Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-16
A Proposition for Compromise.

At a meeting of representatives from the States
of Maryland, Virginia, Missouri, North Carolina,
Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois,
Delaware, Arkansas, Pennsylvania and New Jersey,
held in Washington on Friday night last, Mr.. Crit
tendcn, in the Chair, the following propositions
were adopted as basis Of settlement between the
North and South ,-..-
81. Recommending repeal of all the Personal
Liberty bills.
% That the Fugitive Slave law be amended for
the preventing Of kidnapping, and as to provide
for the equalization of the Commissioners fee, &c.
5. That the constitution be amended as to pro-
hibit any interference with slavery in any of the
States where it now exists. -.-
4. That Congress shall not abolish slavery in the
Southern dockyards arsenals, &C. nor in the District
of Columbia without the consent of Maryland and
the consent of the inhabitants of the District nor
without compensation.
3. That Congress shall not interfere with the in
tcr-State slave trade.
g. That there shall bc a perpetual prohibition of
the African slave trade. .,--z -...sr, .r -.
:. That the line of II degrees 80 minutes shall
be run through all thts existing terriipsy of the
United Statcs that in all north OF tina. line slavery
shall be prohibited anil that south Of that liEe
neither Congress no: the Territorial Legislature
shall hereafter PASS any law abol~hing, prohibiting
or in any manner interfering with African slavery,
and that when any Territory containing sufficient
population for member of Congress in any area
Of go 10 square h'les shall apply for admission
State i, shall i,c admitted with without slavery
/ aSltS Constitution may determine. f.-r-..-.
We nave no hesitation in expressing the opinion
that the foregoing propositions afford lair ha>i> ior
the settlement of the question which now seriously
cndangc,s the peace of the country; and we believe
that if the people could be appealed to, and new
mcE chosen to take this question in hand, it would
he settled in the course of six months iii such
manner as to give permanent reposc 10 the country
| A Convention Of all the st ties. ii.
| On the 9TH inst. Mr.. Hamilton, Of Texas, offered
the following resolution in the House Of Represen
| tativcs: .-E. r.. ...
t "Resoired, That this committee do recommend
the passage Of joint resolutions, respectfully
menling h, the several States general convention
in this city, day to be liked by delegates chosen
directly by the people in the several States to con-
slider of and advised such amendments to the Con.
sttution of the United States as may he necessary
t to protect the interests and preserve the govern.
| ment Of the country, and that appropriation be
made to defray the expenses Of such convention"
| Mr. Hamilton explained that, if such convention
could lie called, it would transfer the whole subject
into the hands of new class ef men, who could ap-
proach the subject untramnielled by thc'nunerous
I complications and commitments which surround
the men who are now endcavoring to settle it. He
proposed that the convention should examine calmly
aud deliberately the whole question, and then pro.
] pose such amendments to the constitution rs the
wisdom of the body might deem necessary, and that
Congress should then meet, and in constitutional
+ way pass laws recommending such amendments to
theLegiSatures of the several States for their action
= ttiltt
We protest against mixing up local or State
matters with federal affairs in the State Convention
proposed to be called If u Convention should be
/: called, let it be called as Conventions have been
called in other States for other purpose than ID
deliberate and decide upon the relations Of this State
towards the other States and towards the fedora
government. We-shall have more to say on thi.
subject hereafter 20 . h. i.:=. -. =
!. VIRcISIA.-Gov. Letcher, in his message to ths
Legislature, takes ground against y Convention o
the people of that State but he demands guarantee,
Of the non.slaychoadng States as indispensable 4
the preservation of the Union. The course Of ,tb,
Legislature Of Virginia in relation to Conventier
is uncertain A Convention may. or may not b,
called ,a7 ~ ~, s.-9 ssases ~. t'i'
~ The Altbama Conrention, IA -,,,e ~ I. +
I M0NTGoNERY, tALA.;i Jan. 8--Mr & Calhoun. Com
missioner frou South Carolina addressed the Con
svention to-day. His speech was wen receiyei s-
l., Dispatches to the Governor from yirgnis, Flo