The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-10-28

anu JOnnsOu OF ARKANSAS, ana many OF
them were its daily advocates 1t was en-
dorsed by the State of Virginia and was
the basis on which she invited the assem-
bling of Peace Conference. 1t was
endorsed by the Legislatures of Ken
lucky and Maryland, and | think by that
of Tennessee also. 1t was petitoned for
by larger number of citizens from all
sections of the country and of all parties,
than any proposition ever before Congress
1t is not necess Try to my present pur-
pose TO discuss the proposition ITSELF as
you concede to it all the virtue [ coull
claim Tor it, but the reason the Southern
men preferred it to any other of the many
pending propositions, was because it took
the common territory from under the oper-
alton of the dogma on which Mr.. Lincoln
bad been elected excluding shareholders
from the common territory unless they left
their slaves behind. The Supreme Court
had decided against the right Of Congre SIS
to interdct slavery from the common ter
ritory; but the Incoming party were Pied
ged to exercise the authority, notwithstan-
ding. Mr.. lincoln had repeatedly made
known his determination to stand by that
position. The South held that such de-
cree or do;lrine rendered the Southern
States less than equals in the Union, and
that they could submit to no such humilia-
ton. One of the great merits of the Crit
tenden proposition was that it waved the
force of that decree by an equitable parti-
ton Of the territory on the line of IS
deg. 80 min. North latitude, giving us
about 100000 square miles of the territory,
and the South about 100000; our share
being more than any impartial umpire
could have awarded to US, and it thus ap.
piled your principles to three-fourths of
the territory acquired by a common blood
and treasure, but you were not content.
But you know we went farther and pro-
posed to take vote of the people for the
direction of the members of Congress, in
submitting the proposition for the ratifca-
ton of the States But the Republicans
would not accept the compromise for the
people, though petitioned for beyond pre-
cedent, Dor yet extend to the people the
opportunity Of accepting it for themselves.
had the honor Of presenting that PROPOSE
ton, and you, yourself, declared for it on
the l4th of January, thus: 81 say to the
Senator from Georgia, and to all the gentle.
men here, fthey will take the proposition Of
my colleague, will vote for it, and we will
pass it, if that will give US peace aud pre-
serve the Union" But you never gave
it your countenance or helping hand
thereafter You voted uniformly against
taking up the compromise until the day
before the final Adjournment. | can well
understand the uneasiness you manifest on
the subject, and why you sought the oppor-
tunity, even at this late date, of making
an effort to clear the skirts of your party
OF the grave responsibility that rests upon
those who prevented an amicable adjust
ment Of the sectional controversy. But,
General, you can never escape from it
1t will stick to you like the fabed shirt
of Neses, as will the recollection of other
omissions and commissions, of which Mr..
Lincoln and his friends are guilty. Had
Mr.. Lincoln raised his potential voice
against sec ssion, in December, 1860, af-
ter his election, BY simply declaring his
purpose, notwithstanding his sectional
election, to act as President Of the whole
country, aud take the Constitution, as de-
tined by the Sapreme Court, as his guide,
secession would have fallen in two-thirds OF
the States now claiming to be out Of the
Union; and he owed at least that much to
the Union men of the South because of the
damage he had done them by his Spring.
field speech. Had your party given the
compromise three votes in the Committee
of Thirteen, it would have been adopted,
and Stephens would have defeated secession
in Georgia, and the whole movement
would have fallen as consequence. But,
Geueral, your party, led on by the radicals,
did Professionally those things calculated to
to prevent amicable settlement; and you
must answer to the country for the sad
consequences.
Very truly, your ob't ser'vt,
VIM. BlGLER.