The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-28

attempted secession until after the rejection of
the terms of settlement proposed by the Peace
Convention which assembled in Washington
February 4, 1861 land likewise those ofMr. Crit
tenden. Twenty-one States were represented
in the Peace Convention, fourteen northern and
seven southern, viz: Delaware, Maryland Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Missouri. The proposition for confer
ence or convention of five commissioners from
each State on the condition of public affairs
was first brought forward and adopted by the
Legislature of Virginia to adjust the present
unhappy controversies in the spirit in which
the constitution was originally formed" This
shows there was strong disposition on the
part of the border slave States to adjust the
national difficulties and preserve the Union.
The plan of the Peace Convention was submit
ted to Congress on the 9th day of February,
1861, before Virginia, Tennessee Arkansas, and
North Carolina had seeded, but it was reject
ed. 1t may be well to add here that the Crit
tenden compromise was offered in the Peace
Convention as plan of adjustment, but it was
rejected by that body.
The secession of seven States, South CARROLL
na, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana and Texas, all before the LIST of Feb.
ruary, 1861, gave the Republican party ma
jority in both the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatves, and hence the responsibility of ac-
cepting or rejecting the propositions of COM
promise proposed by Mr.. CRITrENDEN, Mr.
DoUGI.As, and the Peace Conference rests with
the Republican party, and no proposition
would have been acceptable to the South un-
less it had been sustained by majority of the
members Of that political organization In
making this statement the withdrawal of the
members of Congress from the seeded States
is not justified, but a fearful responsibility
rests upon them for permitting the control of
the government to thus pass into the hands of
a sectional party. But while condemning the
action of tie members who withdrew, it does
not lessen the responsibility of the Republican
majoritieS in Congress. 1t was in their power
at any time to have kept Virginia, Tennessee,
Arkansas. and North Carolina willing and firm
members of the Union by adopting either the
Crittenden or the Peace Convention compro-
misses
FINAL ACTION UPON THE cR1rrEspES COM
PROMISE.
L, was not until Sunday. the Sd of March,
and the last day Of the Thirty-sixth Congress
that the vote was permitted in the Senate upon
the plan Of adjustment known as the Crit
tenden COMPROMISE" That vote is given as
evidence that the Republican Senators never in
tended that any plan of compromise should be
adopted with their approval, but that their
party doctrines and the supremacy of their
party in the control of the government were
far superior TO their desire for the preservation
of the Union in peace and with the good will
of all the States.
VOTE IN THE SENATE.
Upon the direct vote, taken March Sd, 1861.
for the adoption or rejection of the Crittenden
Compromise, just as it was offered by the dis
tinguished Senator from Kentucky, it was re-
jected by a vote of yeas 10 to nays 2O-all Dem
ocrats and Americans, including Mr.. RICE of
Minnesota, voting 10 its favor and all Repub-
lcans including Mr.. WILKINSON of 3iinneso-
Ia voting against it. Not Republican vote is
recorded in its favor.
VOTE In THE HOUSE.
On February 9th, 1861, Mr. CLEMENS, Rep
resentative from Virginia, proposed to the
House that the Crittenden Compromise should
be submitted to rote of the people for adoption
or rejection. He proposed the following Joint
resolution:
WHEREAS. The Union is in danger and ow-
ing to the unhappy divisions existing in Con-
gress it would be difficult, if not impossible,
for that body to concur, in both its branches,
by the requisite majority, so as to enable it
either to adopt such measures OF legislation, or
to recommend to the States such amendments
to the constitution, as are deemed necessary
and proper to avert that danger and whereas,
in so great an emergency, the opinion and
judgment of the people ought to be heard, and
would be the best and surest guide to their
Representatives; therefore.
Resolved by The Senate and House Of Represes-
tatires of the United States Of america in Con.
gress assembled, That provision ought to be
made by law, without delay, for taking the
sense of the people, and submitting to their
vote the following resolutions (Crittendens) as
the basis for the final and permanent settlement
of those disputes that now disturb the peace of
the country and threaten the existence of the
Union.
Upon the proposition to submit the GRIT
TENDEN compromise to the sense of the peo-
pie, the following was the vote in the House
of Representatives, February 81, 1S61-yeas
80, nays 113. Those voting in its favor were
all Democrats and Americans those against it
were ITO Republicans, two Americans and one
Democrat. Among the nays were Messrs.
ALDRIcH and WINDOW, of Minnesota Thus
the Representatives, refused to submit the
CRIrrENDKN compromise to the sense of the
people
WHO RESPONSIBLE?
In the Senate of the United States, on the
Sd of January, 1861, in discussing the subject
of compromise, referring to his own PROPOSE
ton, Mr.. DOUGLAS said
1 believe this to be fair basis of amicable
adjustment. If you of the Republican side are
not willing to accept this, nor the proposition
of the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Critten-
DEM, pray tell me what you are willing to do?
1 address the inquiry to the Republicans alone