Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-24

After resolutions of thanks to the presiding
officer and to Gen. MCCLERNAND, the conven-
ton adjourned sine die.
The Crittenden COmprOmiSe---COneilatOry Tone
of "SOuthern Gentlemen"
The Copperheads are fond of asserting that
the present war might have been averted
had the Republican members of Congress in
1S60-6l accepted the Crittenden compromise.
When Republican hears this charge made
let him point to the following facts
Upon the 18th of January, 1861, Mr.. CRIT
rENDEN, of Kentucky, made his first speech
in favor of his resolutions, which with some
amendments, obtained celebrity as the " Crit
tenden Compromise" Before he concluded
his remarks, Mr. TooMBs, of Georgia. who
had some claim to the floor, insisted upon his
right to it, and spoke at length. The Copper
heads are in the habit of telling us how well
pleased the leaders Of the secession move
ment were with Mr.. CR1rTENDEN's proposition,
and how cordially they seconded it. Let us
see what Mr.. TooMBs had to say
From the speech of Robert Toombs, in the Sem
q,
gressional Globe, part first, second session, Thirty
sixth Congress, page 267, third column of the page
"The Union, sir, is dissolved. That is an
accomplished fact in the path Of this discus
sion that men may well heed. One of your
confederates has already wisely, boldly, brave
ly confronted public danger, and she is only
ahead Of many of her sisters because of her
great facility for speedy action. The greater
majority of those States under like circum-
stances, consider her cause as their cause,
| and charge you in their name to-day, Touch
not Saguntum 1t is not only their cause,
but it is a cause which receives the sympathy,
and will receive the support, of tens and hun
| dreds of thousands of honest patriotic men
in the non-slaveholding States, who have
| hitherto maintained constitutional rights, who
| respect their oaths, abide by compacts, and
| love justice. And while this Congress, this
Senate and this House of Representatives,
are debating the constitutionalty and the ex-
pediency of seeding from the Union, and
while the perfdious authors of this mischief
are showering down denunciatiOns upon
large portion of the patriotic men of this
country, these men are coolly and calmly
voting what you call revolution--aye, sir,
doing better than that: arming to defend it."
We ask the candid attention Of the people
to this passage. 1t shows the spirit in which
the Southern conspirators commenced the
discussion of the Crittenden Compromise, and
the state of facts then existing. We quote
again from Mr.. TooMBs:
81 shall not spend much time on the ques-
ton that seems to give my honorable friend
Mr.. Crittendenl so much concern-the Con-
stitutional right of state to secede from
this Union. Perhaps he will find out after
while that it is fact accomplished. You
have got it in the South pretty much in both
ways. South Carolina has given it to you
regularly according to the approved PLAN
You are getting it just below there lin Geor-
gia. 1 believe irregularity, outside of law,
without regular action. You can take it Ell
Their way. You will find armed men to defend
both"
Mr.. Toombs proceeded to speak thus con-
temptuously of the Constitution of the United
States:
'The country is deluded with the nonsense
that this bond of Union the Constitution
was cemented by the blood Of the Revolu-
ton. Sir, it is false. 1t never cost a drop
of blood. A large portion of the best men
of the Revolution voted against it.
This talk about the blood of patriots is inten-
ded to humbug the country, to scare the old
women. Why, sir, it never cost a drop of
blood. 1t was carried in some of the states
by treachery, by men betraying their constit
uents. That is the history of the times"
He added, that if he had lived in that day,
he would have voted "against the adoption
of the present plan of Government" and if
that plan had been defeated "the men of
the South would have been the greatest and
,.ocf nj atior of tho rth
Mr.. CRIrTENDEN had said something in his
speech about treason" TooMBs replied:
"You can not intimidate my constituents
by talking to them about treason. They are
ready to fight for their rights with the rope
around their necks, and meet the black Re-
publhans and their allies upon whatever
ground they may select. Treason, bah"
Such was the holy spirit of peace, the ami
able suggestions of adjustment of differences,
the tender regard for the Constitution, the |
fearful attachment to the Union, with which |
Mr. CR1TTENDEN was interrupted in his first |
speech On his compromise resolutions.
FUGITIVE PRoPERTY.-Maryland papers say
that at the present rapid rate the stampede of
slaves from that State, will soon render all
talk about emancipation unnecessary-there
will be none to emancipate. One planter near
Port Tobacco, lost eleven few nights since.
Owners take the loss as matter Of course,
since there is no feasible means of proven
ton. Compensated emancipation is probably
more popular there now than when the Presi-
dent first proposed it.
Ex-Gov. Gardiner, of Massachusetts,,
the old Known Nothing Governor of that state,
is now an ardent copperhead Democrat a