The Propositions of Virginia
Springfield
Daily Illinois State Journal, January 30, 1861
The question, as to the duty of Illinois, to send
Commissioners to consult with Virginia upon the troubles of the hour, is one
that ought not to be passed over without some consideration. It is due to
Virginia, not less than to ourselves, that the position of Illinois Republicans
should be clearly defined, and being defined, should not be departed from
without some higher motive than that of fearing a dissolution of the Union. If
the propositions of the Democratic Legislature of the State of Virginia were
simply to ask at the hands of those who differ with her a free and frank
consultation upon our present difficulties, it would doubtless be our duty to
listen to them with some degree of consideration. What is this proposition of
Virginia? She does not ask us to come to her, cherishing the principles and
policy of the Republican party, but she insists that before she meets us upon
terms of equality, we must give up every thing that is dear to us as
Republicans. We are not permitted to talk over these difficulties unless we can
do so upon the terms prescribed to us by Virginia. She prescribes to us terms,
and seems to make those terms the condition of her continuance as a member of
the Confederacy. She says to us, “unless
you see fit to comply with our terms, we will lead our people to the commission
of treason, and compel you to coerce us to obedience to the laws.”
She proposes to us that we should adopt the Breckinridge platform as a basis of
settlement. Not only this; but she insists that in all territory that may
hereafter be acquired, slavery shall be protected by constitutional amendment.
That is the proposition. And we can scarcely consider it with that degree of patience
its importance would seem to demand. The character’
of the proposition can find a parallel only in the demand, that Mr. Lincoln
having been constitutionally elected, shall resign, and allow tra[i]tors and
rebels to fill the offices, which the people have decided, shall be filled by
Republicans the next four years.
We would not be understood as having any objections to a
consultation with Virgin[i]a, if she will come to us with clean hands, proclaiming
her determination to stand by the Union in every emergency. But when she asks
us to meet her, upon terms so dishonorable as those we have indicated, we feel
that we but utter the sentiment of Illinois Republicans, when we say that they
will not give up either principle or honor, for the purpose of inducing even
Virginia to remain in the Union. We insist that all national troubles shall be
settled IN THE UNION, that those States that have rebelled and those that
threaten to do so, shall convince us by their acts that they are again devoted
to the Union—having done that we will meet them in a spirit of fraternal
kindness, and pledge ourselves to secure to them every right to which they are
entitled under the Constitution as it is. The Democratic Legislature of
Virginia asks Republicans, Douglas men, and Bell men to give up every principle
that they struggled for in the last election, and accept in place of them the
Breckinridge doctrine of a Slave Code for the Territories. The modesty of this
demand will doubtless be appreciated by those who but a few months since were
saying that the platform of NonIntervention, or of “the
Union, the Constitution and the Enforcement of the Laws,”
was sufficient for all national purposes. There is something more to be taken
into consideration, in deciding what disposition shall be made of this
proposition of Virginia. The Commissioners she has authorized to represent her
at Washington, on the 4th of February, come clothed with no power to make any
adjustment of present difficulties. They come to present Virginia’s
ultimatum, and to report back what they have done, to the Legislature of that
State. Their action will be repudiated by Virginia if they shall make any
departure from her propositions as indicated by her Legislature. We are
rejoiced to know that Illinois Republicans look with no favor upon propositions
for concession or compromise, which demand such base surrender of principle, as
is demanded by the propositions of Virginia. We do not like the idea of buying
the right to control the offices which the people have given the Republicans a
Constitutional right to hold for the coming four years. We do not like to have
those who did not contribute to that result, prescribe to us the terms upon
which Republicans shall administer this Government. We say to Virginia, and to
all other States, that are asking us to “compromise”
and “concede”
something, that we are not aware of having done any wrong to them or their
people. That we propose to do no wrong either to her or them—or to any of
the States of the South. That being our position, we do not propose to make
either concession or compromise—if in doing so we are required to yield up
any essential principle of Republican faith.
