Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-20
Mr.. Crittenden,s Amendments.

We think it exceedingly doubtful whether the
people of the South and Mr.. CRTTENDEN understand
alike his proposed amendments to the Constitution
Verymany have supposed that while Mr.. CRITTENDEN
was yielding three-fourths of the Territory (all
North Of SO deg 80 min to the North he was secur-
ing the other fourth by Constitutional amendent to
the South But it seems that such is not the intention
of Mr.. CR1rrENDEN and since his explanation few
DAYS since, some of the Black Republicans are be-
coming more partial to his proposition.
In the Senate on the llth inst, Mr.. HARLAN of
Iowa. was asserting the absurdity of the demands
bv the South in the Territories, in the face of the
verdict of the Black Republicans on the 9th of No
vember. He said that even Mr.. CRITTENDEN pro-
posed Congressional Slave Code " for all the
Territories South of SO deg. 30 min. Mr.. CRITTFN-
DEN interrupted him as follows:
Mr.. Crittenden. hope shall be allowed word.
lam SURPRISED to hear the gentleman say that pro-
,,osed n slave code. / thought had carefully avoid
ed that / took things as they were and say that
tb laws as they now exist shall continue to exist
and what protection they give shall be extended that
neither Congress nor the territorial government
shall legislste the subject This is the Congress
sional code that propose The code that exists Ii
not Congressional one ct all; tits territorial onei
and as we have come 10 the point where suppose
some settlement should take place, propose that
we snail take the status as it exists II reheyes us
from all legislation. Propose to gre iohat protection
fbs nyeesent IdlCS QiUe nothing more.
NJ Harlan. l am very much gratiied that the Sen
otor has corrected me. do not desire TO mlsrep-
resent his proposition.
Mr.. Crittenden. am sure the gentleman does
not - ,.,,.,,o-, ,,-o,,o,. ,s
the nrintad bill which have on my desk:
In all the Territories South of said line Of lat-
tude. lavery of the African race is hereby recog-
nized as existing
Mr. Crittenden. That is all.
Mr. Harlan. 1t is recognized as existing " ana
sboll not be interfered with by Congress- but shall
he nrotected as property by all the departments OF
the territorial government during Its continuance
Mr. Crittenden. According to their own laws.
NJ Harlan | shall be happy, Mr.. President, TO
find hat the proposition submitted is less opJectoh
able than ] at first supposed II to be. 49,.
Mr. Crittenden. 1t has been one Of my objects OF
axclude the idea of legislating by Congress. Inc
resolution is silent on the subject
The Cincinnati Commercial commenting on the
foregoing says:
IL Mr.. Crittcnden meant precisely what he says
~, his proposition is certainly less Objectionable
tIsn Il has been understood 10 be; but he aS GER
tsinlv did not succeed in perfectly expressing ms
,,osition in the language in which he proposed 10
I,,,,,d ,ba Constitution of the United states. II
S Crirtenden really desired TO leave the matter TO
+be neople of the Territories. and relieve Congress
al responsibility and far as possible, the country
4r,r, apitation, he should have SAID so from the
cart and given his support to the proposition OF
Mr. Adams or one equivalent
When this question settled if it ever Is It must
he settled in such n4uner that there can henceforth
he no doubt as TO the proper construction that is to
he gven TO what is done. We think there can be no
donbt as TO the meaning of the first and second
amendments. suggested on Friday by our Commit
tee on Federal Relations
That African slaves as held under the lnStltu-
4;ons of the slave States are property ana en1he0
10 the status Of other species of property anywhere
,ritb;n the jurisdiction of the United States
. An amendment running line on the Dorders
~ the slave States until it touches our territories
and tben west on the parallel of thiry-sN degrees
rS tl,tv minutes. until il touches the boundary OF
sbo state of California and then with her boundary
80 the Pacific Ocean: and declaring that in al ne
States and Territories now owned or which may
b acouired by the United States south of said line
slavery shall exist and in all north, it shall be for
ever prohibited.
There is no Southern man who can say that sueh
amendments are more than we are entitled to. 1t
nav he said that it would be death to the Black Re
rnblieans to yield so much. We hope it may BE-
The snake must not only be scotched-it must be
l,alad The backbone of Black Republicanism must
1,e broken before we can expect any peace.