Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-11
The Crittenden compromise.

By request ex-senator BIGLER of Pennsylva
MA, in a letter to his neighbors gives a history of
the CRrTEyDEN compromise. and shows most
conclu>ively. as we did in an article a short time
ago. that it was rejected by the Republicans in
Congress. and that if it had been adopted by
them. the South would have taken it, thus saving
the Union and the present civil war. The fol
lowing is the conclusion of Mr. BIGLER's letter.
which iastens upon the Republicans the respon-
sibility of that measure, and the evils which have
followed its rejection by them:
In what | have said have not intended to ex-
tenuale or excuse the wckedneSS OF the secession
lists. Bad aud impotic as was the policy of the
Northern radicals, it furnished no sufficient rea
son tor secession. rebellion and war; but | be
lieved most sincerely then, as | do now, that the
acceptance OF Mr.. Crittendens proposition by
one third of the Republicans in Congress, at the
right time. would have broken down secession i'm
nearly AL the States now claiming TO be ont of
the Union; and II might have been accepted
without any sacrifice of honor or principle So
far rs the common territory of the United States
was concerned. it proposed equitable partition.
giving the North about 900 900 square miles and
the South about $685. 900 No umpire that could
have been selected would have given the North
more. Ii then was material interest and value
we are contendng for. il gave our full share;
it the application OF political principle the
Republicans were struggling for. it allowed the
application of their doctrine 10 three ourths Of an
estate that belonged to all the States and all the
people. Ii expressly excluded slavery from 90O,-
600 square miles of this estate and allowed il in
the remaining 300. 600 The Republicans, il is
true. had just elected President, and were about
10 take possession OF the Gov ernment but still
the popular vote in the several States show Ell that
they were over a million of votes in the minority
OF the electors Of the United States Being a
llion in the minority, if they secured the appli-
cation of their principles TO threefourths OF all
the territory. was that rot enough! Could they
not on that have boosted of great triumph
For time these arguments and considerations
seemed To have weight with the more moderate
aud conservative of the Republican Senators In
deed At one time | mad strung hopes of settle
ment But the radicals rallied in force, headed
bv Mr.. Greeley, aud the current Was soon chang
I'd We were then met with the argument that
the people in the election of Mr. Lincoln. had
decided 20 exclude slavery from all the territory,
and that the members of Congress dare not at
tempt To reverse that decision We then deter
mined 10 90 step further and endeaSor TO over
come this obstacle: and il To this end, after
consultation with Mr. Crttenpen and others. thar
! myself introduced bill into the Senate pro
viding for taking the sense ct the people o. ;he
several States on the Criuenden proposition. ftr
the direction of members of Congress IA voting
tor or against IL submission for the ratification
OF the States. a. an amendment % the COnstitI-
ton. This Was appeal to the source of all
political power, aud would have relieved the mem