Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-02-08
THE COMPROMISES

ties, probabilities, or chances of a compromise
which shall result in bringing back the seced-
ing States, and inaugurato an era Of better
feeling between the two sections Of the conn
try. The two most prominent propositions
are those known as ." The Border State Plan"
and "The Crittenden Propositions" both of
which we annex:
THE BORDER STATES PLAN
|. Recommending repeal OF all the personal liberty
That the fugitive slave law be amended for the pre-
vcnon u kidnapping and as to provide for the equal
izaon of the commissioner fee Sc.
9. That the Constitution be amended to prohibit
any interference with slavery in any Of the states where
II nov exists.
That Congress shall not abolish slavery in the south
dockyords, arsenas, SC in the District " Col
umba wthou, the consent Of Maryland and the consent
Of the inhabitants % the district, nor without compcnsa
That Congress shall not interfere with the inter
state slave trade.
8. That there shall be perpetual prohibition Of the
African slave trade
T. That the line Of SO degrees 30 minutes shall be run
through al Che existing territory OF Che United States
that BOO a north of that rc shall be prohibited and that
south of thlt lime neither Congress Che territorial leg
islaure shall hereafter pass any law abol.hing prohb
ting OF n any manner interfering with African slavery
and that when any territory containing suicient pop
uaton ur member Of Congress in any area Of 00J
square miles, shall apply Tor admission state it shall
be admitted with or without slavery It's constitution
may determine.
MIR CRITTENDEN's PROPOSITIONS.
Whereas The Union IS ia danger, and il is difficult Il
not impossible for Congress TO concur by the requisite
majority so as TO enable h TO take such measures, TO
commend TO the States such amendments the Cousii
tuition as are necessary TO avert the danger
Whoe4s' In so great an emergency the opinion and
Judgment OF The people ought TO be heard Therefore
H@otea That provision be made by law without de-
lay, Tor taking the OF the people and submitting
them The following resolution:
ResoFed, BY the senate and House Of Representa-
tves OF the United States nj America n Congress assem-
bed two-thirds Of both houses concurng Ih, the FOL,
lowing articles Doc und are hereby proposed and submit
tod as amendments 90 the Constitution OF the United
States which -hal be valid TO all ntonts and purposes
patt OF said Constitution when ratified by Cunycn-
unns VI three fourths Of the several States
Article L. ln an heterritory ofthe United States now
held OF hcreao'r acquired. situated north oflatude
3d deg I'D min slavery involuntary tcrvude except
MS punishment for crime f. prohibited, while such Ter
ritury shall remain under Territorial government In
all me territory south Of said line Of latitude slavery Of
the African race il hereby recognized AS existing, and
shall not Dee iutrcitd with by Congress. but shall be
protected as property by all he departments Of The Ter
utoiia toYcnmtnt during lis coniuuancei and when
any leWtury north or south 81 said line. within such
boundaries as Congress may prescribe, shall contain the
population requisite for member Of Congress- accord
ing 10 the he federal rao of Representation Of the peu
pie Of the United States IL shall, Il the form Of govern
ment be Republican, be admitted into the Union on
equal footing With the original States with without
vide
Art 3 Congress shall have no power to abolish say
cry places under its exclusive Jurisdiction and situate
within the limits Of States that permit the holding OF
Art g. Congress shall have no power to abolish slav-
cry within tn District OF Columbia, long it exists
in the adjoining States Of Virginia and MARY land, e
Their without the Of of tho Inhabitants
without just compensation FIRST made such of
slaves as do not consent such adjustment Nor shall
Congress 100 any time prohibit officers " The federal Gov
crnmcui or members o Congress whose duties require
them % De- in said district from bringing with them their
9aS's and holding them as such during The time their
duties may require them TO remain there and afterwards
taking them hom the District
Art A. Congress shall have power TO prohibit
hnder the transportation Of slaves from one state to
another or To Territory in which slaves ere by law per
mitted TO be held, whether that transportation be by
land, nayigabc rivers, or by the
Art That in addition TO the provisions Of the bird
paragraph Of The second section % the fourth article Of
the Constitution Of the United States Congress shall
have the power to provide hy law and shall be Is duty
so TO provide that the United States shall pay the
owner who shall apply for it the full value Of his fugitive
slave IN all cases when The Marshal other officer whose
duty Was TO arrest said fugitive, prevented from
so doing by violence or ntimidation or when, after ar
rest said fugitive rescued by force and the
thereby prevented and obsluced in the pursuit Of his
remedy for The recovery Of his fugitive slave under the
said clause Of the Constitution and the laws made in
pursuance thereof And in all such cases. when the U
nted States shall pay for such fugitive they shall have
the right in their name TO the county in which
said violence intimidation, committed, and
recover from IT, with interest and damages the amount
paid by them for said fugitive slave And The said coun
~, after il had paid said amonnt to the United States,
may for It's indemnity, sue and recover from the wrong
doors or rcscuers, by whom the owner was prevented
from the recovery Of his fugitive slave n like manner rs
the owner himself miehthay sued and recovered.
affect the five preceding articles, nor the d paragraph
OF the second section Of the FIST article Of the Consu
ton nor the third paragraph Of the second section OF the
fourth article Of said Constitution, and no amendment
shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or
give to Congress any power to abolish or interfere with
slavery in any Of the States by whose laws it may
And whereas, also besides those Of dissension
embraced the foregoing amendments proposed 20 The
come within the jurisdiction Of Congress, and may be
remedied by its Legislative power and whereas II is the
desire of Congress- far as its power will extend TO re-
move all Just cause for the popular dseontent ana aga
ton which disturb the peace Of the county, and
threaten the stability OF It's institutions therefore,
ReS0ired by the Senate and House Of representa-
tives n the United States OF America in Congress
semhed That the laws in force for the recovery ri
the fugitive slaves are in strict pursuance Of the plain
and mandatory provisions Of the Constitution and have
been sanctioned valid and constitutional by the judg
ment Of the supreme Court Of the Jniied States that
the saycholdng States entitled 10 the faithful obsery
and execution Of those laws and that they ought not
to he repealed, modified or changed to impair
their efficiency and that laws ought be made for the
punishment of those who attempt by rescue OF the slaves
or other Illegal MEANS to hinder or defeat the due eNeeu
ton Of said laws
That all State laws which conflict with the fugitive
slave acts any other constitutional Of Congress-
which IN their operation impede, hinder delay the
free course and due execution any Of said acts are null
and void by the plain provisions Of the Constitution Of
the United States Yet those State laws void they
have given color pract and led to consequences
which have ohsrpcted the due administration and
cutOn Of Congress- and especially the for the
delivery ogiye slaves and have thereby contributed
gres therefore, in the present perious uncure, does
deem in proper respectfully and earnestly
mend the reprai Of those laws the several States which
have enacted them such legislative corrections ex-
plantations Of them as may prevent their being used or
perverted to such mischieynus purposes.
g. That the Of the eighteenth Of September, eigh-
teen hundred and fifty, commonly called the fugitive
slave law ought be amended make the fee Of
the commissioner, mentioned in the Sh section Of the
act equal in amount in the decided hy him. wheth-
his decision be in favor Of against the claimant
And 10 avoid misconstruciun, tho last clause Of the fh
section Of said which authorizes the person holding
warrant for the arrest detention Of fugitive slave 10
summon TO his aid the posse comntus and which de-
cares il 10 be the duty OF all good citizens assist him
in It's execution ought TO be amended expressly
limit the authority and duty In in which there shah
be resistance, or danger Of resistance or rescue.
T. Ihatthe laws for the suppression Of the African
slave tade and especially those prohibiting the impor-
taon Of slaves into tho United States ought be made
effeoual, and ought be thoroughly executed and all
further necessary to those ends ought be
promptly made
The first Of the above propositions, or that
proposed by the Border States, is not accept
able to the slave States, they refusing to be
satisfied with anything short of a constitution
al guGrdtee for the protection of slavery south
of SO deg. 80 min. This protection is given
under the second of the above propositions,
or the "Crittenden Proposition" which would
,ose;b1,, bo acoont.hla IN tho slo