The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-09-11

in Congress.
The Journal says:
"And, finally, Congress adjourned, having
done and said nothing to strengthen o. encour-
age the Union men of the border States. Then
cane the struggle within those States. Virgin.
10, q long time poised. finally took the plunge !
North Carolinis and Tennessee followed. These
great powerful States we're lost to the Union, be-
cause she republican press and republican Rep
resentatives we're beguiled with the popular idea
that they discharged their first and highest duty
in standing by and on the Chicago Platform y"
Let us look for q moment at what Congress
has both done aud said at its last regular ses-
sion. Among other acts bearing upon this ques
ton, it passed the following Joint Resolution to
amend the Constitution Of the United States:
Resslred by the Senate and House of B.pre-
ssntatises of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, That the following article
be proposed to the Legislatures Of the several
States as an amendment TO the Constitution OF
the United States, which, when ratified by three.
iourth's Of said legislatures shall be valid, to all
intents and purposes, O. part Of the said COnsri.
tuition, viz:
"ARTICLE rHIRrEIH.
"No amendment shall be made to the Consti-
the power to abolish or interfere, within any
Ssass, with the domestic institutions thereof in
eludiDg that o: persons held to labor or service
BY the laws of State.
Approved March Q, 1861"
Its true that the republican party in Congress
we're no: unanimous in it, favor, butt is equally
true that it was indebted to republicans for It's
passage.
A resolution Of similar import TO the above,
only it did not propose An amendment to tine
Consultation, passed the House Of Representa-.
tives, receiving toe entire vote of the Republic
cans of that body wita the exception Of two or
three.
Acts were also passed organizing the Terrific.
ries OF Dacotah, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona,
in which no restrictions we're placed prohibitory
to the introduction Of slave property into those
Territoris = This was q compromise of itself
more thai ,hree fold greater than the mere res
torstion of the Missouri Compromise. which was
the Journars proposition. Had that principle
been applied, slavery would have been positively
prohibited in oil these Territories except Arizo.
M.
No party ever made greater sacrifice upon
the altar of peace, than did the Republican par.
ty in laying thereon the vital principle Of its or.
s.ni.ation, viz: Congressional prohibition of
slavery in the Territories of the United States.
Yet the Journal complains that three ''great and
powerful States were lost to the Union, because
the Republican party were beguIed with the
popular idea that they discharged their first and
highest duty in standing upon the Chicago
Platform"
But the Journal adds:
"This brings US to the practical object Of this
article. Three States. viz: Virginia, North Car
Dina and Tennessee, were lost because Congress
rejected their proposition OF adjustment; while
three other States. viz: Maryland, Kentucky
and Missouri, are struggling to maintain their
positions in the Union"
We begin now to understand the Journal
Il was not, after al, because the compromise
which that paper fathers was not adopted, but
because "sAsir proposition Of adjustment" i. e.,
the proposition of Virginia, North Carolina and
Tennessss,-was rejected.
Win the Albany Joxy~Al be kind enough to
inform the public whether it alluded to the Crit.
tenden Compromise; the ultimatum Virginia pre-.
sented to the Peace Conference; OF the "hollow
truce" adopted by that conference, and which
vas more 6ercely assaulted BY Virginia than by
any other State represented on the floor of Con.
gres:
Let 10 now look at another scrap Of history,
- written by the Journal:
"Cougress, after the war had existed three
months, re-assembled. Its m ,mbers, now called
to face ito stern realities, discovered that some
thing more than the Chicago Platform was
needed. Now it has become evident to minds
that could not, in February, be raised above the
horizon Of party, that the Union and it, govern.
mens we're endangered. And now, with q una.
n:mity almost unparalleled, the following Crtten.
den compromise resolution was adopted by Con.
gre0!-
"Mr. Cristeuden introduced resolution ~
follows:
"Rssolsed. That the present civil war has
been forced on Us BY the d:sunionists Of the
Southern States nov in rebellion against the GOV.
srsment Of the United States; that in this nation.
Il emergency. Congress, banishing all feelings Of
passion end resentment viii reeollect only their
for eeaqSsst or sski.gasioa, o. inteyfsrino ,cifk
sks sigkts or ssta6lisksd iastitutisns Of 1hese
Ststsa bat 70 maintain and defend the supreme.
q Of the Constitution With the rights and equal.
isy under is unimpsi-ed; that q soon % these
objects shall Be accomplished. the war ought to
cease"
THAT resolution, or any other breathing the
eams spirit, would have kept three powerful
States 10 the Union, and rendered ssseccesa;enn
comparatively poverle0. That resolutios. adop.
ted in season, although il would not have averted
IL VA, would have secured IN early and elori.
60 triumph for the Unisa.
The resolution was voted Tor now by the
representatives Who loudly and vehemently de.
neanced il lase winter. Il ID accepted now by
The Journals that - unsparingly denounced rs
II aegsseing it when il vas needed and would
lave been elective"
he Jbssss' evidently designs 10 carry the
iapesioa to the minds Of its readers that this
resolution i the original "Crisssndsa Compro.
- once sssninsni'y rejected BY the rspub.
Asaa nsnbess Of Coogrsss, but now - unani.
meuly aeeeptsd, not only By them. but bv
rspub6can journals and that IL was The identical
pespesisisa on aceosns Of which cid imr..l.
"sss.psri~gly ds.sssesS US ~ fsv sssy..s- |
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