Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-13
A Review Of the Efforts Made TO Avoid
the neutrality-suspicious. for the War
not with the Union Party.

AhSAO iS NJ SiaA ~ 4Atoies AACdu duOAli9 ~
iterated, with less show of reason, than that
which afixes the responsibility for this de-
vsstating war upon the Union party. The
charge is just now being revived with
view to party capital, and makes advisable
a review of the events which occurred al
ter the election of Abraham Lincoln, up to
the time of his Inauguration.
The fact that the election Of Abraham
Lincoln wss not sufficient cause FOR rebel
lion was clearly admitted by Mr.. Stephens
in an address made by him on the l4th of
November, 1860, before the Legislature of
Georgia In that address he said; aShah
the people of the South seeede from the
Union, in consequence Of the election Of
Mr.. Lincoln to the Presidency of the Uni
tedStates2 My countrymen, tell you
csndidly, frankly, earnestly, L do not think
they ought. In my Judgment the election
of no man, constitutionslly chosen to that
high ofice is sufficient cause for any State
to seeede from the Union
This is an emphatic declaration from the
very. pest authority that the South could
find no justification whatever, in the cleo
ton Of Mr Lincoln, for p.unging the ma
ton into wicked and desolating rebellion
But how is it with events succeeding his
election? On the third of December, Con-
gress having met, and President Buchan
ans message having been sent in, the con-
dition of the eJuntry Immediately became
the subject of much debate and eontrovsr-
sy. The Southern Senators generally
treated the election of November as dec
laration against the equality and rights Of
the slaveholding States. The Republicans
disavOwed any such Interpretation, and
expressed their readiness to-acquiesee in
any just and proper measures, to calm their
.apprahensions. That part of the Prcsi-
dents message relating to the sectional
difficulties Of the country having been re-
fsrFed in the Senate to committee Of
thirteen, Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky, in
trOdueed, Immediately afterwaFd a series
Of resolutions embodying what is known
IS the Crittenden Compromise. Theae res
olutions were referred to a committee, and
after much discussion in the Senate were
lost on the last day of the session, by a vote
of ls to 20, in consequenceof the Withdraw
al of Senators from the South
In the House more successful efforts
were made to quiet the fears of the South
and cause them to desist from secession
and rebellion, if such thing were posi-
bic. A committee Of four from each state
was appointed, who in a short time report
ed q series of resolutions intended, and ad
pirably calculated to calm the spprehen
sions of the South. These resolutions were
passed by ls6 against SO, and proved that
the Government was ready to guarantee
-a--a-z- -oa-.a4;i,,4ia-la i--l-4-s--ii
The same committee also reported the fol-
lowing resolution reeommendinga an amend
ment to the Consultation such as should
forever put it out ofthe pcwer Of the Gov
ernment or the people of the United States
to interfere with slavery in the States
Belt resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States of
A1aericG IN Congress assembled (two-thirds 1
Of both Houses ooncurring), That the fol- |
lowing article be proposed to the Legisla- |
lures of the several States as an amend |
ment 10 the Constitution Of the United |
States, which, when ratified by three |
fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid,
TO all intents and purposes, as a part of the |
said Constitution, namely:
Art. II. No amendment shall be made |
70 the Constitution which will authorize. |
O. give to Congress the power to abolish or |
interfere, within any State, with the do
mestic institutions thereof including that
Of persons held to labor or service bv the
laws of said State.
This resolution was passed by l33 to So |
More than ta0o-thirds a its fagoy.
Mr.. Douglas subsequently, in the Senate. |
moved to take up this resolution passed bv
the House, and on the final vote it was
adopted by a vote of twenty-four TO twelve.
Thus both the House and the Senate, BY their
action, had given assurance to the South
calculated 10 disarm them of every fear. |
But it was all in vain. Neither the strong
pledge that there was no intention to inter
ERE with slavery in the states, an amend
nent to the Constitution making it timpossi-
bic to interfere, nor any other reagon avail
ID. Governments, for the three new terri
Itories of Nevada, Dakotah and Colorado.
we're created, and no law passed excluding
lsvery. Northern states were eensured for
u laws enacted and calculated to hinder
he recovery of fugitive slaves. Rhode
sland had repealed its Laws of that char
cter, and Vermont Maine, Massachusetts
nd Wisconsin were abont to 30 thesame,
ut nothing availed. The loading Traitors
T the South had uiurely bv an making pre-
Ixts in orderto organize i'd dconsumuiate se-
sssiOn as completely as possible before the
lauguration Of she new President. 1t may
g said, however, that the rebels would not |
ave seeded if the Republican party had
greed, to throw open the territories to
'syery. This-wss simply askingithe par-
to give up the very principle on which
had elected Abraham lincoln To ask
remuneration Of that principle in addi-
on to all the ether concessions made, was
iholly unwarranted. -r
The truth is, history teaches thai seces-
on was plotted for many years beforlass.-
70 concessions would have a7ailedj Wit
less the language of JET. Davis, in his (
fesssge to Congress, in April, 1851:
oul cause is just ard holy we ask no 8
onquest, no aggrandizgment, 40 concession | I
,om the Free States; all we ask is to be /
It alone.
And if anything Emore were n leeded to !
1nfrm this oninion. Let him affnsk the fol