Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-04

nv their votes defeated il. They deemed it necessary
therefore TO their position at home after the issue thus
made that they Should in some form, show their adhe
renee 10 the principle OF the equal rights and privileges
OF the citizens OF oil the States
From this consideration, one OF the delegates OF New
Jersey who bad distinguished himself throughout by
his ardent and gallant support OF the constitutional
rights of the South moved to rearm an acknowledged
principle of the Constitution, by declaring that Congress
shall provide in the words OF that instrument for secu
ring ito the citizens of each State the privileges and inn
mun.es of citizens in the several States" Believing
the provision to be unnecessary, five Of the slavehold
ING States Virginia among the number voted against IT,
The two r. manning slave States, with all the border free
States who had stood firmly with us in every stage Of
our protraced struggle seeing IN the provision nothing
but the aiirmance of u9questioned Constitutional
pnciple voted for it, and, added to the other States
represented in the Convention, carried il by sjOriy
OF sixteen States to five.
1t has been alleged by the more violent opponents Of
the Peace Conference that under this provision free
n groes who are invested with the quality OF cz ne
by the laws of some OF the non-sllyel odipg State
would be en- tiled to claim the privileges of citizens in
the Southern States Bat, surely, after the decision Of
the Dred Scott case which turned specially aud ndspu
abl, upon this very question, and IN which large ma
ory Of the court ltwo oy out d nine judges, as wei
az recoec dssentng) held in The stfo gest terms that
free negroes not to be regardedn any sers las c
zens under the provisions Of the onstuton OF the Uni
ted States such claim could never be seriously made
Nothing am persuaded, could be more contrary 10 the
loyal intentions Of the. honorable mover Of the PROPOSE
ton, and of decided majority OF those who voted for
t than any such perversion oil It's terms; and should
there appear to be any real danger OF manifest mis-
interpretation the proposition itself would doubt no.
be frankly abandcued.
The subject of the African slave trade is dealt with
nearly after the manner by the proposition oi the
Peace Conference aud that OF Mr. Crittenden. Both
of them make it the duty of Cons to PISS eectua
laws TO prevent the importation OF slaves 10 which the
Peace Conference proposition adds Coolest into the Uni
ted States and the latter adds also perpetual constiu
tiona prohibition OF the "fosegn slave trade meaning
thereby perpetual intcrdct to American citizens OF
participation in the African slave trade es carried on TO
foreign countries Us well as to the United States.
Both propositions finally provide for giving special
character Of permanance and stability to all the torego
ing proposed amendments OF the Constitution Intended
to preclude the interference OF the General Government
with the subject of slavery by declaring that they shall
not be hereafter changed except by the unanimous con
of all the States Those original clauses oi the Con
stitutiou also which relate 20 the apporonment OF rep
sentayes among the States and to the rendition OF iu
gyes from service or labor placed under the
guarantee Of permaneCce and immutabity la thus fol
lowing the example set by the Constitution itself with
gard the invoabilty Of the equal representation o
the States in the Senate the most ctctua means ta
ken to give lasting security thc constitutional rights
of the South ard to close forever those unhappy confo
verties which have hit divided the C0ncderacy and
arrayed onc section as.,ust another.
Let me now, ieow-cizens, call your attention to some
provisions of great interest to the Southern States
tanned in the proposition of the Peace Conference which
are not to be found at all in that of hr Crttenden. In
the first instance there is express declaration in the
plan OF the Peace Conference that Congress shall have
no power impose any higher rate OF taxation on slaves
than on laud-a subject with r'gard TO which the propO
sition Of Mr. Crieuden is silent Aud yet il easy 10
zee how much the interests of the South might be rur
cd and ihcir dome tic institutions crippled by
friendly exercise OF the power of taxation in this regard
if il were restrained by constitutional prohibition,
su,h ps thai which the Pace Conference proposes.
Again the propost Of Mr. Citeudel, with respect
to the transfer Of slaves from sayehoidng State to
another, simply declares that Congress sd4ll have
power TO prohibit or hinder sgch transportation. The
proposition of the Peace Conference not only contains
the same explicit declaration, but and beyond IT,
the right in OF transportation by water, o
touching at ports and shores within the limits Of the oe
States and of actually landing in o. necessity, with
slaves without prejudice TO the masters rights o! prop.
ery from the adverse operation Of the laws OF the Sat-
under whose jurisdiction they are lhus temporarily
brought.
Tae practical value Of this stipulation viii be more
plrticu Gry felt along the shores OF the Ohio, and Of tie
Mississippi above the mouth OF the Ohio Having been
one Of the Commissioners OF Virginia to treat with the
Commissioners Of the State OF Ohio in Is is respecting
the cOmToa boundary aud jurisdiction Of the Two States
along that river am enabled eSierimenaly to apqre-
Cllie lNc Oi VfbNlslpu ultslioh II
gentlemen will look into the history Of ha. gctiaon
us they will find i, among the published Legislative Docu-
monts OF the period, thcy viii that II the steady
refusal Of the 0ho Commissioners to give any guarantee
against the operation OF their State lava the rights Of
property in aavrs when temporarily brought under the
jurisdiction Of that State by touching on her side Of the
river which occasioned the final rupure of the negoa-
ton What it then found impossible to obtain from
single nonslvehoding State by negotiation, s secured
from all by permanent Constitutional Lrots,on, under
the terms of the Peace Conference adjustment.
Tie proposition of the Peace Conference also contains
provision giving increased facilities ior the reclamation
OF fugitive slaves TO which there s 40 corresponding
provision in the prop p)sition OF Mr.. Crittenden. In
case which came before the Sdpreme Court OF the Uni
ted States some Btcen twenty vears ago, TO which
the Common wealth OF Peul-yiva party, it was
held by a ma orty OF the Court that, according 20
proper CONSTRUCTION OF the secoud sect;aa " the fourth
article Of the Constitution all measures for the surrcn
der OF fugitive slaves gadcr the exclusive cosnAance
and contru Of the Federal Government and It's anthorl
ties and that il is competent for the States to pass
any laws take any action the ecteven in aid of
the surrender This decision dissented from by the
Chief Justice and three Of the other Judges, nor
has it gven any time ente satisfaction to the egi
mod of the country but has nevertheless been coz.
sdarCd ss defnitiv ly s,tlg the Law OF the aud,
It's immediate effect was TO ad to repeal OF the laws
which had been passed by several OF the non-avehod
ing States in good faith 10 facilitate and cooperate 10
the iulamen Of this provision cf the Constitution and
in lieu Of IT, to heget spirit OF Jealousy and opposition
to the action of the Federal authorities IT, opinion
has OF late been widely entHr.ded that II would be
good thing again g open ,he way for the cooperative
actiaa oi suc1 OF the States should BE apmaod with
loyal dispositions For ths purPoss the proposition of
the Peace Gonie cnoe provides that hereafter the Con
stution sha not be construed to prevent any of the
Sates by appropriate legislation, and through the ac-
ton OF their judicial aud ministerial ofcer2 ,oh
forcing the delivery Of fcst,Ssy ffotd apor and thus
surpcS al i potEsn additional security for the rights
oil the South wherever the Obligations OF the Constitp
ton upon all the rites are frankly recognized over aud
above what is contained 10 the proposition Of NJ. Crit
| tsndsA
There are other points of comparison OF the same
kind to which might yet farther call your attention.
Dut have said enough, trust to satisfy you that the
proposition OF the Peace Conference, so nconsderately
denounced furnishes at least, as ample and complete
protection for all the rights and interest. the Sonth
as anv scheme of adjustment lat been offered to the
consideration OF .ae country. When, indeed al! the
CT Epe relations of the subject, and ise degree to
which sectional passions and prdccg Aave been
ed by long cop,aNed political struggle Of 9ppsecedent.
ed yiosnee are considered every candid man must re-
gard az matter Of agprse, rs well as congratustien,
that So sa.'sfac.ory adjustment should have been
reached at last.
Bv lie proposed plan, every possible approach o.
which the rights and interests ot the south could tc
threatened or conceivable avenue through
which the AGITATION f the slavery question could be
ueWed-s forever cut OF and hermetcaiy closed. The
controversy re specng the territories Is hnay laid TO
rest aud rreyocas terminated by an impossible line OF
demarcation established with all the sanctions oi con.
stutona provision Congress is peri etualy ute-dcteo
from any interference with the C slavery in the
District of Columbia ald u other places over which il
has ciusiye jurisdiction within the limits of any Of he
States unless with the consent of the cpmmsnitles and
States concerned; and, in sp1 OF tae most abundant
l.E..-