Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-28
rha onearlon of Conapromise.

0ue1lkOm
Under this caption the New York Times of the
22d has an article which, more clearly than any
thing else that we have seen, defines the posi-
tion of the -WEKD-- Times or Compromise
portion of theLNo0I. party. The Albany CORES
pondsnt of the N. Y. Courier says
In plain direct shape such as this-a submission
to the people of the question-ShaR The Constitution
be so changed as to dec are sldUeS, properly dldio p
tec SaDes, as property IN the Territories the VIZ
of the State would be gigantic against the proPos
ton
The Times commenting on this says
This is unquestionsbly true-bUt it has NJ impor-
tant bearing upon any pending issue because no one
proposes any such alterations OF the Constt utlon'
There at the outset 70 lear tnAt enc yue
ton was about to take this shape,-tha1 An he
slaveholdfng States would unite in demand iof
such a recognition of slave property as me ohiy
condition on which they would consent 10 reH-ln u
the Union To such demand not only New York
but the whole North would, in our judgment give
a most peremptory and emphatic refusal
But the course of events has saved US from TINS
issue. The Gulf States, betrayed into hasty and
false action by the ''precipltauag pohey OF Inc
Yancy and Toombs school Of politicians, put them-
selves in such position that they can make no oe
mands whatever. They are compelled 70 take GROUND
against all concessions, and 20 refuse 10 listen 10 any
plans of compromise or conclllaUon. Inns
throws the whole burden OF adjusting the
differences that divide the country upon the Bor>
der States, and thus relieves It OF Its worst
and most dangerous features. Those States
are devoted TO the Union. They desire TO remain
in IL and have proclaimed their determination to dc
So unless they re absolutely driven to cooperate
with the Gulf States. In their plans for compro-
mise, therefore, they make no such extreme de
mands as those to which we have referred. They
do not ask that 'the Constitution be so amended as
to recognize and protect slaveproperty in the Ter
rtories" No such proposition as this is before the
people in any shape,-nor are the Republicans OF
anybody else asked to make any such concession
The pith of the whole controversy between the
North and South as it now stands, relates to Slave
~ in the present Territories. The South demand;
recognition-the North refuses it. an enabling &C
for Neao MEXICO eoold settle Instantly and t0reUer
Let Congress pass q law enabling the people Of New
Mexico TO form State Constitution, with Or with
out Slavery, as they may see ht,-deslgnatng DAY
on which the election of Delegates shall be held
fixing time and place for the meeting the Conven
ton, and providing for submitting the Constitution
TO the vote of the people,-and this whole terrific
rial controversy is at an end. 1t dies natura
death. All the Territory Of the United States
disposed Of There is nothing whatever left for thu
two sections to quarrel about.
In this extract from the Tunes, we have the sun
total of what the compromises of the Black Re
publican party are willing to do to save the Union
The anti-compromisers have gone no further thai
20 express q willingness to q National Convention
called believing, as they ayow, that If anything
done by such Convention tDiR bsass granting fur
der concessions By slavery to freedom. In another ar
tice of the same date the Times tells us what thu
South now has under the Constitution and lawi
as interpreted by TIE Supreme Court:
They now have the whole public domain open tC
them without Wilmot proyiso; they have the
bred Scott decision opinion declaring that neither
Congress nor the Territorial Legislatures have
power to exclude slavery therefrom.
So the Black Republican compromises, for that
which we already have, are willing to agree that
they will not carry out their policy of prohibiting
slavery in the Territories South of 36 deg 30 min
if we will consent to accept as an adjustment the
passage of an act enabling New Mexico to prepare
Constitution aud present herself for admission
State. How will that benefit the South! The
Black Republican COMPROMISED replies, slavery
is recognized there" True, but would il
be recognized in Constitution prepared by
a Convention called six or eight months
hence, by which time your emigrant aid societies
would have ample opportunity to gorge the terri
tory with hireling aboitionists of the JOIN Brown
MONTGOMERY character. We believe that the reason
of the Times for favoring Mr.. CHAs. ADAMS plan
for admitting New Mexico, is because it believes
that the surest and quickest way prohibit slavery
in the Territory South &c deg. so min. The Tribune
opposes all compromises and all concessions
Speaking of Mr.. ADAMS propoposition with regard
to New Mexico, il, says:
Slavery has been legalized and fortified in New
Mexico by Federal patronage and power. Its pres
ence there is Fictitious unnatural the fruit Of in
trigue conspiracy and Government influence. As
we are on the eve of new regime, we insist that
the eight years of Democratic ProSlavery rule
over New Mexico shall be counterbalanced by four
years of Republican ascendency before the people
are called to make decision so momentous and
practically irreVocable.
Commenting on this extract from the. Tribune, the
Times of the 23d, says:
In our Judgment, the Tribune is very much mis-
taken if it supposes that -four years" of Republic
can ascendancy are needed to put New Mexico IN
proper condition to decide this question for herself
The ''eight years. of Democratic pro-slaYery rule,
favored by every possible circumstance have sue
ceeded in forcing tl5eRyfoT slaves into that Terri
tory. Even this small remnant of proslaveryism
is maintained and fortified there, as the IiibHns
says, "by Federal patronage and power With
draw that pressure and the last Vestige Of slavery
would disappear. Replace these proslayeFy Off
Gals by men who not enlisted in the propaga-
ton of savery,-who would leave labor and popu-
lation TO their own laws.-and the patry fabric of
pro -saveryism which has been reared with so much
labor and would disappear like an exhalation.
We cannot think II at all necessary therefore, TO
keen New Mexico in Territorial condition for four
years in order to purge 1t from TIE small eayen of
slavery which has been infused into it,
In this extract from the Times we discover the
reason of the compromise position of the Black Re
publicans for avoring the proposition of Mr.. ADAMS
to permit New Mexico TO form State Constitution
as soan as possible and Gpply for admission They
believe that they can thus with the assistance OF
their Emgrant Aid Associations carry out the poll
cy of the Chicago platform. To be foreWsrned is
TO be forearmed.