The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-06
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE AND


THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE AND |
THE CRISIS.
BosroN, April 3, l86l.-Aftcrnoon Session.
The Senate assembled at O'Clock, President
Caflin in the chair
Mr.. Northend, of Essex, from the Committee on
Federal Relations, to whom was referred resolve
of tue Congress of the United States approved
March q 1861, entitled 81 ONT resolution to amend
the Constitution of the United States" submitted
the following report and accompanying resolve;
REPORT.
The proposed amendment is as follows:
mo amendment shall be made to the Constitution
which viii authorize or give to Congress the power to
abolish interfere within any State with the domestic
institutions thereof including that of persons
Dor, service or by the laws of said State"
The principles upon which the general
established well understood 1t intended fer the
general purposes of protection to the several States with
in its jurisdiction leaving to the individual
of sovereignty and rights of legislation not
to the objects for which that government was inst
tuted Included in the rights thus the States
the absolute over all their domestic
This evident from the letter and spirit of the Consu
ton 1t is universally admitted that the several States
have exclusive Jurisdiction the system of nvount
ry servltude within their respective limits.
Under the Constitution of the United States general
government has authority over responsibility for
the existence of slavery in the several States and
State has the right in any manner to interfere with the
system in any other State The States upon this subject
much Independent of each as they would
been had the people not delegated any powers
eighty to the general government Massachusetts,
authority slavery in South Can oina she
has over any domestic institution of any nation in
Europe and consequently has responsibility for its
! continL ed existence.
The committee believe that the people of Massachu.
sets and of the other free States these opinions
BUTT evident that these opinions understood
by many people in the slave States and it undoubt
edy for the purpose of removing all doubts
dissatisfaction upon this subject that this amendment to
the Constitution has been proposed by Congress and sub
mted to the Legislatures of the several States for their
ratification rejection. But in the opinion of the Com
mee due Difference to the people of the Common
renders it proper that proposed amendment of the Con
stituton should be passed upon by the Legislature with
out opportunity being given for expression Of the
popular will upon the same; and as this amendment has
proposed since the election of the members of
present Legislature and the public eXgencies in the
opinion do not require immediate decision they pre-
fer that the question should be determined by Legsla
ture elected with knowledge by the people of the pen
dency of the question. The committee also of tn
opinion that the better mode Of considering amendments
of the Constitution is through the instrumentaty of
National Convention. They have accordingly reported
resolution requesting Congress to call Convention
the several States for the purpose of considering the pro
pety of amending the Constitution that its meaning
may be definitely understood in all sections of the Union
If such Convention shall be called it will supersede
necessity of any action upon the proposed amendment
by the Legislature
The committee would therefore recommend the refer
of the subject to the next Legislature