Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-04-24
The Crittenden Resolutions Killed bv
the South.
Fr0na ths Spesch Of Hon. ESrarS Erersff. Of
Bosfea. Aprif 2. 1853.

Know. were brought forward IN the Senate
AZ the commencement Of the session of
is6O-5i. They were intended by their
venerable and patriotic mover. to afford a
ground on which the border slave States
could stand. solid enough 20 resist the tor
rent Of secession. ! must confess I was in
favor Of their adoption. or Of something re-
sembling them. They were opposed AZ the
north by those who deemed no further con-
eessions on the subjec, Of slavery necessary
or eHPedient; and they were opposed by
the Senators Of the eotton-growing States.
who we're no; only determined 20 acrep,
for themselves no terms Of compromise. but
20 prevent. II possible. the adoption Of anv
measures which would satisfy the border
slave States These facts form the key 70
the course pursued in the Senate on the
Crittenden resolutions. When they came
up for consideration. Mr. Clark Of New
Hampshire moved. a. \ substitute for the
entire series. 4 short resolution. 20 the ef-
feet that the provisions q the Consultation
itself were adequate 20 the prsser, alton Of
the Union. which Mr.. Jeherson Dsvi.
about the sane time had expressly admitted
TO be the case. The test question was on
the adoption Of this substitute and this
question vas taken on the 10th of January.
The senators from South Carolina had not
occupied their seats for any part Of the ses-
sion. Mississippi seeded on the 9Th Of
January. and Florida and Alabama on the
llth; after which the senators from those
States. though remaining ia Washington.
were absent IRON their places. Eight
votes. which might have been given from
the eotton-growing States. in favor o! TIE
Crittenden resolutions. were los, in this
way
Nor was this the only. nor the most sig
ni6eani, indicaiion Of the wish q those
States TO defeat a conprornise. When the
qrestion on the adoption Of the resolutions
was about 20 be Puf. a motion was made 70
postpone their consideration. IL was deci-
ded in the negative by vote Of s5 yeas
and 50 noes. all the Senator present from
the cotton States voting with the senator's
from the border States against the post
Poncmeut- The test question Immediately
followed ON Mr.. Clark's Substitute for the
Cnttenden rcsolutions no other business
interviewed. not a word was uttered by any
member % the senate. and vet TO the aston
ishmeut q al no; IN the secret. - votes
only were given. instead Of IS. a. on the
. question Immediately preceding. Twenty
Eve votes were cast in favor of the sabssi-
tute Of Mr. Clark. Cbeing the same votes
which had been given for the postpone
ment,) and only twenty-three in favor Of
the Cnttenden ~ solutions. Seven Sena-
tors who a moment before had voted with
the border States against the Posfponement,
nov omitted 20 vote al all. Mr.. Douglas
wAs one Of tbese. and stated % the senate.
a few moments afterward. that having been
accidentally called out. he unintcntionaIly
lost the opportunity Of recording his vote
in favor of the Criitenden resolutions. The
other six who withheld their votes were
7 from the cotton-groving States.
/ Thus much appears from the journal Of
/ the senate. How and why these six vote,
/ were Withheld shall be told BY Gov. John
son. Who was a member q the Senate at the
time. and took an active and patriotic part
in the proceedings. WHO vas IT, he
asks. " that defeated the compromise?
There vas one Judah Benjamin. Who stood
night before me in the senate. and When
BIS name vas called refused to vote. SAID
I % him. Why don't you voter Turning
round rather abruptly be replied. Il VIII
. not consult you nor any other senator in
I refervnce o. my vote aid. vote and
. comply With tie Constitution and obey the
rules q the Senate ard show Yourself an
honest man Five other Senstors from
ihe cotton States. Mr. SBden among the
number. followed Mr. Benjsmin'. exampie.
and. though remaining in the senate and
not excused from voting. refused % answer
when their names we're called. and % NJ.
CLARK. Substitute was adopted b. , MAJOR
fy Of two. A. soon a. the vote vas de-
clared (ssys Gov. Johnson) a tslegrsphic
message vas sent By ar Benjauiin to Lou
isiana. vhere the question Of secession va
sfili pending. that ths Crtsendeu resolu-
tions were lost and thc Biacs --Repubiicans
were Carrying eserythirg before then
Hal those six Senators voted a. it was their
duty undsr the rules of the Senato O. DO.
NJ Clark's Substitute for the Cruenden
resolutions voud have fsi.ee BY a majority
Of four. u the senators from the four So
ceding ~tafes bad been in their seats. this
maiority might have been incrcased %
twelve. SiS 81 them wcre in Wasiangion.