The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
Congressional ntelligence-. Whatswas
Done during tho Last Days OF the
Saaafnrn.

Congressional ntelligence..Whatsw
Done during the Last Days OF the
| Session.
On Thursday, the 18th ult., the House,
by vote of 1913 to 65-a full two.third
vote-passed the following article, to be
submitted to the Legislature of the several
States, as an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States:
Article IL. No amendment shall be made to
the Constitution of the United States which
will authorize or give to Congress the power
to abolish or interfere within any State with
the domestic institutions thereof including
that of persons held to service or labor by the
laws of said State.
The scene in the House when the amend
ment was adopted, is said to have been the
most exciting ever witnessed in that body.
When Mr.. PENNINGTON announced the vote
the most breathless silence prevailed, but it
was Immediately succeeded by the most
deafening applause from all parties of the
immense hall, the members on the floor be.
longing to both parties participating. On
the preceding day, the amendment was re-
jected, not receiving the necessary two.
thirds vote. On this occasion, Mr.. AID
RICH voted against it, Mr.. WINDOW not
voting. The Senate, by the necessary two
thirds vote, concurred in the action of the
House. Our Legislature, possibly, could
act on this amendment to the Constitution,
before its adjournment.
The force bill introduced by Mr.. STANTON,
of Ohio, was defeated by vote of 100 to
74-the question being on its postpone
ment. Mr.. WINDOW voted for the bill, Mr..
ALDR1CH not voting. About forty conser~
vative Republicans voted with the Demo.
Gratis, under the lead of CoRw1N.
Senators W1GFALL and HEMPH1LL with
drew from the Senate, on the I'd. They
are both elected to seats in the Montgomery
Congress.
The House, on the LIST, passed an act
amendatory of the Fugitive Slave Law. 1t
gives the fugitive the benefit of trial by jury
in the State from which be escaped. If the
jury shall find that the fugitive owes service
to the claimant, be shall be delivered up, and
if not, be is to be returned, at the cost of the
United States, to the place whence he was
taken. The act also provides that no per.
son shall be compelled to aid the Marshal
or owner in the capture, unless force is en-
ployed to rescue the fugitive from the Mar
shall. We do not know whether the amend
ment has passed the Senate or not.
The Pacific Railroad bill, with the Sen
ate amendment of a Northern route, was
not acted upon by the House.
In the Senate, the Peace Conference
amendments were debated at length. Mr..
SEWARD, on the lst, in lieu of them, offered
the following:
Whereas, The Legislatures of Kentucky, I'LL.
lnOis and New Jersey have applied to Con-
gress to call convention for proposing amend
ments to the Constitution, therefore
to take the subject into consideration and ex.
press their will upon the subject to Congress,
in pursuance of the fifth article of the COnstitu.
ton.
Mr.. HUNTER moved to amend the Peace
Conference proposition, by striking out the
first section, and inserting the first CRIT
TENDEN resolution. A long discussion en-
sued. Mr.. BAKER, of Oregon, argued in
favor of submitting the question to the
people, saying if events change so much, he
was willing to violate the Chicago platform
was willing to give up great deal to
the Border States, but nothing to secession.
Mr.. DooLIrrLE stated he would offer pro-
viso to the Peace Conference proposition,
stating that the section shall take effect on
the express condition that no State, or any
part thereof, heretofore admitted or hereaf.
ter to be admitted shall have power to with
draw from the United States, and that the
Constitution be the supreme law of the land,
anything in any Constitution or ordinance
of any State or Legislature to the contrary
Notwithstanding. We have not the votes
on these amendments.
The House did not pass the enabling act
for New Mexico. 1t was tabled on the LIST,
by vote of la to II. The same BODY
rejected bill, amending the act for the rem.
dition of fugitives from justice, by vote of
l26 to 40. Mr.. CoRw1N presented this
measure, and stated that it was to avoid
contradictory decisions made by Governors
of States who are not judges of consti.
tutional law.
The GuillOtfne.