it by excluding from its
SCOPE after acquiring territory or by failing to recog-
z and protect slave property south of the line by Ian
rage as clear and explicit that employed to prohibit
inorth of the line, by yelling its provisions in
bguou phrases could only result in agtations and
w0vuIsi0ns believe that Kentucky wants thorough
settlement none, and one that any plain man and hon
est mind can understand
81 have not referred to the personal liberty bills of
tenOrthen States because they are the subjects OF
nor n VariOus OrOnOSitiOnS concerning
the fugitive slave law, because they relate only to Iegs-
h7e action to the question concerning the right
Of soiOun and transit with slave property nor to
several schemes Of constitutional amendment which de-
maDd more for the South than the plan of Mr. Crtten
del have said that, in my opinion, no thorOugh and
satisfactory amendments will be proposed to the States
by Congress and / have taken the plan which con-
0@ most to the northern States, and which presents
he least that suppose any portion OF the South would
accept. And now, sir, tell you that the republicans
Congress- and fear in the country, will never adopt
it. They will not recognize in any form, directly or in
Directly property in slaves. They will outlaw from the
protection OF the common government property to the
value of four thousand millions of dollars, and which is
interviewer with the very structure OF society IN neary
htthe States of the Union. They intend that the
South shall have any portion in the territory Of
The Union. Their fixed policy is to WELD the federal
government for antislavery purposes and to crush al
opposition by arms | am not mistaken as to the pur
poses of the res0Iute and controlling spirits OF that
galizatiOu at this capital.
AT an early day in the session, number of gentle
fearing that no suitable guarantees could be pro
posed by Congress- began to look to the States and TIT
people, The republicans having control OF the northern
States our friends there were of course, unable to move
An earnest effort was made here to convention
al the southern States. The plan could not command
The requisite support and lost in the rapid progress
deents. Next, a more hopeful movement was set or
Oot looking to an immediate conference of the border
ohroO nd OPtE
Carolina, with the view to unite their counsels anc
avert the danger of civil war but here, aso the obsta
C proved inSurmOuntable and the time for such actor
l passed. Each of these States, therefore, must de
eide for itself the attitude it will occupy IN this emer
glcy
The Immediate question now presented is peace O.
VAR Whether the right of State States to dissolve
@lnectlon8 with the federal system be reserved right
UOle growing out of the constitution, the right
Oution the great fact lies before US, that the act hal
8n done; and are not permitted to doubt that ii
aFW weeks seven or eight States, containing large
equation than the thirteen colonies at the epoch OF thu
GeVoIutOn, will have withdrawn from the Union anC
%caled their Independence. Under whatever nam
ISguSed, collision of arms with them will be
Inc dominant party here rejecting everything, propos
l8 nothing, are pursuing policy which, under tn
name OF enforcing the laws" and Furnishing traitors,
dciyiI war.
~ The federal Union cannot be preserved by arms
ae attempt would unite the Southern States in resis
aoCe while in the North great multitude of true ant
!aI men never would consent to shed the blood OF GU
sope In the name and under the authority of violated
%DPact serious collision upon existing issues wout
~suCy whatever hope may yet remain of preserving
tS-lGn1g the Union: An attempt to hold it togethe
The bayonet would exceed anything yet recorded il
~s annals of human madness and folly 1t would bring
%a war Of unexampIed terosity in which every vita
~aSGPe of the Union would disappear forever. If tn
eud8 and animosites engendered by the contest be
wen the sections would be transmitted to succeeding
laaOns, while, if she should be subugated, the gov
,I nt would become in form and in fact consolidated