The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-26
REPORT OF THE PEACE CONFER
ENCE COMMITTEE.

Il.
On Friday the 18th, the Committee on Plan
of Settlement, presented to the Peace Conference
Mr. Guthries proposition, with amendments. The
reception of the report caused much dissention
among the advocates of the different modes Of ad-
justment. The following is the report
ART. l. In all the territory of the United States
not embraced within the limits of the Cherokee
treaty grant, north of line from east to west, on
the parallel of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes
north latitude, involuntary servitude except in
punishment of crime, is prohibited whilst it shall
be under Territorial Government; and in all the
Territory south of said line the status of persons
owing service labor it now exists shall not be
changed by law while such Territory shall be
under Territorial Government and neither Con-
gress the Territorial Government shall have
power to hinder prevent the taking to said Ter
ritory of persons held to labor or involuntary
service within the United States, according to the
laws or usages of any State from which such per-
sons may be taken, nor to impair the rights arising
out of said relations, which shall be subject to
judicial cognizance in the Federal Courts accord
ing to the common law; and when any Territory
north or south Of said line, within such boundary
as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a popula-
ton required for member of Congress- according
to the then Federal ratio of representation, it
admitted into the Union on equal footing with
the original States, with or without involuntary
service or labor, as the Constitution of such new
State may provide
ART. 2. Territory shall not be acquired by the
United States unless by treaty; nor except for
naval and commercial stations and depots, unless
such treaty shall be ratified by four-ffths of all the
members of the Senate
ART. 3. Neither the Constitution, nor any
cLon l. 4
Congress power to abolish or control, within any
State or Territory, the relation established or re-
cognized by the laws thereof touching persons bound
to labor or involuntary service therein, interfere
with or abolish involuntary service III the District
of Columbia without the consent of Maryland and
without the consent of the owners, or making the
owners who do not consent Just compensation nor
the power to interfere with prohibit representa-
tives and others from bringing with them to the
city Of Washington, retaining and taking away,
persons bound to labor; the power to interfere
with or abolish involuntary service in places under
the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States
within those States and Territories where the same
is established recognized; nor the power to pro-
hibit the removal or transportation, by land, sea or
river, of persons held to labor or involuntary
service in any State or Territory of the United
States, to any other State Territory thereof
where it is established or recognized by law or
usage, and the right, during transportation, of
touching at shores, ports and landings, and of
landing in case Of distress, shall exist nor shall
Congress have power to authorize any higher rate
Of taxes on persons boand to labor than on land.
ART. 4. The third paragraph of the second sec
tion of the fourth article Of the Constitution shall
not be construed to prevent any Of the States, by
appropriate legislation, and through the action of
their judicial and ministerial officers, from enfor-
cling the delivery of fugitives from labor to the
person to whom such service or labor is due.
ART. 5. The foreig ign slave trade and the impor-
tation of slaves into the United States and their
Territories, from places beyond the present limits
thereof, are forever prohibited
ART. g. The first second, third and fifth arti-
cles, together with this article of these amend
ments, and the third paragraph of the second sec
ton of the first article Of the Constitution, and the
third paragraph ofthe second section of the fourth
article thereof shall not be amended or abolished
without the consent fall the States
ART. Z. Congress shall provide by law that all |
the United States shall pay to the owner the full
value of his fugitive from labor in all where |
the Marshal or other officer, whose duty it was to
arrest such fugitive, was prevented from so doing
by violence intimidation, or when after arrest,
such fugitive was rescued by force, and the owner
thereby prevented and obstructed in the pursuit |
of his remedy for the recovery Of such fugitive. |
A dispatch to the Baltimore American says:
They were reported with but three dissenting
votes, viz: Messrs. Seldom of Virginia, Ruffn Of
North Carolina, and Doniphan, of Missouri, all
three secessionists who stated at length their OBJ
ections and reasons for not concurring, but de- |
clined making minority report
1t is said that Virginia, North Carolina and
Missouri will vote against adopting the report
majority of each of these delegations being oppos-
I'd to it, and a majority controls the vote of the |
State.
Messrs Tyler, Seldom and Brokenbrough will /
lrge the Virginia Convention to reject the propo-
tion, and Messrs. Rives and Summers will recon-
mend its approval.
The majority of the delegates of Maryland. Ken
ncky and Tennessee stand by the report of the
The Washington States, of Saturday, says:
Mr Seddon, the Virginia member of the commit
&c, voted against Mr Guthries plan every time
He will present report, which, it is said, will be
igned by Ex- President Tyler and Judge Broken
trough. Mr. Rives holds separate views. Such
re the rumors which reach US. The strong Union
Den say that the unwise speeches of Mr. Lincoln
OBJ them, in the eyes of the Convention, of all
,ower to meet the other side with peace advances.