What Is Or Was The
Crittenden Compromise I Will Endeavor To Explain Hereafter; But The
Terms And Meaning Of That Compromise Can Have No Bearing On The
Subject.
The Republican party who were in power disapproved of
that compromise, and could not model their course upon it.
The
Republican party may have been right or may have been wrong; but
surely it will not be argued that any political party elected to
power by a majority should follow the policy of a minority, lest
that minority should rebel. I can conceive of no government more
lowly placed than one which deserts the policy of the majority
which supports it, fearing either the tongues or arms of a
minority.
As the next scene in the play, the State of South Carolina
bombarded Fort Sumter. Was that to be the moment for a peaceable
separation? Let us suppose that O'Connell had marched down to the
Pigeon House, at Dublin, and had taken it, in 1843, let us say,
would that have been an argument to us for allowing Ireland to set
up for herself? Is that the way of men's minds, or of the minds of
nations? The powers of the President were defined by law, as
agreed upon among all the States of the Union, and against that
power and against that law South Carolina raised her hand, and the
other States joined her in rebellion. When circumstances had come
to that, it was no longer possible that the North should shun the
war.
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