The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-02-22
The Peace Congress.


The telegraph announces that the Com
mittee have adopted the propositions Of
Mr.. Guthrie, of Kentucky. For the infor-
nation of the reader we subjoin these pro-
positions:
Article |. That all territory Of the Unit
ed States shall be divided by a line from
east TO west, on the parallel OF 30 deg. 30
min. north latitude; and in all territory
north of that line, involuntary servitudc,
except in punishment Of crime, isprohib.
tied whilst ii shall belong to the United
States, or be under Territorial Govern
ment and in all territory South of said
line involuntary servitude Is recognized
as it exists in the Southern States of the
Union, whilst such territory shall belong
to the United States, or be under Ter
ritorial Government; and neither Con-
gress nor the Territorial Government shall
have power to hinder or prevent emigrants
to said territory from taking with them
persons held to labor or involuntary ser
vice, according to the laws and usages of
the State from which such persons may
be taken, nor to impair the right arising
out of said relations, and be subject to l-
dicial cognizance; the United States Courts
Of such Territory shall have jurisdiction
thereof and those rights shall be protect
ed by the courts and all the departments
of the Territorial Government, under or
according to the laws Of the State from
which the person bound to such service
may have been taken: and when any ter
ritory north of said line, within such
boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall
contain q population required for n MEM
Der Of Congress, according to the then
Federal ratio Of representation OF the peo-
pie of the United States, it may, il ia,
form Of Government be Republican, DO
| admitted into the Union on an equal foot
ing with the original States, with or with
out involuntary servitude or labor, as the
Constitution OF such new State may pro-
vide.
Art 2. That no territory hereafter shall
| be acquired by the United States without
! the concurrence of majority of the SEN
ators of the States North of Macon & Dix
on's line, and also majority of the Sena-
tors south Of said line; but no treaty by
which territory shall be acquired shall be
ratified without the two-thirl vote Of the
Senators, as required by the Constitution.
Art. 3. That the Constitution, and no
amendment thereof, sball be construed TO
give Congress power to regulate, abolish,
or control, within any State or Territory
of the United States, the relation estab-
lished or recognized by the laws thereof
touching persons bound to labor or invol-
untary service therein, nor to interfere
with or abolish involuntary service in the
District of Columbia without the consent
of Maryland and Virginia and the owners;
or without making the owners who do not
consent, previously, full compensation;
nor 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 or recognized nor
the power to prohibit tho removal OF
transportation OF persons held to labor or
involuntary service in any State or Terri
tory Of the Uuni.ed States, to any other
State or Territory thereof, where ii is es-
tablished or recognized; nor to authorize
a specific tax or any higher rate of taxes
on persons bound to labor, than on land
in proportion to value; nor TO authorize
any Of the African race or their descend
ants to become citizens, or to exercise tho
| right of suffrage in the choice Of Federal
officers.
Art 4. That hereafter the paragraph oil
the fourth article of the Constitution shall,
not be construed to prevent any Of the
''"'So' " "pPoPi"'C NS'sidtiOh' civ
| through the action of their judicial a.
ministerial officers, from enforcing thu
! livery Of fngitiyes from labor fro
other State or Territory of the
States, to the person to whom SD
vice or labor is due.
Art. 8. The emigration or importj
OF the African race into any State or
Territory of the United States, whe
for residence or involuntary service, il
ever prohibited, and Congress shall
the power. by appropriate legislatio
enforce the provisions of this NJ ticle.
Art. 6. That the first. second third
fifth articles of these amendments, an
the third paragraph of the second section
OF the first article Of the Constitution, md
third paragraph of the second section Of
the first article Of the Constitution, and
third paragraph of the fourth article
thereof, shall not be amended or abolish
ed without the consent of all the States.
/