The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-08

-
will introduce resolution at the first OPP
portunity offering during the debate on Mr..
Oorwins report from the committee Of
Thirty-three. I
The I" Border State Resolutions were
agreed upon some weeks ago in caucus Of
Senators and Representatives from the
Border States. The following is an accu.
rate copy: ---
Joint resolutions proposing certain amendments to
the Constitution Of the United States.
Whereas, Serious and alarming dissension
have arisen between the Northern and South
ern States, concerning the rights and security
of the rights of the slaveholding States, and
especially their rights 10 the common territory
of the United States; and whereas, it is emf
nently desirable and proper that those dissen.
sions which now threaten the very existence
of this Union, should be permanently queted
and settled by constitutional provisions, which
shall do equal justice all sections, and thereby
restore to the people that peace and good will
which ought to prevail between all the citizens
OF the United States; therefore. 2
j Resolved by the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, two thirds of both
Houses concurring, That the following articles
be, and are hereby proposed and submitted as
amendments to the Constitution of the United
States, which shall be valid to all intents and
purposes as part of said Constitution, when ra.
titled by conventions OF three-fOurths of the
several States:
Article |. That Congress shall have no
power to legislate touching persons held to
service or labor in places under its exclusive
jurisdiction, within the limits of States which
have made cessions to the United States with.
out the consent of the State or States making
the grant. ...., .-..
Article 2. That in all the territory of the
United States situate north of latitude SO deg.
80 mih., slavery or involuntary servitude, eX.
cept as punishment for crime, shall be pro.
hibited, while such territory shall remain under
territorial government. That in all territory
south of said line neither Congress nor any
Territorial Legislature shall hereafter pass acy
law abolishing or prohibiting. or in any man
ner interfering with African slavery. and when
any territory, north or south OF said line, within
such boundaries as Congress shall prescribe in
any area of sixty thousand miles, shall contain
popu'ation emitting it TO one member of
Congress, shall apply fol- admission as State,
it shall come in on an equality with the other
States, with or without slavery, as its c0nstitu.
tion may determine. Ht -"
Article g. That the laws for the suppression
of the African slave trade ought to be made
effectual, and ought to be thoroughly executed.
That the prohibition of the importation Of
slaves into the United States shall be made
perpetual. i4f!.5 1ii. w..
!, Article 4. Congress shall have no power to
prohibit the removal or transportation of per-
sons held to service or labor from any State in
which such service or labor is recognized by
law, to another State in which such service or
labor is recognized by law. -.
Articlu (OnUrpSS shall have IN n0wer IN
regulate, abolish. or CONTROL within the States,
the relations established or recognized by the
laws of any State, respecting persOLs held to
service or labor.
And, whereas, also, besides those causes of
dissension embraced in the foregoing amend
ments proposed to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, there are others which come within
the jurisdiction of Congress, and may be reme-
died by its legislative power and whereas it
is the desire of Congress, as far as its power
will extend, to remove all just cause for the
popular discomfort and agitation which now
disturb the peace of the country. and threaten
the stability OF its institutions Therefore:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, That the laws now in
force for the recovery of fugitive slaves are in
strict pursuance OF the PLAIN and mandatory
provisions of the Constitution, and have been
sanctioned as valid and constitutional by the
Judgment OF the supreme COurt OF the UnteO
States; and that the slavehOlding States are
entitled to the faithful observance and execu-
ton of those laws, and that they ought not to
be repealed or so modified or changed as to
impair their efficiency; and that laws ought
to be made for the punishment OF those who
attempt, by rescue of the slaves or other lille
gal means, to hinder or defeat the due execu-
ton of said laws.
That all State laws which conflict with the
Fugitive Slave Acts, or any other Constitutional
Acts OF Congress, or which in their operation
impede, hinder or delay the free course and
due execution of any of said Acts. are null and
void by the plain provision of the Constitution
of the United States, and we respectfully and
earnestly recommend to the several States
which have enacted them, their immediate re-
peal.
That the Act of 18th of September, 1850,
commonly known as the Fugitive Slave Law,
ought to be amended so as to provide for its
more complete and efficient operation, and that
such amendments should provide among other
things for the prevention of kidnapping under
it, and to equalze the fees of the Commits
soners mentioned in the 9Th s .etion thereof.