The constitutional union., 1861-01-18
CRITTENDEN'S PROPOSED 1NENDNENT
 TO THE CONSTTUTTON.

The following address to the people of the United States has been signed by Mr. CHIT- TENDEN and many other members of Con- gross. The object Is to get the approval of the people, in order that proposed amend ments may be passed, by a vote of two-thirds, as amendments to the Constitution:
 Your country is in imminent peril. The Federal Union IS in process of disruption. Without your aid Congress can do little to avert the impending calamity. The senate Committee of Thirteen have reported their inability to agree upon any basis of adjust ment between the North and the South The House Committee of Thirty Three have ar rived at no satisfactory conclusion. Mean while, the work of dissolution is moving for ward with frightful strides and mutual exas- peration and discord is infaming the whole land. The remedy is in your hands You have the power to arrest the movements which are certain to involve the whole nation in a deadly internecine strife, and to restore peace to our distracted country The under signed, representing all sections of our com mon country in view of these unhappy sur roundings, have deemed it our duty to appeal to you,
 We have reason to believe that the fol- lowing proposed amendments to the Constitu- ton, if passed by two-thirds vote of Con- gress, and ratified by thrce-fourths of the States, would have the effect to allay promptly and permanently the sectional strife about slavery, and re-cstablish relations of peace and good will between the States and the people We, therefore, earnestly and urgently recom- mend that, with as little delay as possible, you express your judgment on the proposed amendment You can best tell how this can be done, wh ther by public meetings, con- ventions of delegations, or through the ballot box. It action be had at all, to be effective 1t must come promptly, and in such form as to indicate unmstakaby your will on the sub ject, so that your representatives in Congress may govern distractions accordingly Mean while we shall endeavor maintain the Gov ernment and preserve the public peace" The substance of the proposed amendments is as follows:
 The right of property in slaves to be racog- nlSed; owners to be protected in the posses sion ot such property while passing through or sojOurning in free State; the line of 36o 3O" to be run through to the Pacific Ocean and all territory South of said line to become slave at the option ofthe settlers, while North of 1t Is to remain free; and the Fugitive Slave Law to be so amended as to equalize the fees of the Commissioners
 Speaking of this proposition, correspond ent of The Cincinnati Enquirer says:
 Memorials are pouring into Congress from the Northern States, signed by men of all po- litical parties, praying Congress to submit MT. Crlttenden's resolutions as an amendment to the Constitution. Senator Bigler presented a large number this morning, and expressed the opinion that Pennsylvania would sanction the measure; that his State would conccdc anything for peace, except the Union; that she would never yield. There is rapidly growing sentiment throughout the North fi- yorable to Mr. Crittcndens plan of adjust mend, and letters are pouring in urging the republicans to accept 1t.