Year: 1862

! recommend the adoption of the fol-


lowing resolution and articles amendato-
ry to t he constitution of the United


States


ReSolUed, BY the senate and house of


representatives of the United States of


America in congress assembled, two


thirds Of both houses concurring, that


the following articles be proposed to the
legislatures or conventions of the several
states, as amendments to the constitution
of the United States, all or any of which
articles, when ratified by three lourths of
the said legislatures or conventions, to
be valid as part or parts of the said con-
stitution, viz;


Article -. Every state wherein sla-
very now exists, which shall abolish the
same therein at any time before the first
day of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred, shall receive
compensation from the United States as
follows, to wit; The president of the Uni
ted States shall deliver TO every state
bonds of the United States, bearing in
terest, at the rate of - for each slave
shown to be therein by the eighth census
of the United States, said bonds to be
delivered TO such state by instalments or
in one parcel at the completion Of the
abolishment, accordingly as the same
shall have been gradual or at one time
within such state, and interest shall begin
to run upon any such bond only from the
proper time of its delivery AS aforesaid
and afterward. Any state having re-
ceived bonds as aforesaid and aiterward
introducing or tolerating slavery therein
shall refund to the United States The
bonds so received or the value thereof,
AID all interest paid thereon.


Article -. All slaves who shall have
enjoyed actual freedom by the chances of
the war at any time before the end Of
the rebellion, shall be forever free, but
all owners OF such who shall not have
been disloyal, shall be compensated for
them at the same rates as is provided for
states adopting adjustment Of slavery, |
bet in such way that no slave shall be
twice accounted for.


article -. Congress may appropri-
ate money and otherwise provide for col
onizing free coloIed persons with their
own consent, at any place or places with
out the United States.


l beg indulgence to discuss these pro-
posed articles at some length. Without
slavery the rebellion could never have
existed, without slavery it could not con-
tinue. Among the friends of the Union
there is great diversity Of sentiment and
of policy in regard to slavery and the
African race among us. Some would
abolish it suddenly and without compen-
sation, some would abolish it gradually
and with compensation, some would re-
move the freed people from US and some
would retain them with US, and there are
yet other minor diversities. Because Of
these diversities we waste much strength
in struggles among ourselves. By mu-
tual concessions we should harmonize
and act together, This would be a COM
promise among the friends and not with
the enemies of the Union.


The articles are intended to embody a
plan of such mutual concessions. If the
plan should be adopted it is assumed that
emancipation will follow, at least in sew
eral of the states.


As to the first article the main points
are:


First, the emancipation second, the
length of time consummating, (thirty
seven years. and thirdly, the compensa-
ton.


The emancipation viii be unsatisfac-
tory 70 the advocates of perpetual slave
ry, but the length of time should greatly
mitigate their dissatisfaction. The time
spares both races from the evils of sud-
den arrangement, while most of those
whose habitual course OF thought will be
disturbed by the measure, will have pass
ed away before its consummation. They
will never see it. Another class will hail
the prospect of emancipation but will de-
precate the length of time. They will
feel that it gives too little TO the now liv-
ing slaves; but it really gives them much.
1t saves them from the vagrant destitu-
tion, which must largely attend immedi-
ate emancipation in localities where their
numbers are very great, and gives the
inspiriting assurance that their posterity
shall be free forever.


The plan leaves to each state choosing
to act under ii to abolish slavery now, or I
Il I