The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-26
democracy an Disguise.
ENAM&TsLGE,I

Democracy IN OAsSuAses
great effort is now making to cram the
Crittepden Amendment down the throats OF
the Republican members of Congress and
the Peace Conference, of the Republican
rank and file, and the people generally
This measure is selected, not on account of
any merit or fairness that it possesses, but
because the prestige of the name of the dis
tinguished gentleman who presented 1t to
the country, renders the measure very
convenient cudgel with which to knock out
the brains OF the great party which tri-
umphed in the late elections.
This Crittenden Compromise $50 called)
when first given to the world over the tel
egraphic wires in its incomplete form, bore
the appearance of the Missouri Compromise
in its main feature; and being associated
with the magic name of Crittenden "a
name highly esteemed by ALL many persons,
Republicans even, hastily expressed liking
for the plan But fuller advices, the read
ing of the complete text, and the interpre-
tation that Breckenridge and others put on
it, soon undeceived all attentive readers as
to the assumed fair character of the PROPOSE
ton, and convinced them that it was subtle
and most dangerous plot to protect slavery
in all the territory of the Union where it
can be made profitable, and extend it in
definitely over all future acquisitions, be-
sides rendering it possible to establish the
ara
other extremely obnoxious features about
this so-calIed compromise, but we now in
stance only those relating to slavery in the
territories.
MANY well-meaning people in the North
Republicans and others have been deceived
by this specious plot, and are still laboring
under the delusion that it is fair and right
and equitable Unfortunately they were
carried away by and remain committed to
this "wolf in sleeps clothing" by their
laudable desire to see the " Union saved, ,
without thinking that some tEings-such as
the loss of honor and consistency, the de-
struction of tee best interests of the free
workingmen of the North and the whole
country, and the sacrifice of the eternal
TigAt-are preferable even to this glorious
Union that we all so much adore.
Taking advantage of the general desire to
see the current difficulties amaicably ar
ranged, and of this deceptive "compromise, y
the opponents of the Republican party
anxious to regain the offices they have lost.
and caring not one iota for principle-hav
set about the work of endeavoring 10 array
the people on the side of this "Compromise,
for the sole purpose, not of subscribing
truth, justice, or patiotism, but of breaking
dos0n the Republican party This is the
highest object sought by our par "a celLencG
Union savers,
On the 22d they held a "Union Conven.
ton at Indianapolis. 1t had been called
several weeks previously, under that at
tractive name, but when it assembled, in
stead of being composed of " persons with
out respect to party" it was made up al
most exclusively of disappointed Democratic
politicians, aided by a few scattering Bel
and Republican dupes to give the meet
ing an appearance OF AL dUSITdC
of the proceedings has been published in
our telegraphic columns. they go the full
length in subserviency and dough-facedness.
The leaders OF the parties favoring this
proposition hpooo it is impracticable; that by
no possibility can three-fourths of the States
be induced to ratify amendments to the
Constitution embodying the provisions OF
the Crittendeu Plan. They know the North
will never touch that proposition " with q
ten-footpole" 10 use an expressive Western
phrase Why then do Breckenridge men
attempt to foist their platform intensified
ten times over on the people of the North
Why do Douglas and Bell men consent tc
stultify themselves by urging this impossi-
Bile and shameful proposition Simply and
wholly, to break down the Republican
party. 1t cannot be done by any such alb
surd instrumentality.