The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-03-06
rhc Peace Congress.

This body adjourned, sine de- on the 9th OF
February, having adopted series of proposed
amendments to the Constitution, which were
transmitted to the Federal Congress with the re-
commentator they should be submitted to the
several States for adoption. They are as fol-
lows -
SECTION J. In all the present territory Of the
United States north Of the parallel of thrty-six
degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, in
voluntary seryitude, except in punishment of
crime, is prohibited. In all the present territory
south Of that line, the status of persons held to
involuntary service or labor as it now exists
shall not be changed; nor shall any law be pass
| ed by Congress or the Territorial Legislature to
hinder or prevent the taking of such persons
from any of the States of this Union to said ter
ritory nor to impair the rights arising from said
relation, but the same shall be subject to judicial
cognizance in the federal courts according to the
courseof the common law; and when any terri
tory north or south Of said line within such
boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall con-
tain population equal TO that required for a
member Of Congress, it shall, fits form of gov
eminent be republican, be admitted into the
Union on an equal footing with the original
States, with or without involuntary servtude, as
! the constitution of such State may provide.
SECTION 2. No territory shall be acquired by
the United States except by discovery and for
naval and commercial stations depots and tran
sit routes, without the concurrence of a MAORI
ty of all the senators from states which allow
involuntary servitude, and majority of all the
senators from states which prohibit that relation !;
nor shall territory be acquired by treaty, unless
the votes Of majority Of the senator's from each
class of states hercinbcfore mentioned, be cast as
a part of the two-thrds majority necessary to the
ratification of such treaty.
SEC. 3. Neither the Constitution, nor any
amendment thereof shall be construed to give
Congress power TO regulate abolish, or control,
within any State, the relation established or re-
cognized by the laws thereof touching persons
held to labor or involuntary service therein, nor
to interfere with or abolish involuntary service
in the District Of Columbia without the consent
Of Maryland and without the consent Of the
owners, or making the owners who donot con-
sent just compensation; nor the power to inter-
fere with or prohibit representatives and others
from bringing with them to the District of Column
bia, retaining and taking away, persons 50 held
to labor or service; nor the power to interfere
with or abolish involuntary service in places I'M
der the exclusive jurisdiction ofthe United States
within those States and Territories where the
same is established or recognized; nor the pow
er to prohibit the removal or transportation Of
persons held to labor, or Involuntary service in
any State or Territory thereof where it is es-
tablished or recognized by law or usage and
the right during transportation, by sea or river,
of touching at ports, shores, and landings, and
of landing in case of distress. shall exist but
not the right of transit in or through any State
or Territory, or Of sale or traffic, against the
laws thereof Nor shall Congress have power to
authorize any higher rate Of taxation on persons
held to labor or service than on land.
The bringing into the District of Columbia of
persons held TO labor or service for sale, or pla-
cling them in depots to be afterwards transferred
to other places for sale as merchandise, is prohib
tied
SEC. A. The third paragraph of the second
section of the fourth article of the Constitution
shall not be construed to prevent any of the
States, by appropriate legislation, and through
the action of their judicial and ministerial officers
from enforcing the delivery Of fugtiyes from Ia
Dor to the person to whom such service or labor
is due.
SEC. g. The foreign slave trade is hereby for
ever prohibited; and il shall be the duty of Con-
gress TO pass laws to prevent the importation Of
slaves, coolies or persons held to service or Ia
Dor, into the United States and the Territories
from places beyond the limits thereof
Sec. G. The first third, and fifth sections, to-
gcthcr 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 consent Of all the States.
SEC. T. 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 arrest such fugitive, was prevented from doing
so by violence or intimidation from mobs or riot
Gus assemblageS, or when, afterarrest such fugi-
tive was rescued by like violence or intimidation,
and the owner thereby deprived of the same;
and the acceptance of such payment shall pre-
clude the owner from further claim to such flgi-
tive. Congress shall provide by law for securing
to the citizens of each State the privileges and
inmunties of citizens in the several States.
The vote was taken by States on each Sec.
ton separately: