The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-02-23
Political.
The Compromise Plans.


positions of compromise offeredifor the settle.
ment of the national troubles We have con.
temrlated a synopsis Of them. hut have found
il difficult to render them ineligible in less
space than occupied below: The different
plans will Be found interesting at the pres, mt
time, as well as valuable for future reference.
MIR. CRITTENDEN'S PLAN.
This plan was offered Deer 18th last as an
amendment to the Constitution.-va when
ratified by Conventions of three. iourlhs Of
the States.
First In all the Territories now or
hereafter acquired north Of latitude &c
degrees and 30 minutes slavery or involun.
tary servitnde. except for the punishment, for
crime. is prohibited while in all the Ter.
ritory south Of that latitude slavery is hereby
recognized as existing. and shall not he inter
fercd with bv Congress. but shall be pro.
iec,ed as property by oil departments Of the
Territorial Government during its contin-
uance. All the territory north or south OF
said line, within such boundaries as Congress
may presc, ibe. when it con!sins population
necessary for member OF Congress. with a
republican furm Of government. shall be
admitted into the Union on an equality with
the original States. with or without slavery.
as the Constitution Of the State shall pre-.
scribe.
"Srcond: Congress shall have no power
to abuliuh slavery in the States permitting
slavery.
Third Congress shall have no power to
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia
while it exists in Virginia and Mary land. OF
either: nor shall Congress at any time pro.
hibit the officers Of the Government or mem
bers of Congress. whose duties require them
to live in the District Of Columbia. from
bringing slaves there, and holding them Us
such.
Fourth: Congress shall have no power
to hinder the transportation Of slaves from
one State to another, whether by land, navi-
gable rivers, or STA.
"Ftth: Congress shall have power by
law to pay mn owner who shall apply, tho
full value for fugitive slave in all cases
here the Marshal Is prevented from dis
chsrging his duty by force or rescue. made
after arrest. In all such Cases the owner
shall have power to sue the county in which
the violence or rescue was made. and the
county shall have the right to she the indi.
viduals who committed the wrong III the
same manner MS the owner could Sue.
"Sirm M further amendment or amend
nients shall affect the preceding articles. and
Congress shall never have power to interfere
with slavery in the States " here il is now per-
mitted.'
MIR. BIGLER'S PLAN.
This plan provides for the adoption of Mr..
Crittenden's proposition by direct vote Of
the people, upon the recommendation of o
majority of both Houses of Congress. instead
ola two.thirls vote rs required by the Consti-
tuition. As We See it reported recently in the
Baltimore American, it includes, also, the
Powell amendment to the Crittenden plan.
lie. applying the settlement of the territorial
question to territory south Of &c degrees 80
minutes hereafter to he acquired.
MIR. DOUGLAS PLAN.
The essential articles Of this proposition
are as follows:
|. Congress shall make no la,rs in respect
10 Slavery or serciimle in any Territory in the
United States; and the Status Of each Terri.
tory in respect to servitude. as the same nou
er'>ts by lar. shall remain unchanged until
the Territory, with such boundaries as Con-
grcss may prescribe. shall have population OF
fifty thousand white mha hitants, when the
white male citizens thereof over the age oil
twcnty-one years may proceed to form a
Constitution and Government for themselves
and exercise all the rights Of self government
consistent with tho Constitution Of the
United States and when such new States
shall contain the requisite population for o
member Of Congress according to the then
Federal ratio Of representation. it shall be
admitted into the Union on an equal fontina
with the original States. with or without
slavery, as the Constitution OF such new Stats
shall provide at the time of admission ant
in the meantime such new State shall b.
entitled 10 one delegate in the Senate. to b
chosen by the Legislature, and one delegate
| in the House Of Representatives. to be choser
by the pcoplo having the qualifications re
quisite for electors of the most numerou!
branch OF the Legislature; and said delegate!
shall have all the rights and privileges o
Senators and Representatives, respectively
except tina: Of voting.
"SEc. 2. NJ more TERRITORY shall be &c
qnirrd by The United States erecp by treaty o
by The concurrent roic of iwo-thirds Of eacI
House of Congress. and when so acquired tn
status thereof in respect to servitude, as /
existed al the time Of acquisition. shall remain
unchanged until it shall contain the popula
ton aforesaid for the formation of new States
when it shall b. subject to the terms. condi
tons. and privileges herein provided for tn
existing Territories"
1t will be seen that Mr.. D's non Int crvcn
tion principle is incorporated in the abov
plan.
THE BORDER STATE PLAN.
The Committee Of Fourteen appointed by
caucus OF Congressman from Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia. Kentucky. Missouri, ant
North Carolina from the South. and New
Jersey. Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana, ant
Illinois, from the North, agreed on Januar.
5lh-with the exception Of Mr.. Sherman, O
Ohio-to recommend the adoption Of amend
,ncnts 10 the Constitution to the following
effect:
First: Recommending repeal Of all tn
Personal Liberty bills
"Seeond: That the Fugitive Slave law b
amended for the prevention Of kidnapping
and SO as to provide for the equalization q
the Commissioners fec, etc.
Third: That the Constitution be s
amended ar to prohibit any interference witt
slavery in any Of the States where it nov
exists.
/" Fourth: That Congress shall not abolis
slavery in the Southern dockyaids. arsenals