Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-04
THIRTY.sixrH CONGRESs-SECoND SESSION.
SENATE

present form it was not intelligble.
Its consideration was objected to and it was laid over
The predatory resolutions accompanying the committees
report we're also objected to and laid over.
The special order then taken up and read II Is the
rerort OF the select committee on the amendments pro-
posed by the Peace Conference.
Mr. Seward offered as an amendment his resolution OF
Yesterday for national convention.
Mr. Dooltte offered his amendment as reported IN
Yesterdays proceedings.
Mr. Hunter moved to strike out the first article, and
to insert in lieu thereof the prositon OF Mr. Crttenden
upon the territorial question.
Mr. Collamer objected to all amendments upon point
of order
Mr. Hunter thought the point of order not well taken
Mr. Biger thought they should treat these propositions
as an entirety and ether adopt reject them as the
whole That the view taken in the committee, ana
therefore no amendments were entertained.
Mr. Seward said the amendment Of Mr.. Hunter would
change the whole character OF the article The confer.
ence had submitted these propositions as whole II
they we're altered it would not be the recommendation
of the Convention, but Of Congress.
Mr. Hunter said the real position of the question was
that they had it only before them by the report OF the
Sc lect committee and they had right to amend it
Fne Peace Conference had power to submit proposi
lions to them. The conference never voted upon as
whole aud il before them just as an ordinary Dill,
and it could be amended section by section The quest
tion was one ol propriety and not of order,
Mr. Trumbul said the proposition came before them
FIRST as a mere petition referred to committee ana
reported upon in the usual way. The question OF order
therefore, could not stand, and like any other o TINS
was open 10 amendment.
Mr. Biger said he had only raised question OF pro-
pr.cty, not point OF order.
The Chair ruled that the resolutions were open to
amendment and said the first amendment was that oi
the Senator from rgiuia.
Mr. Hunter said he had examined the first proposition
Of the Peace Conference and it did not meet with his
appreciation. lie had offered the Crteuden resolutions
in pursuance of tue Instructions OF the Legislature OF his
Snje.
The propositions OF the Peace Conference would put
the South in worse position than it occupied under
the Constitution and the DEED Scott decision IL pro-
hbitcd slavery North Of SO so and gave the South the
chance Of another lawsuit their rights III the Terri
toy South Of tina; parallel II provided that the status
of PERSONS held 70 rgice should not be changed The
status of such persons varied n the different States, and
vet could not be changed when they reached the Terri
tories Thus STAKEHOLDER might not be able to eman-
cp.te his slave if the law of the State from which ne
came prohibited it, This of the word status was an
atmpt eyade the plain aud manly propositions offered
bv Nr. Cri,,enGon.
II this amendment was adopted the question Of the
right of master % his property would lave to ID; 'oJ'-
jcIei before Ttrr,orsl courts, without appeal to ne
Su .r.rle Court of the United States The judges OF
.bcs, courts would be the apponte,s OF party which
asserted a az the normal condition Of the territories
would be tla: of freedom lie objected 20 the pToposi-
ton further because 10 mad; no provision Tor iulule Ter
ri;o-i,s The provision thai no territory should be ac-
>.ut.i,cs OF both sections would e1ectuly exclude the
South nom any more territory for it not 10 be sup
nosed ta the tweny-eght thirty free States soon to
be In the Union would allow the few remaining slave
Sto TO control heir wishes as to the acquisition oil ter
ri.ory.
Thc clause making the duty Of Congress to pass laws
pr5biNiur tie importation Of slaves from beyond the
limits of the United States, would prevent the inter
change OF slycs between the border States ana the
Southern COuieGcracy.
Tbn crso ;hlt Cor ,rcss shall provide by law for
rrirr 10 the citizens Of each ate the privilege and I'M
muuirs Of citizens IN the several States would give
Congress the power 10 interfere in matters belonging 10
the States aud would open the slave States to the lntr"
sion Of all j 'ios ,ui-saIieS.
He thought they should enter upon no new expert
ments Trc proportions never were passed upon AS
Whole bv the Conference aud De- Knew that the maJoy
of the Virginia jerrlioo wss very decidedly opposed
10 them Many of The Stlr' had declared tor the 'r'
tendon resolutions and he had therefore offered them as
AN omgndmeUt.
NJ C.t,utu agiip raised Tie point OF order that the
amendments Wcr, not ir ord,r The question was not
whether tLcy WoHd propose Imrnd nens to the COhst'-
t.ioa hn whether they uoai8 propose the amendments
recommended by the Conference lie defended the r.
mort "a. satisfactory al sections OF the country. Now
was the time !or mediation aud pach'a'ion. The pro.
visions in rcgll 10 the acquisition oi territory would
sufficiently protect the South. A. any rate b" wished 70
tile the difficulties ol tie present. and would be Wiling
n - tcc. the future when il came.
NJ Mason s1il hc could no agree to one oi these pro-
potiors Before Zee could assent to any amendments
{, the Constitution hc wished to understand them clearly
Il, uto history of the opp p'htment OF The OoH
ference Convention aid CXpres,ed LIS great cpect l"r
the gentlemen composing IT, But he was bound by his
obire ions 10 the Constitution not to concur in their ac-
ton These propo ,ions gave security to the rights
81 the South but took away what little they now had
lie examined the details OF the propositions at length,
and condemn d the whole project.
A discussion on lcgl points enSued between Messrs
.s1u aud Cri:teudcu in which Nj Bragg participated
The latter thought that constitutional amendments ought
TO be clear aud fit was tie intention to recognize s'A
very, It should have been stated in plain terms.
Mr Pugh argued the law point, as to the effect OF the
clause that the rights OF the sllvehodegs should be sub
iect 10 judicial cog zlnce in the federal courts according
| TO the course Of the common law.
hr Baker said he Intended to vote for these amend
ment ius as they were, and without change. He telt
that in 50 doing he only submitting these PROPOSE
| tons 20 the action Of the people
The country was in great trouble. Six Statos had Sc
| cedei and others were trembling 10 the balance he
was told the adoption of these msasures would heal the
differences in the country, and he could not go wrong IN
sustaining them lie had voted against the Crtenden
resolutions because he did not believe the people would
ratifv them He was not willing TO give protection to
slavery anywhere. But twenty States appealed TO them
70 submit certain propositions to the people, and he was
willing to DO So he could not close his eyes 10 the TACT
that the Union iu danger OF permanent dissouuon
and that the Republican party though in constitutional
was not in an actual majority.
| He was ready TO meet the conservative men ot the
South half yay The Senator from Virginia did not ap-
proye of the resolutions and for that be liked
them II Virginia. represented she now IS, approved
them he would have his doubts to their proprety-
The Senator from Virginia had said these propositions
were worse than the cid constitution. What then did
they complain of under the old Instrument If these
measures would satisfy the border States he would sus
tain them the po if not and they chose to rush into
the embraces OF secession he would not He stood now
in the presence of peace and war and he would violate
the Chicago platform to save the Union Applause in
the galleres.)
If he yielded something so did those gentlemen on
the other side who opposed TO the prohibition OF slave
~ by Congress- now consented it. These propositions
would prevent the foul blot of slavery being extended
inch OF territory that might hereafter be stolen
or purchased He would die rather than protect slave
~ but these measures rendered such protection mpcs
sibe Their provisions only extended TO Territory now
| in the Union, aud New Mexico virtually free.
la voting for them then he voted to give the bless
ngs of freedom to all territory from here to Cape Horn
whstev portion of it might ever be acquired.
He would have been exceedingly gratfed could the in
suguration OF Lincoln in old times have been attended
by all the States He believed in Kentucky the Union was
in danger and ii they adjourned without taking some
steps to existing difficulties the Union would be
eectualy destroyed He would listen to the appeals Of
the Union of the Border States, who would sustain
the government with their blood aud would yield to their
REQUESTS He hoped to hear from Mr. Lincoln on Mon
day next words of devotion to the Union but also words
| Of kindness and Cancellation.
Mr. Green regarded these propositions the most i'm.
portln which had before Congress- and though he
had little hope, be would cling to the last straw and sink
with il in his grasp. The representatives OF Missouri had
condemned these measures and he could not with hon
or take less than the Crttenden propositions He would
vote therefore, against the propositions.
Mr. Lane stated the reason why he could not vote for
m Ill ...1