The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-22
THE PEACE CONGRESS.
MIR. GuTHRIE'S PLAN,


Our confidence in the ability of this con-
vocation of men at Washington, never very
great, was not very much increased when we
heard that II had elected Capt. Tyler to pre-
side over its deliberations. It has been sit
ting some days in secret cOnclave' and what
|, has Matched out is not very clar. A plan
presented BY Mr.. Guthrie, Of KY, for the
adjustment of the difficulties, in some partic.
ulars like the Crittcndcn Compromises, has
been reported back to the whole Congress by
the appropriate committee. The plan is as
follows -
Article /. In all the territory Of the. Uni.
ted States not embraced within the limits oil
the Cherokee Treaty grant, north OF line
from east to west, on the parallel Of thirty
.;y degrees thirty minutes north latitude, in.
Sn,nntsrv seryitnde, except in punishment Of
.r;ms Il prohibited while 1t shall be under q
To, r;toriai Government; and in all the ter
,;,nry south of said line, the status of per.
sons owning service or labor, as II now exists,
sball not be changed by law while such ter
r;.orv sball be under Territorial Government;
and neither Congress nor the Territorial
Government shall have power to hinder or
nreyent the taking to said territory OF per-
lans held 10 labor or involuntary sarvicc
within the limits of the United States, ac-
cordinr TO the laws or usage OF any State
e., nj ;cb such persons may be taken, nor
~ ;mnair the rights arising out OF said rela-
t;ons. which shall be subject to judicial cog
r;,,nce in the Federal Courts according to
Tho common law and when any territory,
north or south of said line, within sucn
boundary as Congress may prescribe, SHAH
contain population required Tor member OF
Congress. according to the then Federal ratio
Of representation, It shall, if its form OF gov
eminent be republican, be admitted into the
Union on an equal footing with the original
States. with or without involuntary service
or labor, us the constitution OF such new
State may provide.
Article q. Territory shall not DO acquired
by the United States unless by treaty, nor,
ercept for napai and commercial stations ana
depots. unless such treaty shall be ratified by
four-ffths of all the members OF the Sem
ate.
Article 3, Neither tho Constitution nor
any amendment thereof shall be construed to
give Congress power to abolish or control
within any State or Territory the relation es-
tablished or recognized by the laws thereof,
touching persons bound to labor or involun-
tary seryitude therein, or to interfere with or
abolish involuntary service in the District oil
Columbia, without the consent of Maryland,
and without the consent of the owners, or
making the owners who do not consent just
conversation nor the power to interfere
with or prohibit representatives and Others
from bringing with them to the City oil
Washington, retaining and taking away,
persons so bound to labor; nor the power to
Interfere with or abolish involuntary service
in places under the exclusive jurisdiction OF
the United States within those States ana
Territories where the same is established or
recognized nor the power to prohibit the
removal or transportation by land, sea or ri.
YER, of persons held TO labor or involuntary
service in any State or Territory Of the Uni
ted States to any other State or Territory
thereof where it is established or recognized
by law OF usage and the right during trans.
portation of touching at shores, ports and
landings, and of landing in case OF distress,
shall exist; nor shall Congress have power
to authorize any higher rate Of Taxes on per-
sons bound to labor than on land.
Article 4. The third paragraph of the sec
ond section of the fourth article OF the Con-
stitution shall not be construed to prevent
any of the States, by appropriate legislation,
and through the action of their judicial and
ministerial officers, from enforcing the deliy-
ery of fugitiyes from labor to the person to
whom such service or labor is due.
Article 5. The foreign slave trade, and the
importation of slaves into the United States
and their Territories, from places beyond the
present limits thereof, are forever prohibited
Article @. Tho first, second, third and hith
Articles together with this article oil these
amendments, and the third paragraph OF the
second section of the first Article OF the Con-
stitution and the third paragraph OF the Sec
ond section of the fourth Article thereof,
shall not be amended or abolished tcithom the
consent Of all The States.
Article I. Congress shall provide by law
that the United States shall pay to the own
or the iu value Of his fugitive from labor in
all cases where the marshal or other officer,
whose duty it was to arrest such fugitive,
was prevented from SO doing by violence or
intimidation, or when, after arrest, such iu-
gitiye was rescued by force, and the owner
thereby prevented and INSTRUCTED in tho pur-
suit Of his remedy for the recovery OF such
fugitive.
With some exceptions these stipulations
are quite as Objectionable as the Crittenden
resolutions. Many of the propositions are
obscure indeed, and some Of the articles con-
tain suspicious clauses. There docs not seem
to be much probability that they will be
agreed to even in the Congress, but should
they even command its assent, there is very
little probability that the genuine Congress