Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-02


A SETTLEMENT NOT IMPossIBLK.-We have
satisfied OuIself that speedy, fair, and honorable
settlement Of the existing disastrous sectional
question is by no means impossible, as alleged by
those around rs bent on preventing such a result.
1t 10 evident that the Republican party will
come to no terms offered by extreme men from
the South, in a manner which they 1.-THE Repub-
licans) characterize as insulting and threatening
towards themselves and their constituents Never
theless, recent careful and earnest has
satisfied US no less strongly, that they pre-
pared to meet fair and honorable terms, IL offered
by the united border siaveholding States repre-
sentation in Congress, promptly and frankly, in
order to avert the impending civil war.
The border slaveholding States Senators and
Representatives should at once meet and draw up
aPlan of settlement, to be offered by them then
plan, embracing four points, as follows:
1st. The repeal Of all personal liberty bills.
I'd. An amendment Of the fugitive slave law
granting the returned slave trial by jury where
he has escaped from, or making 1t obligatory on
the party claiming him to produce certified
copy Of description of the person of the escaped
slave, placed on record In his county clerks
Office within five days after his escape, when de.
handing him at the North.
Sd. An amendment to the Constitution for.
bidding Congress from ever legislating concern
Ing slavery In the States except with the consent
Of all the States
4th Another amendment to the Constitution
extending the Missouri Compromise to the Pacific,
and providing that territorial legislatures of the
southern side territories shall neither legislate for
or against slavery, but shall protect alike every
description Of property which settlers may please
to carry into such territories
We sincerely believethat II these terms be pre-
sented by the parties we suggest above, acting in
concert and accompanied by a pledge on their
part that their States win abide by them as a set
Element Of the whole question remaining true To
their allegiance to the Government of the United
states IL they be frankly accepted by the North,
the latter UiH accept them in twenty-four hours,
They VIII doubtless be opposed by few extreme
men from both sections; disunionists per Sc on
one side, who seek the destruction Of the Govern
ment at all hazards, and abolition coercionists
WHO prefer long and bloody civil war to any
compromise with the South whatever But when
the test question may be put, IL will be found
fnat both these classes together will not number,
In al, fourth Of the members Of any party in
either House Of Congress.
We know what We say, in declaring that IL the
Senators and Representatives Of the border slave
holding States will present such a plan to the
North In Congress, in a fraternal spirit asking
It's acceptance In the same spirit as the means Of
preserving their own connection with the Union
and warding of the threatening civil war. three
fourth OF the Northern members now bv a conn.,
oination Of untoward circumstances regarded AZ
hostile to any feasible plan of settlement what
ever, will joyfully and promptly end the trouble,
OF the country by voting for Its acceptance.