Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-17
CHE Ohio 9tatesman
T z z N o
A letter from Vice President Breckinridge-
His Views on the Crisis
wAsHINaroN CRY, Jan. 6, 1861.

WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 6, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR:--I thik all thoughtful men will
approve your conduct in convening the Legis-
lature.
Within few weeks have received many
letters, chiefly from Kentucky, asking my opin
ion as to the prospect of fair adjustment ol
our political troubles, which have not answer
ed for reasons satisfactory to my own mind
among which has been lingering hope that
some acceptable plan of settlement might be
proposed by Congt ess, securing the rights and
honor of all do not feel at liberty longer To
den you with an extended letter, will offer {
few thoughts upon the condition OF public af-
fairs.
am convinced that no thorough and satis-
factory plan will be proposed to the States by
Congress. All effarIs for this purpose have
disclosed differences 200 radical 10 admit of
agreement.
At an early ho ur III the session, on the mo-
ton of Senator from Ke0sucky, (Mr. Pow
ell), a committee of thirteen Senators was ap-
pointed to consider the state of the country
and report remedy. 1t was composed of rep
reseutative men from different parts of the
Union After long conference, for many days.
the chairman reported to the Senate that they
had been wholly unable to agree, and a refer
ence to the journal Of the committee will revea
the radical differences between the Republicans
and others.
Propositions, conceived in a spirit of patriotic
concessions, were offered by Senator Criltenden
| refer to them because they concede much to
the spirit OF conclation. They embrace the
following, as amendments to the Constitution:
That Congress shall have no power to abol
ish slavery In the forts, dock yards, and other
places under its Jurisdiction, in the southern
States
| Nor to prevent the transportation of slaves
| from one slaveholding State to another, nor
to any Territory where slavery may exist
whether the transportation be ooastwae or in.
land:
Nor to abolieh slavery in the District of Co
lumbia while it exists in Maryland or Virginia
nnr without the consent of the inhabitants, and
compensation to the owners.
And in regard to the Territories:
That In all the territory now held, or hereaf-
ter to be acquired, north of latitude 36 deg. 81
min, slavery, or involuntary servitude excep
as punishment for crime, shall be prohibited
while in all territory now held, or hereafter tC
be acquired, south Of said line Of latitude, sla-
very of the African race ehall be recognized
and protected; In both cases the prohibition OF
| Ouc elut Vi buG lIut duu tut Oh Lnt
other, covering the period Of territorial exis-
tence.-
These provisions, the resolutions propose
shall be made part Of the Constitution, and
together with the features now in the Constitu-
tion relative to the representation of three Eth
of the slaves, and the return Of fugitive slave
shall not be subject to future alteration. As
subsequently modified they Icontain, amonl
other things, very proper declaration tha
citizenship and suffrage shall not be confer.
req on persons, in whole or In part of African
decent.
A glance at these resolutions will show tn,
immense concession they offer for security anC
peace. Leaving out of view for moment th,
Territorial question, the other amendments arr
but declaratory Of the present constitution. -
Congress has no Eower now to abolish slavery
in the places within its jurisdiction in the south
ern States, nor to prevent the transportation o.
slaves from one slayeholding State or Terrific
ry to another. Nor are persons of African de
scent citizens of the United States; and the ba
sis of Federal representation and the return OF
| fugitive slaves are stipulated for in express
terms in the present instrument. If it be sale
that Congress may cOnstitutionally abolish sla-
very in this District will not pause to argue
the question, but only enter protest against
the assumption.
| If agreed to, they should be unamendable
parts Of the Constitution, since the North woulG
soon have sufficient number of States tc
change the instrument in the manner prescribed
by itself.
1t must be confessed that it offers but faint
hope Of security and good faith when DO
not granted to Congress by the Constitution
must again be expressly denied, and the pro
visions made unalterable, to guard against ap-
prehensions of sectional and growing major
ity.
Upon these points, then, as suppose, there
is concession neither upon the one side nor the
other. The free States are only asked to agree
that they will never use their growing power
to deprive tho South of existing rights, which
are essential to its safety.
come, now, to the vast concession to the
North, The southern States assert, with great
unanimity, the right Of all the citizens of all the
States to enter the common Territories with
their property of whatever kind, including
slaves, and to have 1t protected by the common
government. This right is sustained by high.
ly respectable class Of opinion In the northern
States, and has been affirmed by the highest
Judicial tribunal known to the Constitution. -
II does not fall within the scope Of this letter tc
re-argue the question. | treat it as settled
right, upon which the argument has been ex-
hausted.
Mr.. Crittenden's Territorial amendment offers
so far as the southern States and their slave pro
perty are concerned, to yield this right In three
fourths Of the existing territory to save il in the
remaining fourth. The citizens of the northern
States and their property are to be protected in
all the territory; the citizens of the southern
States with their property in one:jourth of it
Prohibition OF slave property north of SO deg
81 min, recognition aud protection of it south o.
that line-and the rule to apply to all territory
hereafter acquired-this is the principle of tht
proposed amendment. Aud the last-nameC
feature is vital. II the Territorial question car
be settled at ALL itshould be settled for all time
and locked up in the Constitution. Otherwise
there can be no hope of exemption from inces-
soon be thrown again into the midst of politica
and financial commissions. The southern State
cannot afford to be shut off from all possibility o
expansion towards the tropics by the hostile &C
Ii Of the Federal Government.
am sure that this plan Of adjustment ha
been offered, not as the full measure of ou
rights, bat as patriotic concession, with tn,
hope Of obtaining promptly security an
peace, In view Of the knowledge we bave O
the progress of political anti-slavery opinion
, and Of the manner In which the Federal gov
. ernment may be employed by hoatile influence:
J, IL falls far short of what would be required i
. forming an original scheme of government, q
|. even in reconstructng the old one. After th
experience we have had of the practical work
ing of the system, find 1t difficult to cherish
we'll grounded hope of permanent security, ex
cept By the introduction Of some element whic
/, would give the South the power OF self protec
| tion.
cannot suppose that Kentucky would COL