Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-12-29

principle entering into their late victory, de-
claring that while they knew themselves to be
occupying constitutional and national grounds,
they had no concessions to offer or make.
Davis, Toombs and Hunter were willing to
adopt any compromise, but wanted the republi-
cans should offer it.
The Committee met again on Monday and
sat three hours. 1t has been constantly charg-
ed by the South, and the charge has been re-
peated in the Senate, that the growing power
of the Republican party threatened amend
ments of the Constitution bv which their rights
in the States would be impaired if not destroyed.
To meet this difficulty the republicans conferred
together, and submitted the following PROPOSE
tons through Mr.. Seward, though it is under
stood that they were drawn up by Mr.. Cola
mcr:
First: No amendment shall be made to the
Constitution which will authorize or give to
Congress any power to abolish or interfere in
any State with the domestic institutions thereof,
including that of persons held to service or la
Dor by the laws of such State.
This was carried by the following vote:
~YEAs-N1cssrs. Powell, Hunter, Crittendcn, Sew
ard, Douglas, Collamer, Wade, Bigler, Rice, Doolitte,
and Grimcs-lI.
NAYs-Mcssrs. Davis and Toombs-2.
Second: The Fugitive Slave law of 1850
shall be so amended as to secure to the alleged
fugitive a trial by jury.
Mr.. Douglas proposed to amend by inserting
sin the State from which the fugitive escaped"
This was carried, and then the whole proposition
was voted down by the Democrats, all the Re
publicans sustaining it.
Third: 1t shall be respectfully recommended
to the several State Legislatures to review all of
their laws affecting the rights of persons recent
ly resident in other States. and to modify or re-
peal all such as shall contravcnc the provisions
of the Constitution of the United States or of
any of the laws made in pursuance thereof.
This was as follows:-
YEAs-Messrs. Grimes, Seward, Wade, Doolittlc,
Colamer and Crittenden-G.
NAYs-Mcssrs. Powell, Hunter, Toombs, Douglas,
Davis, Biglcr and Rice.
The Southern men voted adversely upon the
ground that, though it was not openly assigned,
this proposition would affect their laws i'm
prisoning colorcd scamcn.
1t will he seen that the extremists would not
sustain the propositions intended to meet the
very cases they had specifically charged against
the North.
Mr.. Toombs's resolutions were then called up,
and four of them voted upon, Mr.. Douglas re-
fusing to go upon the record. They were then
postponed till Wednesday. Mr.. Davis offered
the following resolution, which lies over with
the others:
That it shall be declared by amendment Of
the Constitution that property in Slaves, recog-
nizcd as such by the local law of any of the
States Of the Union, shall stand on the same
footing in all CONSTITUTIONS ard Federal rcla-
lions as any other species of property so rccog-
nizcd and, like other property, shall not be
Invested or impaired by the local law of any
other State, either in escape thereto, or by the
transit or sojourn of the owner therein. And
in no case whatever shall such property be sub
jcct to be Invested or impaired by any legisla-
tive act Of the United States, or any of the
Territories thereof.
-Several speeches have been made in the
House Committee but no important votes have
been taken. The Republicans seem TO think
that the Constitution is good enough as ii is.