The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-19
THE PEACE CONGRESS.
SATURDAYS SESSION.
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WASHINGTON, FEB. IL, 1861.
The Peace Conference having adjourned Yesterday
for the purpose of allowing the various PROPOSE
tions to be printed and laid before them, this
morning they launched out upon an interminabe
sea Of debate.
Mr.. Baldwin, of Connecticut, moved to substi
tute his proposition for a National Convention, in
lieu of Mr.Guthrie's proposition, reported from
the committee. lie sustained his motion in an
elaborate speech, in which he reviewed the condi-
tion of affairs, and the causes which had produced
them. He believed that the only remedy now was
a National Convention. Any other proposed rem
edes would fail to meet the wishes of the two
houses of Congress.
Mr.. Guthrie, Of Kentucky, opposed the motion
in speech of great power, and sustained the re-
port Of the committee of which he was chairman.
He urged upon the Convention speedy action
There was no time to be lost If the Convention
really intended to adopt measures which would
restore peace and good brotherhood between the
States, they ought to do so at once.
! Mr.. Curtis, of Iowa, followed next, but did not
sustain either the call of National Convention or
| the report of the committee. 1t disquisition
upon political affairs generally: and could be inter-
preted to mean everything, or nothing, as the case
might be.
The question next arose as to what the report of
| the committee meant respecting the Territorial
! question. 1t was contended by several among
whom was Reverdy johnson, that it not only ap-
plies to present Territories, but to future ac-
QUESTIONS also, and with that view he Johnson)
should move an amendment so as to exclude terri
tory hereafter to be acquired.
The debate was kept up to nearly three o'clock
when they adjourned until Monday at IL oclock.
ANoTHEN REPORT.
! WAsmNGrOE, Feb. 1.-THE Peace Congress is a
slow coach. The session yesterday opened by
Mr.. Baldwin, of Connecticut, who presented re-
port expressive of the views of most of the
Northern opponents of the majority report 1t ia
vors convention of the people of the United
States for a revision Of the Constitution upon the
plan adopted by the Legislature of Kentucky.
Mr.. Baldwin opposed the Territorial article in
the majority proposition, because it is not only in
violation of the cardinal doctrines of the Repub-
can party as laid down at Chicago but because it
proposes to dignity the absurd doctrine of squatter
sovereignty by inserting in the Constitution that
neither Congress nor the Territorial government
shall have power to hinder or prevent the taking to
all the Territory south of the line from east to west
on the parallel of $50 30i North latitude of persons
held to labor or involuntary service. lie knew the
people of the United States would never submit to
such doctrine Indeed they had already considered
the question and decided by their ballot that slave
ry shall never 90 into the Territories
Mr.. Sedden, of Virginia, said he opposed the
majority report because it did not 90 far enough
He was in favor Of the Crittenden proposition mod
lied so as to harmonize with the Virginia resolu
tiOns.
Mr.. Guthrie opposed the majority proposition
because it did not provide for the disposition of ter
ritory to slavery hereafter to be acquired south of
$50 3O/, but rather restricts future acquisition by
such terms as to forever prohibit it, inasmuch as it
requires that such acquisition can only be made
by the ratification of four-ffths of all the members
of the Senate, which sanction it is we II known
can never be obtained. Mr.. Guthrie was in favor
OF his own plan, which provides for the existence
of slavery south of36o 3O embracing all the terri
tory hereafter to be acquired on that side of the
line, and such acquisition may be made by a vote
Of three-fourths of the Senate.
Members of the Convention are busy PREPARING
for and al
proposition.
Among those who will sustain it are Reverdv
johnson, Of Maryland, Logan, of Illinois, Ewing
! and Groesbeck, OF Ohio, Pollock and White OF
Pennsylvania, and j. B. Clay, of Kentucky
1t will be opposed by Chase of Ohio, Smith, of
+. Indiana, Wimot, of Pennsylvania Crowninshield,
i Allen and Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, Underwood
of Vermont, Field and Noyes, of New York, Wood
of Illinois, Morrill, and somes of Maine, and Tuck
5 of New Hampshire.
D The Republicans of the Peace Conference intend
to kill the plan reported from committee. They
counted and ascertaned that it has only one
majority.
BY Tuesday or Wednesday next there will be
two more States represented in the Conference
Kansas and Michigan. These two States will de-
feat the Guthrie plan. The Republicans will then
vote unanimously for National Convention: but
it is not at all likely that Congress will go for a
convention Should there be no plan of adjustment
agreed upon, all propositions having been voted
down by the Republicans they are prepared, it is
understood on the eve of an adjournment, in order
to a5old the responsibility of preventing settle
ment, to move the restoration of the Missouri COM
promise, knowing full well that it will not be ac-
cepted. This is an old game, but 1t will not suit.
The people will hold the party responsible should a
5 settlement be defeated.
: WAsHINGToN, Feb. lS.-some of the delegates to
the Peace Conference tonight say that they will
e agree upon plan of adjustment which will be sat
e isfactory to the Virginia Commissioners The
n | NJ
q day, and The debate was directed to the object
securing unanimty ou that point.
# A mechanic of Hartford, Conn.,, has invented {
machine which will make l00 900 slate pencils pei
e day.