Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-06
The Rorder state Plan.

CAssIUs NJ. CLAY Is in Washington, and earn
estly engaged in persuading Republicans and
Democrats to adopt the plan of adjustment pre-
pared by the border State caucus. The history of
this scheme is brief The delegation in Congress
from the different free and slave border States
met in caucus, and elaborated plan of adjust
ment which satisfactory to nearly all its mem
bers. We give it below in full:
THE RESOLUTION OF TIE BORDER STATE CAUCUS.
Joint resolutions proposing certain amendments TO
the Constitution Of the United States
WHEREAS, Serious and alarming discussions
have arisen between the Northern and Southern
States, concerning the rights and the security of
the slaveholding States, and especially their
rights in the common territory of the United
States; and whereas, it eminently desirable and
proper that those dissensiOns which now threaten
the very existence of this Union, should be per-
manently Quoted and settled by constitutional
provisions, which shall do equal justice to all Sec
tions and thereby restore to the people that peace
and good will which ought to prevail between all
the citizens of the United States; therefore,
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houes
concurring, that the following articles be- and are
hereby proposed and submitted as amendments to
the OOnSllIuIlOn OIL the ODIeu states, winch snail
be valid to all its intents and purposes part of
said Constitution, when ratified by conventions of
three-four of the several States
Article /. That Congress shall have no power
to egisate touching persons held to service or la
Dor in places under its exclusive jurisdiction,
within the limits of States which have made ces-
sons to the United States, without the consent of
the State or States making the grant
Article ID. That in all the territories of the
United States situated north of latitude thirty
degrees, thirty minutes, slavery or involuntary
servitude, except as punishment for crime, shall
be prohibited while such territory shall remain
under territorial Government. That in all terri
tory south of said line neither Congress nor any
territorial Legislature shall hereafter pass any
law abolishing or prohibiting, or in any manner
interfere with, African slavery, and when any
territory north south of said line, within such
boundaries as Congress shall prescribe in any
area of sixty thou sand miles, shall contain pop
ulation emitting it to one member of Congress
shall apply for admission a State, it shall come
in on an equality with the other States, with or
without slavery, as its Constitution may deter
mine.
Article Sd. That the laws for the suppression
of the African slave trade ought to be made eff
fectua and ought to be Thoroughly executed That
the prohibition of the importation of slaves into
the United States shall be perpetual.
Article 4th. Congress shall have no power to
prohibit the removal or transportation of persons
held to service or labor from any State in which
such service or labor is recognized by law, to
another State in which snch service is recognized
by law.
Article 9th. Congress shall have no power to
regulate, abolish or control, within the States,
the relations established or recognized by the
laws ofany State, respecting persons held to SER
vice or labor
And whereas, also, besides those causes of dis
sension embraced in the foregoing amendments
proposed to the Constitution OF the United States,
there are others which come within the urisdic-
ton of Congress and may be remedied by its legs-
lative power; and whereas, it is the desire of Con-
gress, as far as its power will extend, to remove
all just cause for the popular discomfort and agita-
ton which now disturb the peace of the country,
and threaten the stability of its institutions:
Therefore,
/. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Rep
reseneatiues of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the laws now in force
for the recovery of fugitive slaves are in strict
pursuance of the plain and mandatory provisions
of the Constitution, and have been sanctioned as
valid and constitutional by the judgment of the
Supreme Court of the United States; that the
slaveholding States are entitled to the faithful OBJ
servance and execution of those laws, and that
they ought not to be repealed or so modified OIL
changed as to impair their efficiency; and thai
laws ought to be made for the punishment Of
those who attempt by rescue of the slave or othei
illegal means, to hinder or defeat the due execu
ton of said laws.
2. Resolred, That all State laws which confic
with the fugitive slave acts, or any other consti
tutional acts of Congress. which in their oper
alton impede, hinder or delay the free course anC
due execution of any of said acts. are null ant
void by the plain provisions of the Constitution o.
the United States, and We respectfully and ear
nestly recommend to the several States which
have enacted them, their immediate repeal.
3. ResolUed, That the act of the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1850, commonly known as the fugitiv,
slave law, ought to be amended so as to provid,
for its more complete and efficient operation, anc
that such amendments should provide among
other things for the prevention of kidnapping un
der it, and to equalize the fees Of the Commits
sioner mentioned in the 9Th section thereof.