Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-22
who Refused to 9 Compromisef''

Even 10 this day, We do not cease to hear
the declarations that if the North had been
willing TO abide by the Crittenden Com
promise, or hsd offered Compromise at the
Peace Convention, the war would have been
avoided. Setting aside, for the time, the
question Of the Permaneney Of the peace
that would have been thus bought, and the
utter want Of guarantee that some other
pretext would not have been seized upon
by those now in rebellion, let US see what
that Peace Congress did offer to the South,
and so fix the responsibility of the rejection
Of Compromise;
For our information, we are indebted to
a letter from Mr.. David Dudley Field of
New York, to Profy ssor S. F. B. Morse In
that Peace Congress, Mr.. Field submitted
a proposition to the effect that the Union
Of the States under the Constitution is in
dissOluble, SC. This, the Conference laid
on the table. Mr. Field then submitted an
other, declaring it to be the true intent and
meaning of the present Constitution, that
the Union of the States under it is indis-
soluble. Inns us.l ley-Os~-.. -paldrvin
Of Connecticut, proposed a paper, setting
forth the fact of differences existing be
tween different sections of the country, and
proposing, in accordance with the applica-
tion of the Legislature of Kentucky, ma
tiOnal convention for proposing amend
ments ts the Constitution, to secure to every
section the full and equal enjoyment of
their rights and privileges; these amend
ments TO be submitted to theseveral States
for ratification. For the adoption Of this
proposition, many Of the Northern mem
bers labOred earnestly. But eUery Stare
State in the Conference poted against IL and
it was rejected by vote of eight States to
thirteen.
Mr.. Tuck, Of New Hampshire, then Of
fered a series Of resolutions stating that
the I61forenee recognized the well-known
proposition that -the Constitution gives no
power to Congress or any branch of the
Federal Government to interfere with
slavery in any Of the States, aud that they
were assured that none of the political
parties of the country proposed any such
interference; that when the people Of any
State are not in the fun enjoyment Of the
rights secured to them by the Constitution,
foil and adequate redress ought TO be pro-
vided for such grievances; that the Con-
stitution is the supreme law of the land
and that, therefore, all States carefully
examine their statutes and revise or repeal
such as may be found to conflict with the
Constitution; and finally, that the Confer
ence recommend to the several States 10
follow the example Of Kentucky in apply
ing for a National Convention to make
such amendments as were deemed neees,-
sary. Who could ask more than these
resolutions offered Every grievance Of
which the South had complained, even to
the Personal Liberty bills of some Of the
Northern States, was here provided for,
and opportunity given for all the amen d.
ments to the Constitution which could be
shown to be right And jet eUery SLaUe
State Ooied against this, also, an d rejected 1t.
At length, the Conference did adopt a
proposed amendment to the Constitution
touching Slavery, prr,viding for the more
efficient enfOrcemeT. t Of the Fugitive Slave
Law, for payment. to the master Of the val
ne of any escay Jed slave who was not re-
covered by r'sason of rescue or like cause,
and other guarantees to the slave power
This aU.endment was transmitted to Con
gress with an address, stating that it was
approved Of by the members of the Coz
ference, and requesting that it be submit
ted to Conventions of the several States
This plan of settlement, intensely pro-
slavery as it was, was received by South
erners in Congress with no favor what
ever. In the Senate, Mason and Hunter
of Virginia, Green of Missouri, and Lane
of Oregon, denounced it, and when it came
to q vote only three Senators out of thirty
seven gave their votes in its favor In the
House it was also rejected by large ma
jOrity.
These facts should Of truth had yet any
influence with them) forever shut the
mouths of the opposition who perpetually
charge upon the radicals" the defeat of
"COmprOmise" and cancellation