The Crittenden Compromise was more or less a last ditch effort to avert secession of the Southern states and the likely ensuing civil war. The mid-nineteenth century was a time when many people had their own views of slavery (the main cause of secession), and how Congress should handle it. Northern abolitionists wanted an end to slavery; however, southerners were opposed to such a drastic measure. In the midst of Senatorial confusion and congressional debate arose the Kentucky Senator, John Jordan Crittenden, with his proposal. Initially brought to the Senate floor on December 18, 1860, the compromise met with mixed reviews. Crittenden was willing to amend his compromise to suit his colleagues' ideas, but it was not enough, and the proposal was ultimately unsuccessful because of a variety of reasons, leading to the deterioration of Southern unity and loyalty towards the Union.

During the 1850's, the growing debate over slavery was nearing a definite boiling point. The controversy culminated with the election of Abraham Lincoln to Presidency in 1860. A major issue that was being tossed around during compromise talks was the 36°30' line, establi

No person held to service in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.

These propositions are entirely too sweeping...to secure the assent of three-fourths of the states...we do not see, indeed, upon what ground the assent of either section...can be counted upon for such a measure...We have very little hope that anything substantial will be accomplished by these amendments.

There were also congressional resolutions involved in the senator's plan. One of them resolved to boldly enforce the Fugitive Slave Act by repealing any laws that contradict it. "All state laws that contradict with the Fugitive Slave acts...are null and void." If passed, by resolving to eliminate the personal-liberty laws established to protect fugitive slaves from the Slave Act, the compromise provided brighter prospects for the South by giving slaveholders more leverage against the anti-slave North.

Though he was careful not to give public speeches, he had spokesmen speak on his behalf. Lincoln was not open to finding a middle ground on the issue of territorial expansion: "...I will be inflexible on the territorial question...either the Missouri Line extended or [Stephen] Douglas' popular sovereignty would lose us everything we have gained." Lincoln, though during his campaign had promised to protect slavery, now dreaded the possible consequences of slave expansion.

The final proposed amendment, Article Six, was intended to seal off any future attempts at voiding any of the previous amendments. It stated: "No further amendment of the Constitution shall affect the preceding articles...and no amendment will be made...which shall authorize or give to Congress any power to interfere with slavery," in any state in which it was already permitted. This amendment proved to be a sticking point because many Republicans already thought the Compromise was favorable to the South and this would only guarantee them of these proposed amendments forever.

There was also a flurry of negative editorial response to the proposed compromise, which was often printed in local newspapers. One columnist for the New York Times expressed his views in a December 1860 editorial:

Also, regular citizens voiced their opinions in the newspapers during the time period. One such citizen, identifying himself only as "The Major," proposed his own plan for a compromise. He suggested that his plan would be equally accepted in the North as it would be in the South. His plan advocated the assembly of five representatives f

Some common words found in the essay are:
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