Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-30

MIR. B1GLER's PROPOSITION.

Senator Bigler of Pennsylvania has of late
heen very active at Washington in urging So
called Union propositions and making him
self generally prominent in the "compromise"
line. His last exploit consists in getting up
series of amendments to the Constitution,
which propose not only to subvert the princi-
pies of that instrument, but they disarm it Of
its ouly defense, that they may get the oppor-
tunity 10 overthrow it. The Constitution pro-
vides for its own amendment, and the clause
containing that provision can no more be right
fully set aside than any other section; and
when the people accepted it, it was with the
condition that it should be amended only IN
certain way and in accordance with certain
prescribed forms, essential in themselves to
guard against hasty measures that might be
determined upon in the sudden heat of some
public passion. In the face of this, Mr.. Big
ler proposes to submit to vote of the people
certain amendments to the Constitution, dis
regarding, first, the constitutional requirement
of the action Of two-thirds of both Houses of
Congress; and, secondly, submitting the ques
tion to vote of the people on the 18th of
February, a date so early that it is manifestly
impossible that all could hear that such a vote
is to be taken. This feature alone of Mr.. Big
ler's proposition is enough to entitle it to the
speediest condemnation, more especially when
it is recollecied how fearful the Democratic
politicians were during the late Presidential
campaign lest the Republicans, if successful,
should attempt to pervert or destroy the Con-
stitution. In order, however, that the propo-
sition may be fully understood, we will state
what else 1t embraces. 1t divides the terrific
~ by a line on the parallel OF 36 deg. 80 min.
North of that line, slavery is prohibited. In
all territory now belonging to or that may be
acquired by. the United States south of SO 80,
slavery is established, whether the people wish
it or not. It denies to Congress the power to
abolish slavery "in places where it has exclu-
sive Jurisdiction" within the Slave States, or
in the District of Columbia, so long as it ex-
lists in Virginia or Maryland. 1t provides that
the United States shall pay the owner for fu-
gitive slaves when not recovered, and then to
recover the amount, with interest and DANA
ges, from the county in which the rescue was
made; the county to indemnify itself BY sue
ing aud recovering the sum from the wrong
doers. 1t takes away from Congress the pow
er to prohibit the domestic slave trade; pro-
vides that the President shall be elected for
six years, and rot be eligible for reelection;
prohibits Congressional interference with Sla-
very in the States; and, finally, amends the
Constitution by providing that it shall never
be so amended as 10 destroy the effect of that
provision which secures to the shareholders
the right to couut their slave property in rep
resentation. OF all the "compromises'' which
have yet been offered to appease the fire-eaters
of the South, this one we regard as the most
cIinging, irregular, and hazardous. In estab-
fishing Slavery, by constitutional amendment,
IN the territory now belonging TO, or that may
hereafter be acquired, south of 36 80, the Slave
Power would have the strongest sort of induce
ments to attempt the acquisition of Mexico,
Central America and Cuba, either by conquest
or by purchase, whichever would be deemed
easiest, in order to get preponderanco in the
Federal Government. This once accomplish
ed, they would, in all probability demand that
the same policy that prevailed in half OF the
country should of right prevail in the whole of
it. We cannot, then, look upon PROPOSE
tion like Mr.. Bigler's as being anything else
than dangerous to the peace and permanency
OF the Union; and, if Mr.. B. supposes that it
will prove generally acceptable, he has most
wofnlly miscalculated the intelligence and for
bearance Of the people of the North. Before
he can reasonably expect to make much of an
impression on the minds Of the masses, he
must also look to the interests of the Free
States, and divcst himse If of that intense par
tizan feeling and prejudice, which induce him
TO view the election of Mr.. Lincoln as the
cause of the present troubles, and which he
displayed in his first speech in the Senate this
winter when he uttered the tannting asser-
tion that .ssthe Republican party will never
gain another victory
Col. HALL, our State Senator, delivered o
pointed speech on the 11th inst, on the ques-
tion of Personal Liberty Bills and the Right of
Secession. He showed that the Goth section
OF the Revised Penal Code is constitutional,
and framed in conformity with the decision OF
fhe Supreme Court OF the United States. In
regard to secession, he advocates the Jackson
doctrine of sscrushing out Disunion wherever