Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05
The Peace Conference Settlement.

The Peace Conference Settlement.
The following is the plan finally agreed upon
BY the Peace Conference, recently assembled at
Washington, for an adjustment of onr national
differences. We merely take occasion, says the
Richmond Wing, to commend the whole subject
to the full and candid consideration of our read
ers, satisfied that an adjustment so fair, just ana
complete. will meet with the enthusiastic and al
most unanimous approval ofthepeople OF Virgin
ia and of the whole country: M
Sec. /. In all the present territory OF the uni
ted States north of the parallel OF thirty-six oe
grees and thirty minutes of north latitude, lnV0i
untary servitude, except in punishment LOT
crime, is prohibited In all the present territory
south of that line, the status of persons held to
involuntary service or labor, as 1t now e1isIs,
shall not be changed; nor shall any law De pass
ed by Congress or the Territorial Legislature "
hinder or prevent the taking of such persons iroh
any of the States of this Union to SAID territory,
nor to impair the rights arising from said 1eia,
ton; but the same shall be subject TO Juoiciai
cognizance in the Federal courts. ACCORDING W
the course of the common law. When any LET
rtory north or south of said line, wltnln such
boundary as Congress may prescribe, shali con
tain population equal to that requirea lor
member of Congress- it shall, if its form OF Coy
ernment be republican. be admitted into the U
nion on an equal footing with the original otates
with or without involuntary servltude, as the
constitution of snch State may provide.
Sec Q. No territory shall be acquired oy the
United States except by discovery and tor navsl
and commercial stations, depots, and transit
routes without the concurrence OF a majority OF
all the Senators from States which prohibit that
relation; nor shall territory be acquired y trea
ty unless the votes of majority OF the Senators
from each class of States hereinbefore mentioned
be cast as part of the two thirds majority nee
essary to the ratification of SUCH treaty.
Sec. 8. Neither the Constitution, nor any a.
mendment thereof, shall be construed to give
Congress power to regulate, abolish, or control
within any State the relation established or rec
ognized by the laws thereof touching persons
held to labor or involuntary service therein, mol
60 interfere with or abolish involuntary service
| in the District of Columbia without the consent
OF Maryland and without the consent OF the own
ers, or making the owners who do not consen
| Just compensation; nor the power to interfere
with or prohibit Representatives and others frou
bringing with them to the District OF Columbia
retaining, sad taking away, persons so held t
labor or service; nor ting power to interfere witt
or abolish involuntary service in places under
the exclusive jurisdiction OF the Quilted States
within those States and Territories where thu
same is established or recognized nor the power
TO prohibit the removal or transportation of per
sons held to labor or involuntary service in an,
State or Territory of the United States to an.
other State or Territory thereof where it is es-
tablished or recognized by law or usage; an'
the right during transportation by sea or rive
of touching at ports, shores, and landings, and Q
Handing in case of distress, shall exist; but no
the right of transit in or through any State o
| Territory, or OF eaie or traffic against the law
thereof. Nor shall Congress baye power to au
thorize any higher rate of taxation OF person
held to labor or service than on land. The bring
/ ing into the District Of Columbia of persons he'll
to labor or service for sale, or placing them
ldepots to be afterwards transferred to other pla
ces for sale as merchandise is prohibited.
Sec 4. The third paragraph of the second sec
tt2n of the fourth article of the Constitution sha
not be construed to prevent any OF the States, b
appropriate Legislation and through the action {
their judicial and ministerial officers, from en-
forcing the delivery of fugitives from labor
the person to whom sueh service or LABOR
due.
/ Sec 5. The foreign slave trade is hereby for
ever prohibited; and it shall be the duty OF Cor
gress to pass laws to prevent the importation
slaves, coolies, OF persons held to service or la
Dor into the United States and the Territorie
from places beyond the limits thereof.
Sec 6. The first, third, and fifth sections, to
gether with this section of these amendment
and the third paragraph of the second section {
the first article of the Constitution, and the thr
paragraph of the second section of the fourth al
tcle thereof, shall not be amended or aboishe
without the consent of all the States.
Sec Z. Congress shall provide by law that til
United States shall pay to the owner the full va
ne OF his fugitive from labor, in all cases whe
the marshall or other officer, whose duty it wa
to arrest such fugitive, was prevented from 8
doing, by violence or intimidation, from mobs o
riotous assenblages, or when, after arrest, sue
fugitive was rescued by like violence or intimid
alton, and the owner thereby deprived OF th
same; and the acceptance of such payment sha
preclude the owner from further claim to snc
fugitive. Congress shall provide by law for Sc
curing to the citizens of each State the privilege
and immunities of citizens in the several States