Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-02-01

Mr.. Crittenden's Joint Resolution.

Mr. crittenden's Joint Resolution.
Whereas, serious and alarming dissen
sion have arisen between the Northern an,
Southern States concerning the rights ant
security of the rights of the slaveholdin.
States, and especially their rights in tn
common territory Of the United States
and, whereas, it is eminentv desirable an,
proper that those dissensions, which nov
threaten the very exist ence of this Union
should be permanently quieted and settled
by constitutional provisions, which shall d,
equal justice to sll sections, and the, eb,
restore to the people that peace and goot
will "iiish ought to prevail between all tht
citizens of the United States therefore.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House O
Representatives Of the United States o
America, in Congress assembled, two-thirl
OF both houses concurring; That the follow
ing articles be, and are hereby, proposed
and submitted as amendments to .he con
stitution of the United States, which shall
be valid to all intents and purposes as part
OF said constitution, when ratified BY con-
vent ons Of three-fourths OF the Several
States.
SLAVE AND FREE TERRITORY.
Article l. In all the territory Of the Uni
ted State now held or hereafter ACQUIRED
situate north Of latitude thir,y-six degrees
and thirty minutes, slavery or involuntary
servitude, except as punishment for crime
is prohibited, while such territory shall re
main under territorial government. In all
the territory south Of sid line Of latitude
Slavery Of the African race is hereby re :
cognixed as eristiny, and shall not be in.
teyered with by Congress, but shall be pro.
tected as property by all the departments
Of the territorial government during its
continuance; and when any Territory
north or south of said line, within sucl,
boundaries as Congress may prescribe, shall
contain the population requisite for mem
Der of Congress, according to the then fede-
raj ratio of representation of the people of
the United States, t shall, if its form of
government be republican, be admitted IN
to the Union on an equal footing with the
original States, with or without slavery, as
the constitution of such new State NAV
provide.
Art. .. Congress shall have no power to
abolish slavery in places under its exclusive
jurisdiction, and situate within the limits of
States that permit the holding Of slaves.
Art. 3. Congress shall have no power to
abolish slavery within the District of Col
umbia so long as it exists in the adjoining
States Of Virginia and Maryland, or either,
nor without the consent of the inhabitants,
nor without just compensation first made
to such owners Of slaves as do not consent
to such abolishment. Nor shall Congress
at any time prohibit officers of the federal
government or members Of Congress. whose
duties require them to be in said District,
from bringing with them their slaves and
holding them as shch during the time their
duties may require them to remain there,
and afterwards taking them from the Dis-
trict.
The TRASsroRt ATtcN OF SLAVES.
Article 4. Congress shall haze no poper
to prohitit or hinder tie transportation Of
slaves from one State to another, or to a
Territory in aohich SLAVES are by la,O per-
nsitted to be held, sDhether that transpor
tation be by land, no0igobze rivers or By
the sea.
Artice 5. That, in addition to the pro.
visions Of the third paragraphs of the second
section of the fourth article Of the con-
stitution Of the United States, Congress
shall have power to provide by law, and it
shall be its duty SO TO provide, that the Uni.
ted States shall pay to the owner, who shall
appl y for it, the full value of his fugitive
slave, in all cases, phen the Marshal or
other officer aohose dutyit was to arrest
said fugitive soas prevented from so doing
by violence or intimidation, or when, after
arrest, said fugitive WAS rescued by force
and the owner thereby prevented and OBJ.
structed in the pursui, Of bis 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 United States shall
pay for such fugitive, they shall have the
right, in their own name, 10 sue the country
in which said violence, intimidation or res.
cue was committed. and to recover from it,
with interest and damages, the amount paid
by them Tor said fugitive slave. And the
said country. after it has paid said amount
TO the United States, may, for its indemnity
sue and recover from tie wrong doers OF
rescuers, by whcm the owner was prevented