Year: 1861

Resolved, That the crisis into which the coun-
try has been thrown by the conflict of sectional
passions, and which has already resulted in the
declared secession of six States, and the threat
ened cooperation OF nearly all the other States
of the South with them-the seizure of govern
ment property and of the Federal defences-the
confronting Of the disaffected States and of the
Federal Government in the attitude and with the
armament of civil war-is of such nature as,
raising all patriotic citizens above the considera-
tions of party, should impel them to the sacri-
fees by which alone these calamities may be
averted or their further progress arrested.


Resolved, That, in the opinion of this conven-
ton, the worst and the most ineffective argument
that can be addressed by the Confederacy or its
adhering members to the seeding States is civil
war. Civil war will not restore the Union, but
will defeat forever its reconstruction


Resolued, That we can look for the restoration
of the Union and the reinvigoration of the Con-
sttution only to the continuance of that spirit of
Cancellation and concession in which they were
founded and that there is nothing in the nature
of pending difficulties which does not render it
proper to adjust them by compromises, such as,
by the practice of our Government, have been re-
sorted to in the settlement of disputed claims
even with foreign nations; that while our Govern
men. believed its title to the Territories in the
north eastern and Northwestern portions of the
=
clear and unquestionable, yet, for the purpose of
saving the people from the evils of war, it surren-
dered portion Of our original territory, and also
a part of the Louisiana purchase, exceeding in
value all the domain which the South demands in
joint occupation; that, having conceded thus much
to foreign nation in the interest of peace itwoud
be monstrous to refuse to settle claims between
the people of our land, and avert destruction from
our common country, by similar compromise


Resolred, That, whereas, it is obvious that the
dissolution of this Union can only be prevented
/ by the adoption of policy which shall be salts
factory to the border States, it is duty to sup
port them in their patriotic efforts to adjust these
controversies. And, inasmuch as thesequestions
grow out of the acquisition OF territories not pro-


vided for by the Constitution, and in regard to
| which the people of the South believe that they
are entitled to a joint occupancy, in person and
| property, under the Constitution and by the de
csion of the Courts while. on the other hand, the
dominant party at the North claim that they
should be excluded therefrom, it is emnently fit
that we should listen TO the appeals of loyal men
in the border States dispose of this question by
one of those measures of compromise in the spirit
in which the Constitution was founded. and by
which all territorial questions have, from time to
/ time been settled.


Resolved That, inasmuch as the political con-
vulsions which threaten the destruction of the
| country were not contemplated at the time of the
last election, and their continuance will be most
disastrous to the interests of citizens, nvolv
ing the ruin of our commercial and laboring
classes, and possibly carrying the desolation of
civil war into the homes of our citizens, we hold
that il is their right to be heard in regard to the
adjustment of these difficulties (Which, in our opin


on can at present best be settled by the adoption
of the Crittenden proposition or some other meas
ure acceptable to the border States); and that a
committee of FIVE be appointed to prepare, in be