Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-15
WIralk the last a. dnrn =. hnr. nnl,

RITHlE The lastfew days we have pub--
hShed pretty near all the eompromise plans
that have been offered or suggested, both
in Congress and ont of Congress, pnd we
have expressed our preference for either
Ar. Rice'S or the Border States compromise
over Nr. Crttteuden's. We think that Mr..
critteadep's plan can offer no permanent
settlement, and thatit carries within 1t the
certain seedaof even greater dangers than
those which now threaten us. We find
oar o6jection to Il so we'll and forcily stat
ed in az editorial in the Baltimore 1a.yi.
con that We adopt it in lieu Of anything of
our own. The comments of the 4.asrieon
come up in the course of criticism on
Viee-Prelident Disadvantages letter, and
referring to the prohibition OF slavery
north of the Missouri Compromise line.
and the protection Of it south Of that line,
not only in the territory which we have,
but in that which we shall hereafter ne.
quiret,he american says:
What would be its effect? Beyond all
controversy Il would be an Immediate and
apowerful incentive for the extension Of
the Republic southwark, and for the sub
tuBntion and annexation of Mexico. And
upon this issue would not the sectional
contest be revived in all its bitterness and
iorcef II tue North haR now the will aud
the numerical representation in Congress
70 refuse "A recognition of the Just rights
OF tho South In our emitting Territories
would not that will and power find equal
exercise in preventing Iha acquisition of
new territory in which the condition Of
slavery was to be recognized2 Can there
DO any doubt that such a conflict would
arise, and would not the South have to
sustain that contest upon grounds i'm
measurably inferior TO those she now occu-
ptes1 Now she contends for what she Is
convinced is her undoubted Constitutional
rigbt-tQudlity IN the Exi1tiNg TrTritories !;
then she would DO cOutending, not for u
Constitutional right, but for the right of
expansion. II Is an utter fallacy, then. to
argue that decision of the status OF any
hereafter to be acquired territory is neceS-
saEy to the present rights Of the South, or
that It would "settle for all time" the Ter
FltoriNl question. 1t WOuld be no such
thing, but on the contrary Temptation to
the renewal of that contest upon forms
more unequal to the South than those now
existing.
We protest against this borrowing of
trouble from the future, and of driving the
country to ruin aud civil war upon con.
1itlon .Of Affairs that may never exist, or If
Il does occur will probably come to US
under circumstances so entirely changed
from those now prevailing that il may
properly be left for settlement under the
lights and influences that then exist. We
have no right, IL IL not wise, statesman
like, or Christian-liko to seek for an
iuSupeTablo difficulty outside of these
Imits which arc alone subject to the gov
ernment OF the people and their represent
tatives. We have nothing, in GOnstitu-
uoual point OF Wow, to do with future ac-
qutstttOns OF territory; the Constitution
does not recognize that among the missions
or purposes of the Government, and it if
Rrises-Ns, in the progress Of agents, we
presume It Wilt should be left for set
Element to the people ut tho time It pre-
sontS itself, as 1t has been heretofore. and
with the best results. EVen in the inter
ests Of those who favor such extensions of
the Republic, it would be unwise 70 ham
per tho subject with provisions that must
inevitably increase the opposition to their
accomplishment.
But IL the question must be settled now
though We believe it to be an unnecessa-
~ aud unWise point to raiae-let the Bor-
der State Compromise be the basis of
agreement. Prohibit all future acQuisi-
ton of territory unless sanctioned by
tWo.thirds Of the Of the States, and
hus dispose of that great and. threat
eniug evil to all Federative Govern
ments, the unlimited expansion nj ter.
ritory. At all events, do not let US place
ourselves upon uatenable ground, and
mako Shipwrcrk of our msterial and ma
tional interests, destroy the Union, and in
Volve ourselves in frntricidal war, simply
TO determine the question of slavery in a
territory that is not now a part OF the
Union, that may never become part, and
In regard to which wGhave not now either
legal or moral right to concern our
selves.
SONn passages in Senator Stewards re-