Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-01
TIE oRlrrENpEN COMPROMISE.

called compromise, prepared by MIR. CTltteuden
and such an effort making BY the locofocos--
particularly Of the Breckenridge stripe--to
impress upon the uninformed the idea that it is
identical with the missouri Compromise, that
we republish the Crittcnden resolutions in an-
other column, and call attention to their plain
purport as proving the utter lack of identity
between them and the Missouri Compromise.
Ii will be rendered that the Federal Gov
erament acquired by purchase from France the
territory of Louisiana. In 1920 tho State of
Missouri was carved out out of portion of
this Territory, and applied for admission into
the Union as Slave State. Her admission
as such was contested, struggle ensued that
threatened disruption of the Uuion, and f.
nally compromise was made by which it was
agreed that IN consideration of the North as
senting to her admission as Slave State, that
slavery should forever thereafter be prohibited
10 the rest of the old Louisiana territory which
lay north of the south boundary line of Mis-.
souri,, which was the parallel of 36 deg. so
min., and noihing was said or done as to the
remainder of the territory south of that line.
Thus the North for agreeing to tue admission
of Missouri as q Slave State secured ty the
compromise the freedom of all the territory
north of SO deg. 80 min Now, what does
MIR. Crttenden's resolution propose To ex-
tend the liue of 36 deg. 80 min. to the Pacific,
prohibiting slavery north of that line, but also
to incorporate into the Constitution an article
recognizing and protecting SLAVERY by Federal
power in all the territory we now have or may
heI eatter acquire south of that line Is this
restoring the Missouri COMPROMISED Is it not
rather incorporating the BreckiGridge Platform
into the Constitution of the United States, and
making it irrepealablea
Recall faT a moment the history of this pro-
posed Federal protection of Slavery. During
the last session of Congress, Senator Hunter,
OF Virginia, introduced a set of resolutions
PROPOSING TO torn slave code for the terrific.
rIes, aud thereby protecting, by Congressional
enactment, slavery 10 all our territories. The
proposition was lost, and was freely denounced
throughout the North without distinction of
party. The Democratic National Convention
assembled at Charleston aud afterwards at
Baltimore, aud was totally split asunder, be-
cause the Breckinridgo men insisted upon iu-
cooperating iutJ the Cincinnati platform reso-
lu'ions precisely like Mr. Crittenden's, recog-
nlzlng and protecting slavery in the terrific
ries.
The Douglas men resisted this. and nomi-
mated and supported their candidate on the
ground that tue question of slavery in the
territories should be left 10 the decision of the
people of the territories alone. This was the
principal issue of the last campaign. And
now, after the Douglas mex refused to let this
proposition be injected into their platform, af-
Ter the people at the polls rejected il by a
most overwhelming majority, it is gravely pro-
posed by Mr.. CrittendeI to incorporate it into
and make il Part of the Constitution of the
United States.
The 9Th clause of these propositions have
also apparently escaped observation aud are
invariably ignored by the advocates of the
compromise in this region. Do our people
want clause 10 the constitution compelling
them to pay for rescued slaves! Suppose some
bigOted aud landless citizen lends himself to
rescue fugitive, would we be grateful at be-
ing made to pay for his folly? And yet here
it is proposed we should do so. The owner
sues tbe State, the State the county, and the
county the individual. The latter being
worthless, the County must pay. Will tue
advocates OF this measure stand surety In tune
to come that our county will never contain
citizen foolish enough to resist the reeapturo
of fugitiVes!
For our part, We are iaexorably opposed to
these resUlutious-lst. Because they propose
al alteration of the constitution made by the
T:sest, purest and best men the world ever
saw, and under which our county has arrived
at its present eminent greatness. "a. Be- |
cause they propose amending the Constitution
in an unconstitutional way. Sd. Because
they concede the newly invented doctrine that
slaves property. 4th. Because they
rrn tn
the Breckinridge platform, of slave code for
the territories, when an overwhelming public |
sentiment has just pronounced against it
9th. Because they provide for the surrender
to slavery by constitutional amendment of all |
territory hereafter acquired, it being notorious
that we cannot acquire any more territory ex-
cept south of that line. 9th. Because it
makes entire Localities amenable in damages |
for the acts of individual citizens. 7th Be- |
cause it Is not compromise, but simply con-
cession, the north deriving no benefit but sur
rendering everything by it. And 9th. Be- |
cause the parties whom it proposes to cencili- |
ate not only reject, but spurn il.
Those who think that the present Consitu- |
tion and laws are not sufficient to sustain the |
government and MAINTAIN peace, may if they |
please bind themselves aud their children's |
children by this cumming scheme to protect, |
extend and make perpetual slavery, but for our |
part, We stand by the Constitution as our fa- |
theirs made it, and insist on its preservation by
all the means and power of the government. -
Somerset Her aid and Whig.
The appointment Of Gen. Cameron.
HARRISBURG, Jan. 27.-Mr. p Fassett
cue Of the committee from the Republican Club /
of Philadelphia to Springfield, has just return-
ed to this place. He says that The appointment
of Gen. Simon Cameron as Secretary of the |
IreasnrY. is cerisin The nnnnsition 70 his |