Year: 1861

on secession and for two years scarcely any other ques
ton Of interest was discussed in Congress A


length in September 1850 Congress acted finally on the


subject and peaceful, though in quarters suer
! acquieScence followed


The leaders, however of all parties at that time vowed
ndehty to that compromise, and the public mind had
reason to hope that dominion having reached
cifc ocean, future acquisition of territory would not be
desired, and by consequence this disturbing question
could not again arise In 1854, however by the repea
OF the law of 1921, known the Missouri Compromise
and the attempt extend slavery into territory whereby
that venerable law it had been prohibited disturbing


~ t was "sah opened Gut OF the grave in which it
had been buried in 1850 this fearful spirit dscord
arose The present deporable condition of the country
bears witness to the mischief it has wrought We see
strong and powerful parties maintaining opposite opn
ions on this very question.


These hostile opinions strongly adhered to on each
slle leaving little or no hope of agreement without
surrender of convictions honestly entertained An ad
justment founded upon legal principles in which all will
agree seems quite impossible. The expediency of with
drawing the subject matter of controversy from the con-


ic of opinion and by another mode of settlement iv;ng
10 the South and the North all that each under existing
circumstances could expect should desire to obtain,
seemed 10 the Committee the BEST not the only mode
| peaceful adjustment left to us.


The Committee were impressed with the belief growing
out of admonitons furnished by past history that in


Republic constituted as is in all cases when par-
ties are obstinaely divided in opinion upon subjects
which touch the interests wake passions of dis
affected sections it is the clear dictate wisdom to with
uaW the sutJec IN every case possible from the strife
parties, and keep the Federal Government as far re-
moved from any connection with it duty to the Con-
sutuuoh VIII permit The Committee deem the present
controversy involving the right to carry slavery into
ror not yet formed into State governments one pecu
| nounced.


1t is contended the hand, that in all the terrific
in possession Of the United States not embraced
within the limits of any State and living sont of the
parallel of 36 80 north latitude slavery shall be recogn
zed and protected by law The territory thus defined
comprehends the organized territory of New Mexico
including Arizona which last, by law Congress- has
been attached to and made part of New Mexico. This
territory organized in 1850 By its organic law the
territorial Legislature was authorized to laws and
report them to Congress 1t was provided in the
thaI a.,
they should be null and void.


In the year 1859, the Territorial Legislature of New
Mexico established slavery in that Territory This law
was disapproved at the last session by vote of the
House. but the Senate have not acted BILL and
so the law OF the Territory not having been annued by
10th Houses of Congress- remains in full force, and
slavery now exists by law in New Mexico


1t is further provided by the act of 1850 that New
Mexico when she is admitted into the Union shall be
admitted with without slavery as her Constitution
may ofdaln The committee now propose TO admit New
Mexico into the Union State, an equal footing
with the original States,


By this course the faith of the nation pledged in the
act of 1850 viii be preserved and the territory Iving
South of &c 80 will be disposed of and subject matter
OF controversy removed from the jurisdiction of the Fed
era Government Thus all claimed by the South will be
oDtalned While the Northern portion of remaining
territory will be subject to such law Constitution
and Congress may furnish for its government BY this
adjustment Of the present territory of the Union includ
ing the territory of all the States will found that
the area of the free States and territories including all
North of the line of 36 80 contains l,6iS779 square
miles. and population of 19, 1886 739 making popuIa-
ton OF about II 5 10 to the square mile.


. Ihe area OF the slayehoding States including New
Mexico is 09i 50i square miles with Federal popuIa
tion of about 40 to the square mile By this
ment OF all the Territory possessed by the United
states when New Mexico is admitted if admitted as
slave State that possessed by the savehoding States
viii be greater in proportion Federal population than
tat occupied by the non-savehoding States and Ter
ritories.


The Committee at loss conceive what more than
this can be desired demanded by South This set


ement commends itself our acceptance as one which
demands of any surrender opinion for or against


slavery Tor or against any proposition of constitutional
from hafp-
and South all territory which the latter desires to pos
seSs constituting it State with privilege belonging to
all States to adept such domestic institutions as her own
sense of duty and interest shall determine.


IT is objected that the population of the proposed
otae too small to justify her admission into the Union
at ths ume we answer that 1t now contains larger
white population than either of the States now in the
Union and represented in both branches of Congress The
present population of New Mexico including Arizona is
estimated at los O00 1t may also be objected that The
present resources of the Territory equal to the sup
port of State government If this objection has anv
foundation in fact it may easily be removed by liberal
donations such Congress has heretofore often made to
new States on their coming into the Union


The Committee consider these and other objections to
the plan which might be suggested as too tn
weigh, for moment against the ncalculabe benefits to
an the States and all the people of all the States which,
1t is hoped, may flow from the adoption OF the measure pro-
posed Other plans and modes of adjustment have been
presented and considered by the Committee All of them
however involve the surrender of opinions on questions
of law long held by large portion of the
people and tso firmly grounded in their convictions to
justify demand of their abandonment especially when
rifce. ~ ~


From the beginning of deliberations it was appa
rent that the disposition of that portion our territory
lying south of the parallel of So so main sub
lect OF dhculty. The settlement of that question was
however, complicated with provision much insisted On
for territory hereafter to be acquired This not seem
to the Committee properly to belong to subject The
committee did not hink proper extend their consider
alton Of the embarrassments arising out of the occupa
ton of territory within our possession to territory
which might or might not hereafter be acquired


1t seemed to them improper if not absurd while our
government was threatened with overthrow by an angry
Iltin nf
ritorlal possessions to employ time arranging for
partition amongst ourselves of the territorial domnons
OF neighborng nations, looking to the future which,
when it Oha will probably bring oircnna
stances and conditions which not now be foreseen
and which, therefore, should be left the judgments
them


The subject of slavery in the District of Columbia and
in those places in the savehodng States where the Fed
eral Government has exclusive jurisdiction. as well as
the interstate slave trade have been disposed of by
resouoh accompanying this report and the reason for
that disposition briefly given in the resolution itself


The rendition of fugitives from justice has, all times
ana especially lately, been source of much irritation
between the States and has recently itself
happily, with the subject of slavery provisions of
the Constitution have been differently by the
Governors of different States leading controversy un-
favorable to the amicabe relations which should always
subsist between the States.


To remedy this mischief, the Committee have thought
it expedient to transfer the duty acting upon requsi


ons for such fugves from the Governor of the State
to- the Courts of the United States so as to secure Judi
cal construction of the Constitution secure uni
iormlty OF action the subject and present bill
that purpose.


The Committee several resolutions which
10 not propose action on specific subject but which
II adopted and approved by vote of the House. NAV
serve to announce principles which seem in some quar-
ters to be questioned while their adoption may tend to
correct errors and msrepresen aons that have obtained
Union. ~


The intrinsic difficulties which belong to the subject
must be the apology of the Committee for the time
sumed in coming to the conclusion now submitted to the


House If the results we have reached should fail to
comphsh the so much desired end the Committee still
entertain confident belief that Congress will speedily
adopt some measures which will be accepted by all
Just and fair basis upon which the aternal relations
between all sections of the Union may be restored.


1t proper to state that the Committee
imous on all the propositions reported, but majority
OF quorum was obtained to them all.


the report are the resolutions adopted by the
Committee and the bills drawn up give effect to the
proposed measures of adjustment.


MINORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF rH1RrY-rHREE


WASHINGTON, Jan. l5.-Messrs. Washburne, of
Wisconsin, and Tappan, of New Hampshire of the
Committee of Thirty Three, have signed the fol-
lowing as Minority Report:


ResOlued That the provisions the Constitution are
ample for the preservation of the Union protec-


On of all the material interests of the country that it
needs to be obeyed rather than amended and
ton from our present difficulties be ooked for in eff
forts to preserve and protect public property
the laws rather than in guarantees for particular
terests or compromises concessions to unreasonable
demands.


THE SOUTIIERNCONFEDER 4 CY SCHEME.


WASHINGTON, January l5.-Despatches received
in Southern circles say that Georgia will pass an
ordinance of secession by Saturday. That on the
happening of this event, delegates from South
Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Geor-
gia will repair to Milledgeville to institute Pro-
visonal Government, and elect a President and
Vice President pro tempore, besides providing for
organizing Federal Army, and other defensive
measures. Ministers will at once be dispatched to
foreign powers to negotiate treaties.


The conduct of Capt Armstrong in surrendering
Pensacola Navy Yard to the revolutionists, is
strongly disapproved by the Administration. For
several months the workmen there have not been
paid, and have been subsisting on Government
rations.


Especial Despatch


| ARKANSAS NOT OPPOSED TO A CONVENTION
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Despatches have been
| received here tonight by the Arkansas Senator.
| to the effect that the report that the Senator o
Arkansas was opposed to Convention, is not true
| The opposition was to the phraseology of the
House bill which will be connected
The demand of South CaroIIna-.A., Uncom-
| ditiOnal Evacuation of Fort Sumter
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-It is understood here
that the South Carolina agents now here demand
| the unconditional evacuation of Fort Sumter,
| with view to avoid the shedding of blood. The
Administration have not yet considered the propo.
| sition.


| RETURN sLooP-oF-wAR BROOKLYN
| WIcrrfN Iop 1t.