Year: 1861




THE PEACE CONGRESS.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The Peace Conference
spritedly debated to-day without coming to a vote,
the third clause of Mr.. Guthrie's proposition:
'fThat neither the Constitution nor any amendment
thereof shall be construed to give Congress power
to regulate, abolish, or control, within any State
or Territory, the relation of slavery, the pow
er to interfere with the inter-save trade, etc.,
There is an adjourned session tonight, and strong
efforts are being made to cone to a conclusion on
the subject before an adjournment.


SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-'The following is a correct
copy of the majority report of the committee:-


ARTICLE THIRTEEN.


Section l. In all the present territory the United
States not embraced within the limits the trea
oil 80 degrees 30 minutes north latitude involuntary
viude, except in punishment of crime, is prohibited
whst shall be under Territorial Government; and in
all the present territory south of said line the status
owing service labor it exists not
be changed by law while such territory shall be under
Territorial Government; and neither Congress the
Territorial Government shall have power hinder or
prevent the taking to said territory of persons held
Dor involuntary service within the United Stat s. ac
cordng to the laws usages ofhe State from which
persons may be taken, to impair the rights arising
out of said relations which shall be subject to judicial
cognzance in the federal courts according the
law; and when any territory north south of said line
within such boundary Congress prescribe shall
contain population required member of Congress-
according to the then federal ratio of representation
SHALL II its form of government be republican, be admit
ted into the Union equal footing with the original
States with without involuntary service labor the
Constitution of such new State may provide.


Sec 2 Territory shall not be acquired by the UHted
States unless by treaty; nor except for
mercal stations and depos unless treaty shall be
ratified by four fhs of all the members of the Senate


Sec g. Neither the Constitution, nor any amendment
thereof shall be construed to give Congress power to
regulate, abolish or CONTROL within any State Terri
tory of the United States the relation established re-
cosnized by the laws thereof touching persons bound
labor or Involuntary service therein to interfere with
or abolish involuntary service in the District of Columbia
without the of Maryland and without the consent
of the owners making the do not consent
just compensation; the power to interfere with
prohibit representatives and others from bringing with
them to the city of Washington, retaining and taking
away bound to labor the power to inter
ere with or abolish involuntary service in places under
the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States within
those States and Territories where the established
recognized the power to prohibit the
transportation by land sea- river of persons held
labor involuntary service in any State Territory
the United States to any other State or Territory thereof
where it is established recognized by law usage
and the right during transportation of touching ports
shores and landings and of landing in of distress
shall exist Nor shall Congress have power to author
ize higher rate Of taxation persons bound to labor
than on land


The third paragraph of the second section of the
fourth article of the Constitution construed to
prevent of the States by appropriate legislation
GERS from enforcing the delivery of ugitive labor
to the person to whom such labor service is due.


Sec The foreign slave trade and the importation of
slaves into the United States and their Territories, from
places beyond the present limits thereof forever pro-
hbited.


Sec. g. The FIRST third and fifth sections together with
this section six of these amendments and the third para
graph of the second section of the first article
stuon and the third paragraph of the second section of
the fourth article thereof shall not be amended or abo
ished without the consent of all the States.


Sec T. Congress shall provide by law that the United
States shall pay the owner the full value of his fug
ne Oth
officer whose duty it to arrest such fugitive
mobs riotous assemblages when after arrest such
fugitive rescued by force and the thereby pre-
vented and obstructed in the pursuit Of his remedy for
the recovery of such fugitive.


The Conference met at 10 o'clock, A. NJ. Mr.
Franklin's amendment, proposed as q substitute
for the first section, debated during the morning
session, and, after some unimportant notifications,
was adopted-yeas IA, nays 5.


The following is MIR. Franklin's proposition, as
appended


In all the present territory of the United States moth
of the parallel Of thirty six degrees and thirty minutes
OF north latitude involuntary servitude except in pun
ishment of crime is prohibited In all present territory
south of that line the status of persons held
any law be passed to hinder prevent the taking of such
persons to said territory to impair the rights arising
from said relation but the shall be subject to judi
cal cognizonce in the Federal courts according the
common law. When any territory north south of said
line, within such boundary Congress may prescribe
shall contain population equal that required for
be Republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original States with without invoun
tary servitude the Constitution of such State may
provide.
The Conference then proceeded to consider the |
second section of the majority report of the
mittee.
Mr. Chase offered the following resolution and |
it by few remarks:
Resolred That it is nexpedient proceed to final ac
ton the grave and important matters involved in the
resolutions of the State of Virginia. in compliance with
which this Convention has assembled and in the
reports of the majority and mnores of the committee to
which said resolutions referred until opportunity
mas peen given to all the states to participate in debera
tion and action upon them and ample time has been al
lowed for such deliberation and action.
ReSolred, therefore, That this Convention adjourn |
10 meet in the city of Washington the 4th day April
next and that the President be requested to address
letter to the Governors of the several States not
in this body urging the appointment and at
tendance of commissioners.
The question was taken, and the resolution was
defeated.


hr. Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, moved the follow
ng as an amendment to the 18th section, which was |
rejected


''And Congress shall further provide by law that the
United States shall make full compensation citizen
If any State, who in any other State shall suffer- by
son OF violence or intimidation, from mobs and rioous
assemblies in his person property the dep.iva
ion, by violence, of his rights secured by this Constu
ion"


The Convention then adjourned until o'clock,
P. II.


EVENING SESSION.
On the re-assembling of the Convention, the Com
nittee on Credentials submitted a report in the
'ase of the Kansas delegates admitting the two
ets, one appointed by the Governor during the |
Government, and the other by the new
Governor of the State, which, after some debate,
vas adopted, and the four delegates admitted.
Mr. Summers, of Va, submitted the following as |
substitute for the second section:


mo territory shall be acquired by the United States
Without the of maj ory of all the Senators
rom States which allow involuntary servitude, and |
majority all the Senators from States which prohibit
hat relation shall territory be acquired by treaty.
nlesS the votes of majority of the Senators from each
lass of States hereinbefore mentioned be part
the twothrd majority, necessary to the ratification of
uch treaty"


After some debate the question was taken and |
he motion to substitute was rejected, and pending |
motion to reconsider, the Conference adjourned |
Until Monday.