The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-03-13
Thc Last political mumbus.

pregnant with instruction for the Southern
people. When it became known that Abra-
ham Lincoln had been elected to the Presi-
dency, and the States of the South began to
manifest disposition to protect their imper-
illed rights, the Black Republicans of the
!. North and their allies in the South, vehe-
meutly deprecated ''preciptate action.'-
They aimed at the unconditional submis-
sion of the slave States, in the end, to abo-
lition rule; and, in order to accomplish their
design, they were profuse in their assurances
that a satisfactory adjustment would be agreed
upon as soon as Congressional meet Up
on the meeting of Congress in December, a
tub was thrown out to the whale. A com
mittec of thirty-three was appointed, not to
do any thing, but to deluIe Our people into
the belief that something was going to be
done. After it became apparent that this
was a farce, Grandmother Crittenlen was in
duced to come forward and submit string
of propositions, under the name of com
promise, which he himself, when closely in
terrogated in regard to their effect, admitted
to be utterly without meaning, except as con-
cessions to abolitionism. The next move
upon the political chcss-board was made by
the Black Republicans in the Virginia Legis-
lature. They were afraid to oppose the pop
ular demand for State Convention, and,
therefore, they provided for the holding of
such Convention; bat, at the same time,
it was cunninHy arranged that "Peace Con-
ference should be in session at Washington
City when the people of Virginia were called
upon to vote for delegates to their State Con
yenton. This "peace Conference" was new
err expected to do anything. Its only object
was to befool the people of Virginia and the
other border States, by holding out the de-
lnsive hope that it coaH do somethihg.-
When at last, it put forth its milk-and-water
resolutions, it was, doubtless, understood that
Congress was to give them the go-by. The
Conference passed them with no expectation
that they would be laid before the States for
adoption, but merely as Il blind, and to cover
the intended swinllc of their action. When,
just as Congress was about to adjourn the
Committee of thirty-thrco made their report,
the House contemptuously thrust it aside.
The thing had answered its purpose, aud
Blacl; Republication had no further use for
it. The game was played out. The rcsoln-
tions of the Peace Conference shared the
same fate. That strategctic device, as wei
as the other, hal accomplished the purposes
of its originators. At this stage of.the pro-
cecdings, Mr. Corwin, of Ohio, offered the
following resolution:
"Resol,ed dc, tro-thifis Of both horses Of Con-
gycss concu,Ying That the following Article he pro-
posed to the Legislatures Of the several States a.
amendment to the Constitution of the United States,
which, when ratified by tncef0urths of said Lrgsla-
lures shall he valid to all intcnts and purposes,
part of the sud Constitution, viz:
"Art. NlI No amendment shall be made to the
Constitution which will authorize or give Congress
power 10 abolish or interfere, in any State, with the
domestic institutions thereof including that OF per-
held to service or labor by the Laws of said States
Being put upon its passage it failed 10 re-
ccve a vote of two-thirls, but, by strenuous
efforts, a vote or two was changed, a recon
sidcration had, and the resolution passed both
Houses by the requisite majority. Ii is now
to be submitted to the State Legislatures for
adoption. This is the only concession that
Black Rcpublicanism proposes to make to
the slave States This is all Little as it is,
however there is not the slightest prospect
that it will ever be made part Of the Consti-
tuition. The Abolition Administration man
tain that there are thirty-four States in the
Union. Twcnty-scven, therefore, must ratiiy
the amendment in order that it may be adopt
ed. Seven States have already seeded
They, of course, will take no action in refer
ence to the proposed amendment. This will
render it necessary that the amendment be
ratified by every non-secedihg State. 1t is
likely, however, that Arkansas will soon be
out of the Union. In that event, there will
be but twenty six States left in the Union, and
| it will be out of their power, even by unan-
imous vote, to adopt the amendments and
indeed, so long as they hold to the doctrine
that the seeded States are still in the Union,
thcr cannot alter their Constitution in any
! point whatever
Practically, there is really nothing IN this
Corwin proposition. Otherwise, it would new
er have received Black Republican vote
1t was adopted because it was felt to be nec-
essary that something should seem to be con
coded, and this was the next thing 10 noting
that abolition ingenuity could devise. 1t
| is not concession to slavery, but prctoxt
supplied to the secret traitors in the
South, to enable them more efiectually
to mask their contemplated treachery. Andy
Johnson and Emerson Etheridge anl the
Memphis Bulletin only desire Preteyt for
submission in order that they may employ
it to deude their followers into the Black
Republican camp. For themselves, they are
ready to yield up every thing, acittout pre-
text What are known as "game fish" will
refuse to nibble at any but bait so skiful-
" prepared as to deceive their sharpest scrl-