Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-01-30
nir. Bigfsr's Plan.

Sir Bigler's plan for settling our national
difficulties and restoring tranquility 70 the
e"ubtry, peases US better than any We
have Jet examined lis passage by Congress
at al early day. would. we think. save the
Union. The following is condensed state
"f its most important provisions. The first
SIC ions provide for the holding of elections
in al! :he States of the Confed.raoy. during
february. for the purpose of deciding for or
agains: the proposed amendments to the Con-
Stltuinn which are a9naxed To the bill. Full
directions are given as to huw the elections
shall be held aud conducted. returns made,
&:, Those in fsycr OF the amendment shall
vote ticket bearing lhe words For the
amendments, and those opposed to them a
lick Inscribed a gsiost the amendment ="
/ The returns are to De forwarded 50 ;he Secr4
/ iary OF the Interior, aud they then 10 be
Counted By the Secretary OF the Senate, who
! is to GnSke on: tabular statements for the
! President. aud both Houses of Congress -
/ the object is 10 obtain the judgment and
! opiioo of the people with regard to the pro-
| posed amendments. If they are ratified by
| the popular vote. it viii be aD easy matter to
have them adopted aud ratified by the States,
/ in the naaon,r directed by the Constitution
! The amendments pIoyide. that the Terri
! tory now held by the United States, OF that
mag hereafter be acquired. shall be divided
/ By iae from the East to the West on the
parallel of 36 degrees 80 minutes north lati-
! tude.
That IL all territory north Of said lines of
latitude, involuntary serviiude except as pun
iskment for crime. Is prohibited and IN ali
/ territory south OF SAID hne. Involuntary SER
( yltGGe a. 1t nov exists IE States south of Ma
son and Dixou's line is hereby recognized
and shall be sustained By all departments of
the Territorial Governments aud when any
territory north OF south of said line, within
such boundaries as Congress may prescribe
shall contain the population requisite for a
member OF Congress. according to the then
Federal ratin Of representatives of tie people
! of the United States It shall then be the duty
nf Congress to admit such ferritor5 into the
Union oa terms OF equality with the original
States
Congress shall not have the power to sbol-
I
risdictioD, and situate IN Slave States nor in
the District os Columbia. without rhe consent
Of Maryland aue Virginia, or without lust
compensation being made 70 the owners of
such slaves.
That in addition TO the provisions of the
thIrd paragraph OF the second section of the
fourth article of the Constitution of the Uni
rai sb..f
vide by law, and it shall be its duty so TO
provide. that The United States shall paw the
2Hrsr who shall apply for it. the full value
uf his fugitive slaves in all cases. where the
MARSHALL or other officer whose duty 1t was 20
arrest the said fugitive. was prevented from
So doing 10y violence or intimidation, or when.
after the arrest Of the said fugitive. he was
rescued by force and violence aud the owner
thereby prevented aud obstructed In the mr.
suit II his remedy for the recovery of his fu.
gIiIve slave. under the said clause of the Con-
SiItutioa, aud the laws made IN pursuance
thereof. and IL all such cases where the Uoi
ted States shall pay for such fugitive. thew
shall have iha right in their name. TO sue the
county in which the said violence. intimida-
ton or rescue vas committed, and to recover
from il, with interest aud damages. the amount
paid by them for said fugitive, and the said
c.'u"ry, after II has paid the said amount to
the United States. may. for It's indemnity. sue
aud recover from the JFrong doers or rescrers
by whom the owner was prevented from the
recovery Of his fugitive slave in like manner
as the owner himself might have sued and re.
I covered
Congress shall have no power to prohibit
or hinder the transportation of slaves from
one State 10 another, or TO territory ia which
slaves are by law permitted TO be held. whe,h-
| ~r the transportation he by lanG. the navi.s-
Ole rivers, or b. sea. but The African slave
trade shall never be renewed, except by the
unanimous consent of both branches Of Con
eress.
That, hereafter the President of the Uni,,d
! States shah bold Office during the term of six
years, and shall not De eligible for reelection
The Constitution shall not be SO ameoded.
10 destroy the effect of the Sd paragraph of
of the 81 section of the Is; article of the Con.
sitution. nor the Sd paragraph of the 4th a.
ticle of the Constitution, nor so as to sasss.-
ne Congress 30 insesfe,e With o. dstroy sbe