The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-04

THE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL CRISIS.

TILE PULlllCAl AND UUMMEhGlAl CklNlNs
The South Carolina Conference of the
NJ. E. Church, adjourned on the 18th inst.
A Committee was appointed during the
session, on the state of the country" This
Committee reported series of resolutions,
of which the following is specimen:
That while we deplore the necessity that
exists for separation from the Federal Union,
yet in view of all the history of the past, the
perils of the present, and the threatened
wrongs of the future, we feel bound by honor
and duty to move in harmony with the South
in resisting Northern domination.
We have report OF proceedings in
the Senate Committee of thirteen, on the
22d inst. The amendment to the Constitu-
ton, proposed by Mr.. CR1rrENDEN, to set
tie the controversy between the North and
the South finally and forever by division
of the country from ocean to ocean, on the
parallel of the Missouri line, was the great
subject of discussion. Messrs. CR1rTENDEN,
DOUGLAS and BIaLER maintained it with
great zeal and ability. The Republican
members insisted that the people, at the
late election, decided the question of slavery
in the territories, therefore they had no
concession to make. DAVIS, TooxBs, and
HUNTER contended that proposition, must
come from the Democratic party; and in
timated that they would go for CR1rrEN-
DENIS proposition, if the Republicans would
propose it in good faith. The vote in the
Committee was as follows, Mr.. SEWARD
being absent:
For the Crittenden proposition.-Me ssrs.
Bigler, Crittenden, Douglas, Rice and Powell.
| IS.
Against it-Messrs. Davis, Doolittle, Cola.
mer, Wade. Toombs, Grimes and Hunter.-7.
The other propositions of Mr.. CR1rTEN-
DEN were rejected, under the rule adopted
by the Committee, that no proposition
should be considered and adopted and re-
commended to the Senate, which did not
receive majority of the Republican votes,
and also majority of those opposed to the
Republicans. In the Committee, Mr..
DOUGLAS submitted the following basis of
settlement:
| FIRST. Leave the people of the organized
territories free to decide the question of sla.
very themselves, subject only to the limitations
| of the Constitution-the courts to decide upon
the validity of territorial laws, without any in.
reference by Congress.
| SECOND. An equitable partition of all terri.
| tory we now own or may acquire between the
| sections, as provided in the Missouri compro-
mise, and now proposed by Senator Crittenden.
| THIRD. The status of slavery and personal
freedom in the territories shall remain as it was
when acquired, neither Congress nor territorial
| legislatures having power to change it the
courts to determine all questions involving the
title of slave property and personal freedom,
as was provided in the Clayton compromise
bill and supported by Mr.. Calhoun in l848.
-HERsCHEL V. JOHNSON, was recently
nominated as candidate for the Georgia
State Convention, at Augusta. Ina speech
which he made on the occasion, he said
There is no need of haste to destroy this
| Union; that step can be taken at any time when
| honor, interest, or self preservation may re.
| quire it. am no ''submissiOnist to abolition
| ruin" nor do counsel my cOuntrymen to SUBJ
nit; but know the Importance of the South
being united, either to obtain redress or to
resist aggression. We cannot be harmonious.
| even in Georgia, upon immediate separate
secession. We are unanimous on the necessity
of redress, we shall be on the necessity of the
dissolution if, after exhausting all other means,
we fail to obtain it. This is the reason for the
course have urged. Why should we be pre-
cipitate. The moral power of united South
is absolutely necessary to secure respect at
| hon oh
amusing to see so little disposition to make
| sacrifices for its attainment. l do not know
whether majority of the people are for imme.
diate and unconditional secession or not. Its
friends claim a majority. Grant it. But is no
regard to be paid to the honest opinions of a
large and patriotic minority? In great crisis,
involving the existence of the best government
in the world-involving peace and WARFARE
such minority to be dragged into revolution
against their will, when they ask. not for per-
manent submission, but for calm deliberation,
| for consultation with sister cOlfederates, and
for faithful and united effort to avert the ca
| lamity? have said nothing about the chances
| of war as the fruit of dissolution. This should
never deter brave people from asserting and
| maintaining their rights. Southern unaninity
| and cooperation will prevent the worst of all
calamities-civil strife and bloodshed; it will
| command respect at home and abroad, snd
| enable us to inaugurate our new position under
| will permit. Without it Ihave but little hope
of peace; and with it we should make the most
| ample preparations for every emergency. We
may enjoy peace, and all history teaches that
no great government expired without convul.
sions.
At the celebration of the New England
Society, at the Aston House, New Yolk,
Mr.. Seward made speech. The first part
was humorous discourse, of personal
character; but at the conclusion be referred
to the sectional differences in the following
genial manner
| -. believe that there is no such thing
mo such thing in the book, no such thing ID
the:reason, no such thing in the philosophy,
| no such thing in nature---as any State existing
on the continent of North America long out Of
the United States of America. don't believe
| it for many reasons, some have named, and
for one don't see any reason given for it
| The best reason hear is that the people of
some of the southern States hate US Of the free
States very badly, and they say we hate them,
and all love is lost between Us. do not be.
lieve q word of it. On the other hand, do
know for myself and for you that batting some
little differences Of opinion aboCt advantage,