Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-20
TEE PACE Cosr.aKNck,. SETTLEMENT, &c

dnoros us pleasure 10 reply 70 the Ques1lons Pus
to the Sfay yesterday by the AleIandria Sentinel.
Thus, we have to say that the Peace Conference
did come to a settlement Of the slavery questions
which y destined to enable the border States to
bring back the seeded States, as sure as the sun
win rise tomorrow. IL adopted the Franklin
proposition with the votes of r hode Island Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana endorsing It.
Though because under instructions not to vote
upon any final plan Of settlement without pre-
viously consulting their Legislature, the Indiana
delegation, not having time so to do, declined to
vote formally on the only clause of the Franklin
plan really contested, a majority of Its members
Were known to be In favor Of its adoption. The
vote Of New York upon II was equally divided.
Thus adopted by the Peace Congress, its settle
ment did embrace 4 satisfactory guarantee that
whenever the subject comes before the people Of
the North, as II must come not long hence, they
viii sanction the franklin plan according to the
forms Of the Constitution; which, assuring the
status Of the border States IN the Union, will, as
consequence, eventually bring back the seeded
States, now that II is certain that the oligarchy
viii not be able to get up the war with the Gov
eminent they have 30 pertinaciousy sought, and
also that every distinctive American right or lib
srty has already been abrogated and public ex-
penditures (taIation) has been increased tenfold
~uefcsef pduOn lOlQS sway.
Further: The unanimity with which the Re-
publican party in Congress were willing to grant
all requested legislation with reference to the fu-
ture observance Of the fugitive slave law, amount
ed to a guarantee satisfactory to the southern
friends Of the Union, that that source of sectional
irritation will be removed fast as the forms of
legislation In the several northern States will ad
init; and the adoption, by the constitutional ma
Jority, OF the Corwin proposition, guaranteeing
the Immunity Of slavery in the States forever from
attempts at Congressional interference or reguIa-
tion, haJ had the effect of satisfying the border
slaveholding States that their slavery rights and
Interests are safer now under the government of
the United States, than before the oligarchy
usurPed the government Of the seeded States;
one great cause Of its former insecurity the rer-
petual agitation Of their chronic demsgocues In
Congress (nominally for its benefit, but really to
Keep themselves in public life) being in great
measure removed by their withdrawal from the
National councils
Inc Star does NOT, as explained above. regard
the whole thing-the action Of the Peace Confer
snce and the subsequent action Of Congress on
the subject-'a wretched failure"
The Ssar was never pledged to secession in any
event; having been FIRST Of the press of the South
to take emphatic ground In favor of the Union in
existing circumstances, and having, since stead
lily maintained that position
The STAY has neither recognized the alleged
Tight Of secession, or at any time declared the
election OF Lincoln to the Presidency Just cause
Tor the destruction of the Union and the es,ab
nshment OF the naked and atrocious despotism
mai exists further South, over the people of the
Haveholding States. 1t adheres to the position of
Mr.. Hunter In his Charlottesville speech that the
success Of the Republicans in a fairly conducted
presidential election was no Just cause for dis
union.
The STAY, further, sees nothing In the conduct or
policy Of the present Administration aggre,si We
on southern rights, and 1t is sure from its knowl
edge OF the circumstances In which Il 1.-THE Ad
mnistrafon) Is placed, that instead of aspressing
tne south In any particular, IL cannot possibly fal
70 be more scrupulously careful to do no such
thing, than any other national Administration has
BEEN as the solution Of the question of the con-
tinuance Of the Border States In the Union btno..
upon Its success In satisfying them that the with
drawal Of the States now under the despotism ~
The oligarchy, mas not weakened the security of
their institution in the Union
The Star therefore declines to pander to the
schemes Of the disunionists by getting I'D false
accusations against the Administration in order In
weaken the confidence Of the Border States I'm the
belief that they will be as fairly and as Justly
dealt by hereafter, by the Government, as ever
before.
The Star proposes to try the present Government
by io conduct not upon the false testimony
addueed against 1t by disunion newspapers and
orators resorting to its on to slim
ulate the border States to place their necks under
the yoke Of the oligarchy's despotisn.
III that determination makes the Sta, Repub.
hean-party paper, a. the Sentinel intimates. tn.
fourth Monday in May will demonstrate that
those that paper regards as the Republican party
the Gnionists-are in a majority Of from 50 600 to
100000 In Virginia.
The Star, provoked to retaliation by the inso
b lent niacfguardism and abuse showered upon
every active Unionist in Virginia by sympa-
mixers with the despotism Of the oligarchists,
regards IL as being high time to speak Of their
purposes ana conduct In language that shows its
emphatic condemnation Of them, and NAV do
much In the patriotic labor Of opening the eve, q,
tne people Of the border States to the atrocty of
their plans.
The Star utterly denies that the real s,,,a.
rights public men Of Virginia are engaged in
tne disunion movement. They are simply the
men who are seeking to steal "the livery of
heaven to serve the devil in"-cloaking ibei,
designs against their country, under the mantle O,
sntes-rights
In conclusion, we have to assure our in1enuou.
neighoor Of the Senfiae that its insinuation that
the Stars course In behalf Of the Union Is dIc,,.
ted by desire to obtain patronage from the pres.
ent Administration, has neither truth nor iustica
for its basis. The Star has never received a dol.
lar from the National Treasury by way Of patron
age. The Government advertisements are pub.
hshed In the Star, only because the law REQUIRES
their publication In it. The Sentinel made thu
same insinuaton when to do so involved an a.
Persion In that connection upon the integrity Of
the last Administration, Ii will be remembered
The present Administration has not In its off,
single dollar Of patronage that It can bestow on
any washington journal, except the " Executive
designation" directing one paper to publish the
Government advertisements, which the Star pub.
fishes under the law. in virtue Of the extent Of its
circulation.
The truth Is, the Ssst,nsI measures our .o,-
science by in own In this matter, we spprebend
Under the last and previous Administrat,on .,
was the most notorious mouser around IN. a.
partmens here to pick up advertising crumh.
and, a. 10 well known 70 its reader. .,c.1..s a A.,