Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13
United States Congress.

The session of the 3sth Congress of the
United States expired by limitation on the
30 inst. The adjustment" proposed by the
Peace Convention was not acted upon by
either body; SO, we suppose, it isa total
failure. Both Houses, however, adopted by
a vote of two-thirds in each, the following
proposed amendments to the Constitution of
the United States, viz: 4
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, (tWo-thirds
OF botn Houses concurring,) That the follow
ing article be proposed TO the Legislatures
Of the several States as an amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States, which,
when ratified by three-fourths of said Legis-
latures, shall be valid to all intents and pur-
poses, as part of said Constitution, viz.
Art. XII. No amendment of this Con-
stitution, having for its object any interfer-
ence within the States with the relation be-
tween their citizens and those described in
section second of the first article of the Con-
stltution as 'all other persons, /" shall origin
ate with any State that does not recognize
that relation within its own limits, or shall
be valid without the assent of every one of
the States composing the Union"
amendment:
NO amendment shall be made to the Con-
situation which will authorize or give to
Congress the power to abolish or interfere,
within any State, with the domestic ~institu-
tons thereof, including that of persons h cid
TO labor Or service by the laws of said State
1t has now to be sanctioned by three
fourths of the State Legislatures, when it will
become a clause Of the Constitution OF the
United States.
Its adoption, it is claimed by its friends in
the South. removes one of the most dreaded
grievances of the South, and forbids Congress
from ever abolishing or interfering with slave
ry IN any Of the States where it now exists
" was feared that the North would, when tht
free States shall number three fourths of the
States Of the Union, so alter and amend tn,
Constitution as to give to Congress the DOW
or to abolish slavery in the States. This il
prohibited ny this amendment, and, so far a.
1t can DC accomplished by Congress, the pro-
hibition of interference is perpetual
The Senate Is still in session, by call of tn,
Pre- ident. On the 9th, the following ap-
pointmrnts of Cabinet officers were confirm
ed:-Wm. Ii. Seward, of New York, Score
tary oil State Salmon P. Chase of Ohio
O0CTSlaTy Vi Tue lTedSury. OlUQcOn Gamer
on, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of War
Gideon Wells, Of Connecticut, Secretary 0
the Navy. Montgomery Blair, of Maryland
Post Master General. Caleb Smith of Indi.
ana, Secretary of the Interior. Ed. Bates
OF Missouri, Attorney General.
On the 9th, Frederick w. Seward was con
irmed as Assistant Secretary of State to hi
father. Norman B. Judd, of Illinois. wa
nominated Minister to Berlin, and it is re-
ported and generally bell eyed, that the Hon
: John j.. Crittenden was nominated for tn,
vacant Judgeship on the Supreme Cour
Bench.
Mr.. Dixon moved that the usual humble
Of copies of the Inaugural Address be prin-
ted. Mr.. Clingman said that although h
would vote for the proposition, he could no
endorse the address. Its sentiments he be
lieved would inevitably lead to war. 1t wa
a war document. 1t was hostile to all peace
Mr.. Douglas considered that the Inaugur-
al was eminently peaceful in its character. H
believed that the administration would b
! marked by conservatism and peacefulness.-
. The South has nothing to fear from a Presi
: dent whose inaugural was conciliatory an
= mild under such peculiar difficulties. II
; could not see how the President could carr
: out one portion Of the law and neglect an
! other. He did not understand how he coul
collect the revenue in one port and pass b
another.
Mr.. Clingman r~ejOined, and Mr.. Wigfa
: ob tanned the floor for tomorrow, when tt
" Senate went into Executive session.