M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-11-06

They constituted bne of the parties to
The issue, and it would have been f lly.
worse than folly, to have attempted a
settlement without their sanction and
support before the country.
But no one can misundrStand The
real object of the Republican orators
IN pRrading the fact that six or eight
Southern Senators had, at cne time,
withheld their votes from the Critten
den proposition. 1T is to show that
the South was not for it and did not
desire a compromise, and hence the
Republicans are not responsible Tor
the horrible consequences Uf its fail
Itre. On this point the testimony Is
very conclusive, and ! shall give it at
some length, please or displease whom
1t may. If Republicans choose to
take the responsibility Of saying that
they we're againUt the proposition and
to make no settlement, however we
may lament their policy, no one could
object to that position as a matter Of
fact; bat they will forever fail to
satisfy the world that the South was
not fairly committed to settlement
on the basis Of the Crittenden propo.
sition, or that the Northern Demo.
Gratis would not have compromised on
that ground, had they possessed the
power to do 80. ! am aware that
there are plenty of Republicans who
would still spurn to settle with the
South on such conditions, as there are
also radical fanatics who would not
take that section back into the Union
even on the conditions Of the Consti-
tuition. They certainly can have no
ccmplaint agains. my views and sen.
timonts. =" '...
when Congress assembled in De-
CEN Der, 1861, it was obvious to every
ote who was at all willing to head
| tbe signs of the times, that tile peace
ofthe country was IN imminent peril !;
the natural consequences Of a prolon'
ged war CT elimination and recrimin.
ation between the extreme and i'm.
practicable men of The North and The
Soeib. The anxious inquiry was
heard every where, "What can be
! IdoDb to a'lay the agitation and save
Iths unity aud peace of our country ?"
Among those who were willing to
make an effort to compromise and set.
tie, regardless Of sectional, party or
personal considerations, consultation
aiterconsultation was held. The first
great task was to discover whether it
was possible to bring the South up to
ground on which the North could
stand. Many and various were the
propositions and suggestions produced
But it was finally concluded that the
proposition OF the venerable Senator
lron Kentucky Mr., Crittenden), was
most likely to command the requisite
support in Congress and before the
people. There, together with all
others Of q similar character, we re.
terred TO select committee, composed
of the following Senators:
Messrs. Crittenden, Powell, Hunter,
Seward, Toombs, Douglas, COllamer,
Davis, Wade, Bigler, Rice, DOoIi;tle
and 9rimes--fve Southern men, five
Republicans, and three Northern
Democrats. The Southern and Re-
publican Senators were recorded as
the parties Of the issue, and hence a
rule WAS adopted that no proposition
should be reported to the Senate as a
compromise unless it received ma
iority of both sides. All the Southern
Senators save Mr.. Davis and Mr..
Toonbs, were known to favor the
Crit.enden proposition. On the 23d
of December this proposition came up
for consideration, and it became neceo
sary for Messrs. Davis and ToombS
to take their positions in regard to IT,
and | shall never forget the substance
of what both said, for regarded their
course as involving the fate Of the
Compromise. Mr.. Davis said, "that
Tor himself the proposition would be
bitter pill, for lie held that bis constit-
uents had an equal right with those
Of any other Sen tor to go into the
common Territories, and occupy and
enjoy them with whatever might be
their property at tue time; but never.
theless, in view, Of the great stake in
volyed, If the Republican side would
90 for it in good faith, he would mite
with them" Mr.. Toolnbs EXPRESSED
nearly the same sentiments, and de-
clared that his State would accept the
proposition as a final settlement. Mr.
Toombs also, in open Senate, on the
7th of January, used the following
language: .t.
"Bat although | insist on this per.
feet equality in the territory, yet when
it was proposed, as now understand
the Senator from Kentucky TO propose
that The line of $3.50 shall be extend
ed, acknowledging and protecting our