The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-08
The Border state Plan.

Last week We published the Crittenden pan
ofaljusting the question, agitating theeountry'
accompanying its publication with such CONT
menis as seemed necessary to give full under
standing Of the Objectionable nature Of this
plan. We give now the Border State Plan, as
IL is called, which had its origin in n meeting
OF member, OF Congress from the Border States.
IL is AZ follows:
Recommending arspeal OF all the Person.
al Liberty bills.
p That the Fugitive Slave law be amenlel
for the preventing of Kidnapping, and ~ as Ia
provide for the equalization Of the Commis-
sioncrs' Zee, sc.
3. That the Constitution be so amended as
10 prnhibit any interference with slavery IN
any urthe States where il now exists,
That Congress shall not abolish Slavery
In the Southern dOckyarIls, arsenals, &c, nor
In the District Of Columbia without the consent
of Maryland and the consent of the inhabitants
ofths District, nor without compensation.
8. Thai Congress shall not interfere with the
Interstate slave trade. 49,,
8. That there shall he a perpetual prohlOItlOh
Of the African slaVc-trade.
7 That the line of 81 degrees 30 minutes
shall be run through all the existing territory
of the United States; that in all north ot that
line slavery shall be prohibited, aud that
south of that line neither Congress nor the
Territorial Legislature shall hereafter pass any
law abolishing, prohibiting, or IN any manner
Interfering with African slavery; AMI that
when any Territory containing sufficient
nnuutati1n for one member of Congress in any
are, III "a. 600 square miles shall apply Tor All
mission "a a State, Il shall be admitted; with or
with ut Slavery, as its Constitution may de
teruiine.
This Of all the plans suggested is the least
ohjce tionable. II restores the Missouri Conn
promise repealed by the Democrats In ls0i,and
extends the line Of 81 30. Through all existing
territory" with a set Of other equally balanced
propositions on minor points ofno particular
account. II does not commit the country to
the doctrine Of protection to slavery in Free
Territories, AMI is silent about Territory "here-
aflsr to be acquired" Possibly there might
be found great many Republicans willing to
accept il If an assurance was given or could be
given that thereby the country could be restored
to its former strength and integrity, and secure
US perpetuity. Without something, sufficient
10 secure the perpetuity Of the government, all
plans Of adjustment will be worse than worth
less. The first thing to find is whetherwe have
asrOyernment, AMI when this is settled atiirma-
lively, then il adjustment is undertaken
prominent feature oft should be the incorpora-
ton into the Constitution Of provisions which
will enable the government to sustain itself, .
should rebels acting, or protesting to act by
State authority steal. or attempt to steal forts,
arms, smmuniiious, navy yards, mints, U. :.
vessels and other property Of the Uuited States.
Any adjustment which does not settle the ques-
toa OF the powers OF the government will only
be regarded rs precedent when any member
of the eonielersey should think 1t best to
sccede, and would have no other tendency than
10 make state Of perpetual turmoil and excite
mgnt. II the Border State Plan is accepted 1t
should be basel ON a condition precedent de-
clIring that secession is High Treason aud that
the government is perpetual AMI must be main-
timed by all the power OF the country against
any and all attempts to weaken .disintegratc or
oyerthrOw il. M adjustment which does not
include this will be Of any value.
Speaking Of this plan the New Haven Journ-
al well says:
The trouble with the plan Is that. like the
other proposed compromises, II dues not salts
IA the other side. The South has as yet mani
Tested no desire TO accept IL, still less to be
satisfied with IL. II We commit ourselves to
we simply offer to surrender up SO much at the
start, and then. IL we can thus entice the rebels
into negutation.we must surrender stIl more
10 secure their consenttO obey the Constitution,
stay ia the Union. and submit 10 an enforce
ment of the laws. This compromise does not
settle the great AMI momentous question
whether we have government. IL leaNes open
the claim that any State has right to destroy
the government by secession, and subjects the
great Republic of the United States TO the isno-
miny { being able to preserve its existence by
cooking people not 10 overthrow Il. Let Us
first show the strength Of our government,
and then we will talk about pleasing the dis
affected.