The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-02-06
Letter from senator Grimes.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1861.

WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1861.
Ny DEAR SIR Your esteemed favor OF
the 18th inst has reached me.
There appears to be very great misunder,
standing in the public mind as to the present
condition of affairs at the Capital of the ma,
ton and especially in relation to the demands
of the dsunionists upon the Union men of
the North. find that the impression pre-
walls quite extensively that the "Crittenden
proposition" as it is called, is simply re-
establishment of the Missouri compromise
line This is very far from the truth.
Mr. Crittenden proposes to extend the
line of Sc deg 80 min. through to the Pa
cific ocean, and to agree by Constitutional
provision to protect and defend slavery in
all the territory of the United States South
Of That line. Nor is this all. lie nop pro-
poses that hisprotection to Slarery shall be
extended 30 auterritory that may be acquired
South of that line. The sum and substance
of the whole matter is that we are asked, for
the sake of peace to surrender all Of our
cherished ideas on the subject of slavery,
and to agree in effect, to provide slave code
for the Territories south of SO deg. so min.,
and for the Mexican provinces as soon as
they shall be brought within our jurisdiction.
1t is demanded of Jus that we shall consent
to change the Constitution into a genuine
ro-savery instrument, and to convert sthe
government into great slave breeding,
slavery extending empire.
Every man blessed with ordinary fore
sight must see what would be the inevitable
and almost immediate consequence of the
adoption Of this provision as part of the
Constitution. 1t would disclose itself to be
the very reverse of a measure of peace.
Raids would at once begin upon the prov
inces of Mexico ;'war would ensue the an
nexation of Sonora chihuahua, Cohahuila,
Nuevoleon, Tamaulipas, and other provinces
would follow they would be converted, at
the instant of their acquisition, from free
into slave territories, and ultimately be adj
mitted into the Union as Slave States. Much
as love peace and seek to pursue it, am
not prepared to pay this price for it. Let
no man iowa imagine for moment that
the Crittenden proposition is for mere res
toration of the Compromise line of 1920. 1t
is simply and truly the application of the
Breckenridge platform to all territory now
acquired or hereafter to be acquired south of
36 deg. 80 min., and would result, if adop-
ted, in the acquisition and admission of new
Slave States for the ostensibe purpose of
restoring what is called the equilibrium of
the sections. The restoration of the Missouri
Compromise line has been offered to the
disunionists and contemporary rejected
Their maxim is ''rule or ruin"
confess that look with amazemcnt upon
the course ofthe Northern sympathizers with
the disunionists. Six years ago they as
sisted to break down compromise of thirty
four years standing. and defended their ac-
ton by what they claimed to be the right OF
the people to determine for themselves what
should be the character of their own domes-
tic institutions. There was much p!ausibili-
ty in their argument They made party
creed of it. Now, after the lapse of six short
years, they have become so pro slavery in
their opinions that they are willing to ignore
the past and recognize and protect slavery
in the very country which they boosted that
their own act had made free.
There are other provisions in the Critten.
den resolutions which to my mind are wholly
inadmissible, but let them pass. My OBJ.
lection is to any compromise. will never
consent to compromise or the imposition OF
terms upon me or the people represent un.
der threats of breaking up the government
will 'not give reasons under compulsion.' "
No surer or more effentual way could be de.
vised for converting this into revolutionary
government than the adoption of compro.
mise expedient at this time
Eight months ago the four political parties
Of this country in their several conventions
announced certain abstract propositions in
their platforms which each believed to be
true and which, if acted upon, would in
their opinion, most conduce to the prosperity
of the whole country. The issue upon these
propositions was submitted to the people
through the ballot hox One party was sue
cessful as either might have been but for the
lack ofvotes, and now one ofthe vanquished
parties seeks to overthrow the government
because they were not themselves the vic
, tors, and will not consent to stay their work
of demolition upon the condition that We
:, will agree to make their platform, which is
ahhorrant to u.s. a part of the Constitution o.
the country. After taking their chances for
success and being defeated in a fair and
manly contest. they now seek to overthrow
the government under which they live and
to which they owe their allegiance. How
rapidly are we following in the footsteps o
the governments of Mexico and South Amer
lea.
do not believe that the public mind i.
now in condition to calmly consider thu
great questions involved in the amendment.
proposed. But suppose the people were
willing and anxious that such amendment!
to the Constitution should be submitted t.
them suppose they were in proper frame
i, of mind to weigh them and decide upor
their adoption, suppose their adoption wa: