Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-03
ProposI,,on Of enc Peace oonference

We are indebted to Col MARTIN, of Giles, of the
Commissioners 70 the Peace Conference, for the fol
lowing copy of te propogtion adopted by the Peace
Conference and presented ts Congress- with the re-
quest that it be proposed to the Legislatures of te
States as an amendment to the Constitution, and if
ratified by threefourths of them, then to be Article
Is of the Constitution.
Section l.. In all the present territory of the Uni
ted States north of the parallel of thirtysX degrees
and thirty minutes of north latitude involuntary
RerVitude except in punishment of crime. Is prohib-
tied In all the present territory south of that line,
the status of D. rsens held involuntary service
labor as it now exists, shall not be changed; nor
| shall any law be passed by Congress or The Ter
ritorial Legislature to hinder or prevent the
taking of such persons from any OF the States OF
this Union TO said territory TO impair the rights
arising from said relation; but the same shall be
subject Judicial cognizance the federal courts,
| according TO the course of the common law. When
any territory north south of said line, within
| such boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall
j cor.ain population equal to that required for
member Of Congress, it shall if Its form of govern
ment be republican 1e &Gmitted into the Union on
an equal footing with the original etetes, with or
without involuntary seTyitude, the constitution OF
such State may provide.
Sec. g. No territory shall be acquired by the Uni
ted States, except by discovery and for naval and
| commercial stations. depOts, and transit routes,
| without the concurrence of a majority Of all the
! Senators from States which allow involuntary SEP
| vitude. and a majority of all the Senators from
States which prohibit that relation; shall terri
tory be acquired by treaty, unless the votes OF a
majority of the Senator's from each class of States
herenbefore mentioned be cast part Of the two
thirds majority necessary to the ratification Of such
| treaty.
Sec. g. Neither the Constitution, ner any amend
ment thereof, shall be construed to give Congress
power TO regulate, abolish or control, within any
State the relation established or recognized BY the
laws thereof touching persons held TO Labor or in
voluntary service therein nor to interfere Wtn or
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia with
out the consent of Maryland and without the consent
| of the owners. making the owners who do not
consent Just compensation; nor the power to in
terfere with or prohibit representatives and 9TH
ers from bringing With them to the District of
Columbia retaining ana taking away, per-
sons so held TO labor or service, nor
| the power to Interfere with or abolish
| involuntary service IA places under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States within those States
and Territories where the same is established or re-
cognized nor the power TO prohibit the removal or
transportation of persons held to labor, nvouE-
tary service in any State Territory of the United
States to any other State Territory thereof where
II is established recognized by law or usage and
the right during transportation, by river, of
touching at ports shores, and landings and of land.
inc in case of distress shall exist but not the right
of transit in through any State or Territory, or,
of sale or traffic. against the laws thereof. Nor
rate of taxation persons held to labor or service
than on land
The bringing into the District of Columbia of per.
sons held TO lasor or service for sale, placing
them in depots to be afterwards transferred to other
places for sale as merchandise, is prohibited.
Sec. f. The third paragraph of the seGeld section
of the fourth article of the Constitution shall not
be construed to prevent any of the States by ap-
propriate legislation, and through the action of
their judicial and ministerial officers, from enforc-
ing the delivery of fugtves from labor to the per-
son 70 whom such service or labor is due.
Sec 5. The foreign slave trade is hereby forever
prohibited; and it shall be the duty Of Congress to
pass laws to prevent the Importation Of slaves,
coolies or persons held to service labor SntO the
limited States and the Territories from places be-
yond the limits thereof
Sec g. The first third, and fifth sections, together
with this section of these amendments, and the
third paragraph Of the second section of the first
article of the Constitution and the third paragraph
of the second section of the fourth article thereof
shall not be amended or abolished without the
sent of all the States.
Sec. z Congress shall provide by law that the
United States shall pay to the owner the full value
of his fugitive from labor, in all cases where the
marshal or other officer, whose duty it was TO ar
rest such fugitive, was prevented from so doing by
violence or intEpidstiop from mobs or riotous as
semblages or when, after arrest such fugitive was
rescued by like violence or intiRidation, and the
owner thereby deprived of the samei and the ae
ceptsnce of such payment shall preclude the owner
from further claim to such fugitive. Congress shall
provide by law for securing the citizens of each
State the privilege and immuntes of citizens in the
several States.