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OFFICIAL JOURNAL
ot TEE
CONFERENCE CONVENTION,
WASHINGTON CITY,
]FEBRUARY, 1861.
BY CRAFTS J. WRIGHT,
SECRETARY.
WASHINGTON:
M'GILL A WITHEROW, PRINTERS,
1861.
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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1861, by
McGILL & WITHE ROW,
in the Gierk'a office of the District Court of the United States for the District of
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_                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          _
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OF THE
CONFERENCE CONVENTION.
. _____________________
WASHINGTON, February 4th, 1861.
A number of Commissioners assembled at Willards' Concert
-Hall ifi consequence of the following preamble and resolutions
adopted by the General Assembly of Virginia, January the 19th,
1q61 ~
WHEREAS, It is the deliberate opinion of the General Assembly of Virginia,
that unless the unhappy controversy, which now divides the States of this confederacy, shall be satisfactorily adjusted, a permanent dissolution of the Union
is inevitable; and the General Assembly, representing the wishes of the people of the commonwealth, is desirous of employing every reasonable means to
avert so dire a calamity, and determined to make a final effort to restore the
Union and the Constitution, in the spirit in which they were established by the
fathers of the Republic: Therefore,
Resolved, That on behalf of the commonwealth of Virginia, an invitation is
hereby extended to all such States, whether slaveholding or non-slaveholding,
as are willing to unite with Virginia in an earnest effort to adjust the present
unhappy controversies, in the spirit in which the Constitution was originally
formed, and consistently with its principles, so as to afford to the people of the
slaveholding States adequate guarantees for the security of their rights, to appointcommissioners to meet, on the 4th day of February next, in the City of Wash.
ington, similar commissioners appointed by Virginia, to consider, and if practicable, agree upon some suitable adjustment.
Resolved, That ex-president John Tyler, William C. Rives, Judge John W.
Brockenbrough, George W. Summers, and James A. Seddon are hereby appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to repair to the City of Washington, on the day designated in the foregoing resolution, to meet such commissioners as may be appointed by any of the said States, in accordance'with the
foregoing resolution.
Resolved, That if said commissioners, after full and free conference, shall
agree upon any plan of adjustment requiring amendments to the Federal Constitution, for the further security of the rights of the people of the slaveholding States, they be requested to communicate the proposed amendments to Congress, for the purpose of having the same submitted by that body, according
to the forms of the Constitution, to the several States for ratification.
Resolved, That if said commissioners cannot agree on such adjustment, or if
agreeing, Congress shall refuse to submit for ratification such amendments as
may be proposed, then the commissioners of this State shall immediately communicate the result to the executive of this commonwealth, to be by him laid
before the convention of the people of Virginia and the General Assembly:~
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provided, that the said commissioners be subject at all times to the control of
the General Assembly, or if in session, to that of the State convention.
Resolved, That in the opinion of the General Assembly of Virginia, the propositions embraced in the resolutions presented to the Senate of the United
States by the Hon. John J. Crittendeti, so mi:dified as that the first article proposed ns an amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall apply to
all the teiritory of the United Statts now held or hereafter acquired south of
latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, and provide that slavery of the African race shall be effectually protected as property therein during the continuance of the territorial government, and the fourth article shall secure to the
owners of slaves the right of transit with their slaves between and through the
non-slaveholding States and territories, constitute the basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this confederacy, as would be accepted by the people of this commonwealth.
Resolved, That ex-president John Tyler is hereby appointed, by the concurrent vote of each branch of the General Assembly, a commissioner to the President of the United States, and Judge John Robertson is hereby appointed, by
a like vote, a commissioner to the State of South Carolina, and the other States
that have seceded or shall secede, with instructions respectfully to request the
President of the United States and authorities of such States to agree to abstain,
pending the proceedings contemplated by the action of this General Assembly,
from any and all acts calculated to produce a collision of arms between the
States and the Government of the United States.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forthwith telegraphed to
the executives of the several States, and also to the President of the United
States, and the Governor be requested to inform, without delay, the commissioners of their appointment by the foregoing resolutions.
A copy from the rolls.
WM. F. GORDON, Jit.,
C. H. D. & K. R. of Va.
Mr. MOREHEAD, of Kentucky, called the meeting to order, and
moved that Mr. J. C. Wright, of Ohio, be appointed temporary
chairman; to be followed by the appointment of a committee, consisting of a member from e;tch delegation, to be named by such
delegation, who should recommend officers for a permanent organization, and should also report rules for the government of the
body.
The motion to appoint Mr. Wright was thereupon put and
unanimously carried.
Upon being conducted to the chair by Mr. Meredith, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Chase, of Ohio, Mr. Wright made a brief address explanatory of the object of the meeting, and expressed a
hope and belief, that, as the delegates present from the several
States had assembled under the influence of the most friendly
feelings, if they carried those feelings into an examination of the
difficulties which surround the country the result would be a
success, earnestly to be hoped for by every lover of his country,
80 as to establish the Union, accoriling to the spirit of the existing Constitution of the United States.
On motion, Mr. Benjamin C. Howard, of Maryland, was
appointed Secretary.
' 3 
5
The following States responded to the call of their namesthe list of delegates to be handed in to-morrow:
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana.
Mr. MEREDITH, of Pennsylvania, then renewed the motion for
the appointment of a committee as above mentioned, which was
carried, and the following members named by their respective
delegations, viz:
New Hampshire, Amos Tuck; Rhode Island, William W.
Hoppin; New Jersey, Joseph F. Randolph; Pennsylvania,
Thomas E. Franklin; Delaware, George B. Rodney; Maryland,
John W. Crisfield; Virginia, William C. Rives; North Carolina,
Thomas Ruffin; Kentucky, Charles A. Wickliffe; Ohio, Reuben
Hitchcock; Indiana, Godlove S. Orth.
On motion, the Convention adjourned until to-morrow at 12
o'clock.
B. C. HOWARD,
Secretary.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 5, 1861.
The Convention was called to order pursuant to adjournment,
by Mr. Wright, President pro tern.
The journal of proceedings of yesterday was read and approved.
Mr. THOMAS E. FRANKLIN,  of Pennsylvania, moved that a
committee of five be appointed by the President, to whom the
credentials of members should be submitted and reported on,
which was carried.
Thie President thereupon appointed as said committee:
Mr. SUMMERS, of Virginia.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky.
Mr. MOREHEAD), of North Carolina.
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana.
Mr. FRANKLIN, of Pennsylvania.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, from the Committee on Organization, made a report, which was read.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, moved to strike out for the present,
and for further consideration, the report which relates to the
proceedings of the Convention.
This motion gave rise to a debate, pending which a division of
the report was called for; whereupon it was moved that the Convention proceed to consider the following part of the retort of 
6
the committee, relating to officers for the permanent organization
of the Convention, as follows:
The committee to whom was referred the subject of the organization of the
Convention made the following report: They recommend that the permanent
officers of the Convention be a President and Secretary, and that the Secretary
have leave to appoint assistants, not exceeding two, to assist him in the discharge of his duties. The committee report, for President, JOHN TYLER, of
Virginia; Secretary, CRAFTS J. WRIGHT, of Ohio.
Thereupon it was moved and unanimously agreed, that this
part of the report be accepted, and the officers designated be
appointed.
The Presicent pro tern. appointed Mr. Ewing, of Ohio, and
Mr. Meredith, of Pennsylvania, to conduct President Tyler to
the chair.
President TYLER, on taking his seat, proceeded to address the
Convention:
GENTLEMEN: I fear you have committed a great error in appointing me to
the honorable position you have assigned me. A long separation from all deliberative bodies has rendered the rules of their proceedings unfamiliar to me,
while I should find in my own state of health, variable and fickle as it is, sufficient reason to decline the honor of being your presiding officer. But, in
times like these, one has but little option left him. Personal considerations
should weigh but lightly in the balance. The country is in danger; it is
enough. One must take the place assigned him in the great work of reconciliation and adjustment.
The voice of Virginia has invited her co-States to meet her in council. In the
initiation of this Government that same voice was heard and complied with, and
the results of seventy-odd years have fully attested the wisdom of the decisions
tnen adopted. Is the urgency of her call now less great than it was then? Our
godlike fathers created: we have to preserve.   They built up through their
wisdom and patriotism monuments which have eternized their names. You have
before you, gentlemen, a task equally grand, equally sublime, quite as full of
glory and immortality. You have to snatch from ruin a great and glorious Confederacy, to preserve the Government, and to renew and invigorate the Constitution. If you reach the height of this great occasion your children's children
will rise up and call you blessed.  I confess myself to be ambitious of sharing
in the glory of accomplishing this grand and magnificent result. To have our
names enrolled in the Capitol, to be repeated by future generations with grateful applause, this is an honor higher than the mountains, more enduring than
the monumental alabaster.
Yes, Virginia's voice, as in the olden time, has been heard. ]ter sister States
meet her this day at the council board. Vermont is here, bringing with her the
memories of the past, and reviving in the memories of all her Ethan Allen and
his demand for the surrender of Ticonderoga in the name of the Great Jehovah
and the American Congress. New Hampshire is here, her fame illustrated by
memorable annals, and still more lately as the birthplace of him who won for
himself the name of Defender of the Constitution, and who wrote that letter to
John Taylor which has been enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen. Massachusetts is not here. [Some member said she is coming.] I hope so, said Mr.
TYLER, and that she will bring with her her daughter, Maine.  I did not believe
it coiuld well be that the voice which in other times was so familiar to her ears
had been addressed to her in vain. Connecticut is here, and she comes, I doubt
not, in the spirit of Roger Sherman, whose name with our very-children has be 
come a household word, and who was in life the embodiment of that sound practical sense which benefits the great lawgiver and constructor of governments.
Rhode Island, the land of Roger Williams, is here, one of the two last States, in
her jealousy of the public liberty, to give in her adhesion to the Constitution,
and among the earliest to hasten so its rescue.  The great Empire State of New
York, represented thus far but by one delegate, is expected daily in fuller force
to join in the great work of healing the discontents of the times and restoring
the reign of fraternal feeling. New Jersey is also here, with the memories of
the past covering her all over. Trenton and Princeton live immortal in story,
the plains of the last encrimsoned with the heart's blood of Virginia's sons.
Among her delegation I rejoice to recognize a gallant son of a signer of the immortal Declaration which announced to the world that thirteen Provinces had
become thirteen independent and sovereign States. And here, too, is Delaware,
the land of the Bayards and the Rodneys, whose soil at Brandywine was moistenred by the blood of Virginia's youthful Monroe. Here is Maryland, whose
massive columns wheeled into line with those of Virginia in the contest for glory,
and whose State-house at Annapolis was the theatre of a spectacle of a successful commander, who, after liberating his country, gladly ungirthed his sword
and laid it down upon the altar of that country. Then comes Pensylvania, rich
in Revolutionary lore, bringing with her the deathless names of Franklin and
Morris. and I trust ready to renew from the belfry of Independence Hall the
chimes of the old bell which announced freedom and independence in former
days. All hail to North Carolina, with her Mecklenburg Declaration in her
hand, standing erect on the ground of her own probity and firmness in the cause
of the public liberty, and represented in her attributes by her Macon, and in
this assembly by her distinguished son at no great distance from me. Four
daughters of Virginia also cluster around the council board on the invitation of
their ancient mother-the eldest Kentucky, whose sons, under the intrepid war rior, Anthony Wayne, gave freedom of settlement to the territory of her sister
Ohio. She extends her hand daily and hourly across la belle rivinre, to grasp the
hand of some one of kindred blood of the noble States of Indiana, and Illi nois, and Ohio, who have grown up into powerful States, already grand, potent,
and almost imperial. Tennessee is not here, but is coming-prevented from
being here only by the floods which have swollen her rivers.  When she arrives
she svill wear the badges on her warrior crest of victories won, in company with the
great West, on many an ensanguined plain, and standards torn from the hands
of the conquerors at Waterloo.  Missouri and Iowa, and Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Minnesota, still linger behind, but it may be hoped that their hearts are
with us in the great work we have to do.
Gentlemen, the eyes of the whole country are turned to this assembly in ex pectation and hope. I trust that you may prove yourselves worthy of the great
occasion.  Our ancestors probably committed a blunder in not having fixed upon
every fifth decade for a call of a General Convention to amend and reform the
Constitution. On the contrary, they have made the difficulties next to insur mountable to accomplish amendments to an instrument which was perfect for
five millions of people, but not wholly so as to thirty millions. Your patriotism
will surmount the difficulties, however great, if you will but accomplish but one
triumph in advance, and that is, a triumph over party. And what is party when
compared to the task of rescuing one's country from danger? Do that, and one
long, loud shout of joy and gladness will resound throughout the land.
On motion of Mr. EWING, action on the remainder of the report of the committee on organization, was postponed until
Wednesday.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Convention shall be opened with prayer, and that the clergy
of the City of Washington be requested to perform that service.
7 
8
Which was adopted; and at the request of the Convention,
the Rev. Dr. Gurley offered up prayer.
The Convention being informed by the President of the tender
by the Mayor and Council of the City of Washington of police
officers to attend the sittings of the Convention, and protect the
same from intrusion; and also that the hall now occupied had
been placed at the service of the Convention; it was moved and
agreed to, that the same be accepted.
On motion of Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, it was resolved that
the President be requested to furnish a copy of his speech to the
Convention to be made part of this day's proceedings, and that
the same shall with the proceedings of this day be published.
Mr. GRIMES, of Iowa, informed the Convention that he had a
letter in regard to the appointment of delegates from Iowa,
which was referred to the Committee on Credentials.
On motion of Mr. WRIGHT, of Ohio, the Convention adjourned
until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
WASHINGTON, February 6th, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The  journal of the proceedings of yesterday was read,
amended, and approved.
Mir. SUMMERS, chairman of the Committee on Credentials,
made the following report:
The credentials of the following gentlemen from the States
hereafter enumerated, have been duly submitted and examined
by your committee, and approved by them, and they were
reported as members of the Convention:
New 1ampshire-Amos Tuck, Levi Chamberlain, Asa Fowler.
Vermont —Hiland Hall, Levi Underwood, H. Henry Baxter, L.
E. Chittenden, B. D. Harris.
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations-Samuel Ames, Alex  ander Duncan, William W. Hoppin, George H. Browne, Sam  uel G. Arnold.
Connecticut-Roger S. Baldwin, Chauncey F. Cleveland, Charles
J. McCurdy, James T. Pratt, Robbins Battell, Amnos S.
Treat.
New Jersey-Charles S. Olden,  Peter D. Vroom, Robert F.
Stockton, Benjamin Williamson, Joseph F. Randolph, Freder  ick 1'. Frelinghuysen, Rodman M. Price, William C. Alexander,
Thomas J. Stryker. 
9
Pennsylvania-James Pollock, William M. Meredith, Thomas
White, David Wilmot, A. W. Loomis, Thomas E. Franklin,
William McKennan.
Delaware-George B. Rodney, Daniel M. Bates, Henry Ridgeley,
John W. Houston, William Cannon.
Maryland-John F. Dent, Reverdy Johnson, John W. Crisfield,
Augustus W. Bradford, William T. Goldsborough, J. Dixon
Roman, Benjamin C. Howard.
Viryinia-John Tyler, William C. Rives, John W. Brocken  brough, George W. Summers, James A. Seddon.
North Carolina-George Davis, Thomas Ruffin, David S. Reid,
D. M. Barringer, J. M. Morehead.
Kentucky-William O. Butler, James B. Clay, Joshua F. Bell,
Charles S. Morehead, James Guthrie, Charles A. Wickliffe.
Ohio-John C. Wright, Salmon P. Chase, William S. Groesbeck,
Franklin T. Backus, Reuben Hitchcock, Thomas Ewing, V.
B. Horton.
Indiana-Caleb B. Smith, Pleasant A. HIackleman, Godlove S.
Orth, E. W. H. Ellis, Thomas C. Slaughter.
Iowa-James  Harlan, James W. Grimes, Samuel H. Curtis,
William Vandever.
On motion of Mr. WICKLIFFE, the Secretary was authorized
to employ additional assistants.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, chairman of the Committee on Organization,
called up for consideration that part of the report not heretofore
agreed to, and moved that the same be adopted.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, offered the following amendment:
Resolved, That no part of the Journal be published without the order or
leave of the Convention, and that no copies of the whole or any part be furnished
or allowed, except to members, who shall be privileged to communicate the
same to the authorities or deliberative assemblies of their respective States,
when deemed judicious or appropriate under their instructions, and that noth.
ing spoken in the house be printed or otherwise published; but private communications respecting the proceedings and debates, while recommended to be
with caution and reserve, are allowed at the discretion of each member.
On motion, the above resolution and the original report and
resolution, were referred back to the committee.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee of one from each State be appointed by the Commissioners thereof, to be nominated to the President, and to be appointed by
him, to whom shall be referred the resolutions of the State of Virginia, and the
other States represented, and all propositions for the adjustment of existing difficulties between States, with authority to report what they may deem right,
necessary, and proper to restore harmony and preserve the Union, and that
they report on or before Friday. 
10
Mr. EWING, of Ohio, suggested that the resolution be so modified as to authorize said committee to sit during the  meeting of
the Convention, which being accepted, the resolution was agreed
to.
The President appointed the following committee to carry into
effect that part of the report of the Committee on Rules and
Organization, which related to obtaining the services of a clergyman to open the proceedings with prayer:
Mr. RANDOLPII, of New Jersey; Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky;
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland.
On motion of Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, it was agreed that the
members of this Convention should call in a body on the President of the United States at such time as would be agreeable to
him, to be announced by the President of this Convention.
On motion, the Convention reconsidered the resolution recommitting the rules of proceeding to the committee thereon, and
agreed to proceed to the consideration of the same.
Mr. WRIGHT called for a division, and proposed that the several rules should be separately read, and, when  no objection was
raised, they should be agreed to; and when objected to, should
be passed for subsequent consideration.
Which was agreed to.
The rules hereafter designated were adopted.
The remainder were recommitted.
The rules adopted were as follows:
1. A Convention to do business shall consist of the Commissioners of not less
than seven States; and all questions shall be decided by the greater number
of those which be fully represented. But a less number than seven may adjourn
from day to day.
2. Immediately after the President shall have taken the chair, and the members their seats, the minutes of the preceding day shall be read by the Secretary.
3. Every member rising to speak shall adldress the President, and while he
shall be speaking none shall pass between them, or hold discourse with another,
or read a book, pamphlet, or paper, printed or manu.cript-and of two members rising to speak at the same time, the Preside(nt shall name him who shall
be first heard.
4. A member shall not speak oftener than twice, without special leave, upon
the same question, and not a second time, before every other who had been
silent shall have been heard, if he choose to speak upon the subject.
5. A motion made and seconded, shall be repeated, and if written, as it shall
be when any member shall so require. read aloud, by the Secretary, before it
shall be debated-and may be withdrawn at any time before the vote upon it
shall have been declared.
6. Orders of the day shall be read next after the minutes, and either discussed
or postponed, before any other business shall be introduced.
7. When a debate shall arise upon a question, no motion, other than to amend
the question to commit it, or to postpone the debate, shall be received.
8. A question which is complicated shall, at the request of any member, be
divided and put separately upon the proposition of which it is compounded. 
11
9. A writing which contains any matter brought on to be considered, shall
be read once throughout, for information, then by paragraphs, to be debated,
and again with the amendments, if any made on the second reading, and afterwards the question shall be put upon the whole, as amended, or approved in the
original form, as the ca,se may be.
10. Committees shall be appointed by the President, unless otherwise ordered
by the Convention.
11. A member may be called to order by any other member, as well as by
the President, and may be allowed to explain his conduct or expressions,
supposed to be reprehensible. And all questions of order shall be decided by
the President, without appeal or debate.
12. Upon a question to adjourn for the day, which may be made at any time,
if it be seconded, the question shall be put without debate.
13. When the Convention shall adjourn, every member shall stand in his
place until the President pass him.
14. That no member be absent from the Convention, so as to interrupt the
representation of the State, without leave.
15. That committees do not sit while the Convention shall be or ought to be
sitting, without leave of the Convention.
16. That no copy be taken of any entry on the Journal, during the sitting of
the Convention, without leave of the Convention.
17. That members only be permitted to inspect the Journal.
18. Mode of voting:  All votes shall be taken by States, and each State to
give one vote.  The yeas and nays of the members shall not be taken or pub
lished-only the decision by States.
On motion, the Convention adjourned until Thursday, 10
o'clock, A. M.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 7th, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened by prayer by Rev. Dr. Pyne.
The journal of the proceedings of the Convention of the 6th
inst. was read, amended, and approved.
President TYLER, in accordance with the resolution of the 6th
instant, in regard to calling on the President of the United States,
caused to be read by the Secretary the following letter:
FEBRUARY 6TH, 1861.
MY DEAR SiR: I shall feel greatly honored to receive the gentlemen composing the Convention of Commissioners from the several States, on any day and
at any hour most convenient to themselves. I shall name to-morrow, Thursday,
at 11 or 3 o'clock, though any other time would be equally agreeable to me. I
shall at all times be prepared to give them a cordial welcome.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
His Excellency, JOHN TYLEa.
President TYLER asked the action of the Convention on the
subject. 
12
On motion of Mr. GUTHRIE, it was
Resolved, That the members of the Convention call on the President of the
United States this forenoon, at 11 o'clock.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the Committee on Credentials, reported
that the credentials of the following gentlemen from the States
hereafter enumerated, had been duly submitted and examined,
and were approved by them; and approved as members of the
Convention:
New  York-William E. Dodge.
Tennessee-Samuel Milligan, Josiah M. Anderson, Robert L.
Caruthers, Thomas Martin, Isaac R. Hawkins, R. J. Mc  Kinney, Alvin Cullom, William P. Hickerson, George W. Jones,
F. K. Zollicoffer, William H. Stephens, A. O. W. Totten.
Illinois-John  Wood,  Stephen  T. Logan, John  M.  Palmer,
Burton C. Cook, Thomas J. Turner.
Which report was accepted.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on Organization, offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary procure for the use of the Convention, the necessary stationery; and also provide for such printing as may be ordered. That
the Journal up to and including this day's proceedings, as well as the Rules, be
printed for the use of the members.
Which was passed.
The President appointed the following gentlemen members of
the committee on Mr. Guthrie's resolution of yesterday:
New Hampshire, Asa Fowler;  Vermont, HIiland Hall;?Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations, Samuel Ames; Connecticut,
Roger S. Baldwin; New Jersey, Peter D. Vroom; Pennsylvania, Thomas White; Delaware, Daniel M. Bates;  North Carolina, Thomas Ruffin; Kentucky, James Guthrie; Ohio, Thomas
Ewing; Indiana, Caleb B. Smith; Illinois, Stephen  T. Logan;
Iowa, James Harlan; Maryland, Reverdy Johnson; Viryinia,
James A. Seddon.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on Organization, reported
the following:
20th Rule.-That nothing spoken in the Convention be printed or otherwise
published or communicated without leave.
Which was agreed to.
Convention then adjourned.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 8, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the Chair. 
13
The Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr.
Butler.
The journal of yesterday was read, amended, and approved.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the Committee on Credentials, made report
that the credentials of the gentlemen hereafter named, and from
the States designated, had been duly submitted, examined, and
approved as members of the Convention:
Massachusetts.-John Z. Goodrich, John M. Forbes, Richard P.
Waters, Theophilus P. Chandler, Francis B. Crowninshield,
George S. Boutwell, Charles Allen.
New York.-David Dudley Field, Wm. Curtis Noyes, James S.
Wadsworth, James C. Smith, Amaziah B. James, Erastus
Corning, Addison Gardiner, Greene C. Bronson, John A.
King, John E. Wool.
Missouri.-John D. Coalter, Alexander M.  Doniphan, Waldo
P. Johnson, Aylett H. Buckner, Harrison Hough.
The President appointed the following additional members of
the Committee on MIr. Guthrie's resolution: A. W. Doniphan, of
Missouri; F. K. Zollicoffer, of Tennessee; David Dudley Field,
of New York.
Mr. GUTIIRIE, of Kentucky, informed the Convention that the
committee of which he was chairman could not make report this
day, according to order, and asked further time.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, moved that the committee have until
Monday next to report. That delegates who should arrive from
States not heretofore reported, might present their credentials
to the committee thereon, and, being accepted, might select and
report a member of Mr. Guthrie's committee through the Secretary to said committee; which motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. ELLIS, of Indiana, it was
Ordered, That for the purpose of relieving the doorkeeper from embarrassment, the President be requested to issue cards of admission to the members
and officers of this Convention. 
Mr. HITCHCOCI(, of Ohio, asked of the President his interpretation of the rule of the Convention, heretofore adopted, in regard to the degree of secrecy required.
The President informed the Convention that, by his interpretation of the rules, nothing which was said or done in the Convention, in reference to any subject before it, could be spoken of
or divulged to any but members.
Adjourned to Saturday, 12 o'clock. 
14
WASHINGTON CITY, February 9, 1861.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened by prayer from the Rev. Dr.
Bullock, of Kentucky.
The journal of yesterday was read, amended, and approved.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the Committee on Credentials, reported
that the credentials from the gentlemen hereafter named had been
duly submitted to them, examined and approved, and they were
reported by said committee as delegates from the States designated, viz:
Maine.-William  P. Fessenden, Lot M. Morrell, Daniel E.
Somes, John J. Perry, Ezra B. French, Freeman H. Morse,
Stephen Coburn, Stephen C. Foster.
The following gentlemen were announced  as additional members of the committee on Mr. Guthrie's resolution:
FRANCIS B. CROWNINSHIELD, Massachusetts.
LOT M. MaORRELL, Maine.
Mr. TUcK, of New Hampshire, offered for consideration certain resolutions; which were read, and referred to the Committee
on Resolutions.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, presented certain resolutions from
Connecticut, and moved their reference to the Committee on
Resolutions; which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. RANDOLPII, the Secretary was authorized to
publish and furnish, for the use of members, a list of delegates to,
and officers of, this Convention.
Convention adjourned until Monday, at 12 o'clock.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 11, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr.
Gurley.
The journal of proceedings of Saturday was read, amended,
and approved.
Mr. GUTHRIE, from the Committee on Resolutions, asked for
further time to make report; which was given.
Mr. GUTHRIE, from the same committee, to whom were re 
ferred certain resolutions from Connecticut, made the following
report:
The Committee to whom were referred certain resolutions of the Democratic
party of the State of Connecticut, report that, in the opinion of the Comniittee,
it is inexpedient for this Convention to act upon any resolution purporting to
emanate from any political party whatever, and that the member of the Convention by whom the same were presented have leave to withdraw the same.
The President announced to the Convention that cards of admission for the members of the Convention upon the floor of the
House of Representatives had been sent to him by the Doorkeeper, and which the Secretary would deliver to the members
who would call for them.
On motion of Mr. CHIIASE, it was resolved that any propositions
or resolutions which any member desired to have considered, and
which under the rule passed to the Committee on Resolutions
and Propositions, might be presented to said committee through
the Secretary, without being presented in Convention.
Convention adjourned until Wednesday next, 12 o'clock.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 13, 1861,
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr.
Edwards.
The journal of Monday was read, amended, and approved.
Mr. G(iUTHRIE, from the Committee on Resolutions and Propositions, asked until Friday to make report.
Agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, asked permission of the Convention
to communicate to the authorities of Virginia the state of proceedings in Convention and committee.
Mr. BARRINGER, of North Carolina, offered the followirng:
Resolved, That the Commissioners of any State represented in this Convention, upon their joint application, have leave to communicate to the Legislature, Governor, or convention of said State, the proceedings of this body, or so
much thereof as they may deem expedient.
Which being seconded and accepted by Mr. SEDDON,
Mr. FRELINGIIUYSEN, of New Jersey, moved to amend said resolution by adding thereto:
But not to communicate what has transpired in the committee, before said
committee has reported to the Convention.
I o 
16
On motion of Mr. SEDDON, the amendment and the resolution
were laid on the table, subject to call after Friday.
Convention adjourned to Friday, 12 o'clock.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 14th, 1861.
The Convention met in special session, pursuant to the call of
the President.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr.
Hall.
The following letter from the Secretary, Crafts J. Wright,
was read, and ordered to be entered upon the minutes:
WILLARDS' HOTEL,
Washington City, February 13th, 1861.
HON. JOHN TYLER, President of Conference Convention.
DEAR SIR: I grieve to communicate to you the fact, that the delegate from
Ohio to this Conference Convention, the Hon. John C. Wright, departed this
life this day, the 13th February, at half-past one o'clock.
Judge Wright came to this Convention with a heart filled with fear for the
safety of the Union. Though at an advanced age and nearly blind, he was
filled with an earnest desire to add his efforts to that of others of the Convention, called by the State of Virginia, and seek to agree on some measures honorable to each and all, to effect the object. Since the arrival of my father in
Washington, he has been constant in his efforts to effect the end in view, and he
has had his heart cheered with the belief that the object would be accomplished.
Almost the last words he uttered, were that he believed the Union would be
preserved. He desired me to say, if the Union was saved, he would die content. He called me to read to him, at 12 o'clock, the sections in the Constitution in regard to counting the votes, and this request, and this reading, terminated his knowledge on earth.
In this desire of my father to do what he could, he pressed me to accompany
him on account of his blindness. Since the Convention honored me with the
appointment of Secretary, he required of me a promise that I would not leave
the position. When I read the section of the Constitution to him, he required
me then to leave him for the Convention. Whatever my personal feelings may
be, I deem the pledge made sacred. I therefore ask that I may have leave of
absence until I carry the remains home to Ohio, and return to my duty.
Respectfully,
CRAFTS J. WRIGHT.
P.S.  J. Henry Puleston will act for me in my absence. 
The President informed the Convention that the request of
the Secretary had been complied with.
The President asked what action the Convention proposed to
take on the subject for which they had been specially assembled.
The Hon. SALMON P. CHIASE, of Ohio, then said:
Mr. President, since we assembled yesterday in this Hall it has pleased God
to remove one of our number from all participation in the concerns of earth. It 
is my painful duty to announce to the Convention that JOHN C. WRIGHT, one of
the Commissioners from Ohio, is no more. Full of years, honored by the confidence of the people, rich in large experience and ripened wisdom, and devoted
in all his affections and all his powers to his country, and his whole country, he
has been called from our midst at the very moment when the prudence and
patriotism of his counsels seemed most needed. Such are the mysterious ways
of Divine Providence!
Judge WRIGHT was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on the 10th of August,
1784. The death of his parents made him an orphan in infancy; and he had
little to depend upon in youth and early manhood, save his own energies and
God's blessing
He was married, while young, to a daughter of Thomas Collier, of Litchfield,
and for several years after resided at Troy, New York.
When about twenty-six years old, he removed to Steubenville, in Ohio, where
he commenced the practice of the law and rapidly rose to distinction in the profession.
In 1822, he was elected a Representative in Congress, where he became the
associate and friend of Clay and of Webster, and proved himself, on many occasions, worthy of their association and friendship.
After serving several terms in Congress, he was elected a Judge of the Supreme
Court of Ohio, and, in 1834, removed from Steubenville to the city of Cincinnati.
Resigning his seat soon afterwards, he resumed the labors of the bar, and ever
zealous for the improvement and elevation of the profession, established, in
association with others, the Cincinnati law school.
In 1840, upon the dying request of Charles Hammond, the veteran editor of
the Cincinnati Gazette, Judge WRIGHT assumed the editorial control of that journal, and retained that position until impaired vision, in 1853, admonished him
of the necessity of withdrawing from labors too severe.
Thenceforward engaged in moderate labors, surrounded by affectionate relatives, enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and manifesting always the liveliest concern in whatever related to the welfare and honor
of his State and his country, he lived in tranquil retirement, until called by
the Governor of Ohio, with the approbation of the Senate, to take part in
the deliberations of this Conference Convention.
It was but a just tribute, sir, to his honored age, illustrated by abilities, by
virtues, and by services, that he was unanimously selected as its temporary
president. His interest in the great purpose of our assembling was profound
and earnest. His labors to promote an auspicious result of its deliberations
were active and constant. And when fatal disease assailed his life, and his
enfeebled powers yielded to its virulence, his last utterances were of the Constitution and the Union.
Mr. President, Judge WRIGHT was my friend. His approval cheered and
encouraged my own humble labors in the service of the State. Pardon me if
I mingle private with public grief. He has gone from his last great labor.
He was not permitted to witness, upon earth, the result of the mission upon
which he and his associates, who here mourn his loss, were sent.  Go;  grant,
sir, that it may fulfill his wish! God grant that the clouds which now darken
over us may speedily disperse, and that through generous counsels and patriotic labors, guided by that good Providence which directed our fathers in its
original formation, the Union of our States may be more than ever firmly
cemented and established.
Mr. President, I offer the following resolutions:
Resolved, That in the death of our late venerable colleague, the Hon. JOHN
C. WRIGHT, we mourn the loss, to the State of Ohio, and to the nation at large,
of one of our most sagacious statesmen and distinguished patriots; and to the
cause of Union and conciliation, one of its most illustrious supporters.
Resolved, That while we deplore with saddened hearts the affliction with
which an Allwise Providence has visited us, we know that no transition from
2
17 
18
life to immortality could have been more grateful to him who has fallen than
this, in which his life has been offered a willing sacrifice in an effort to restore
harmony to his distracted country.
Resolved, That the members of this Convention tender their heartfelt sympathies to the family of the deceased in this their great affliction.
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this body, and
a copy of the same be transmitted to the family of the deceased.
The Hon. CHARLES A. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, moved the
adoption of the resolutions, and said:
Mr. President, I rise to tender my most cordial sanction and second to the
resolutions which have just been read.
Mr. WRIGHT and myself entered the cou*cils of this nation thirty-seven years
ago. We served together,during a period when party excitement ran high
upon questions more of a personal than a constitutional character. I can bear
witness not only to his ability, but to his personal integrity, and his purity of
political action through our term of service in the House of Representatives.
I have seldom met him since we separated at the termination of his service and
mine in that body, which occurred at pretty near the same period; but whenever I have met him, I have found him the same stern advocate of the Union,
and of constitutional liberty. I rejoiced, therefore, when I found him in this
hall on the day we first assembled here. I knew his conservative disposition and
principles, and I promised myself that with his aid I could be more useful to my
country and to my State than without him. In conversing with him upon the
difficulties which now divide and distract our common country, I found him ready
and willing, conscientiously and patriotically, to do that which I thought that
portion of the country which I represent has a right to demand and expect of
those who represent a different portion of our Union. And if my friend from
Ohio (Mr. Chase) and his colleagues will permit me to mingle my sorrow at
the public loss, I will say nothing of the private bereavement of the family of
our deceased colleague. I leave him to his country, and to you, with this
testimony which I leave to his memory-his honesty of purpose and his patriotic love of country.
The Hon. A. W. LOOMIs, of Pennsylvania, said:
Mr. President, I desire to mingle my sincere regrets with those of the members of this assemblage at the sad and unexpected occurrence which deprived
us of an able, experienced, and patriotic associate. My relations with the deceased were, for many years, probably more intimate than those which existed between him and any other member of this Convention. Forty years
have elapsed since I first made his acquaintance. He was then in full, active,
and extensive practice; a learned lawyer, an accomplished, skillful, and successful advocate. During the succeeding year I came to the bar, and resided
and practiced in the same judicial circuit with our departed friend. For many
years the most kind and intimate relations existed between us, sometimes colleagues, but usually opponents. So kind and genial was his nature, so fair
and liberal his practice, that during our entire intercourse not an unkind word
was uttered, and, so far as I know or believe, not an unpleasant feeling existed
in the bosom of either.
Though not gifted with the highest order of eloquence, he was clear, distinct, and persuasive. His style of speaking resembled not the babbling brook
or the dashing cataract, but usually the limpid stream, gliding gracefully amid
fields and fruits and flowers, though sometimes assuming the power and proportions of the majestic river, cutting its sure and certain way to the mighty
ocean. 
19
His professional position, his kindness of heart, and genial humor, made him
an object of high respect and warm regard among his professional brethren.
And now, sir, as memory passes in review the happy hours and pleasant incidents which marked our social and professional intercourse, the smitten heart
shrinks in sadness and sorrow from the contemplation of our bereavement.
He adorned, sir, the bar, the bench, and the halls of legislation. He discharged, in all the relations of life, his obligations with fidelity. Of him it
might be truly said:
His life hath flowed a sacred stream, in whose calm depth
The beautiful and pure alone are mirrored;
Which, though shapes of ill may hover o'er the surface,
Glides in light, and takes no shadows from them.
But, sir, the great crowning virtue and glory of his life was his acceptance
of the mission which brought him here. Though whitened by the frosts of
nearly eighty winters, neither lofty mountains nor intervening space could
restrain his patriotic heart from a prompt response to the call of his country
to mingle his influence in a sincere and sacred effort to save the Constitution
and perpetuate the Union. He accepted the great trust; he mingled in our
deliberations, and has fallen in the discharge of his duty. He has justly earned
a title to the gratitude and respcet of his country. May we not, sir, fondly
hope that he, who was called from the discharge of such duties to the presence
of his God, has passed from the sorrows of earth to the happiness of Heaven,
and to the full fruition of joys pure, perfect, and eternal?
The Hon. THOMAS L. EWING, of Ohio, said:
I rise to bear my tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased. I have
known him long. On my first entrance into active life, the bar, I found him
an able and distinguished member. Since that time down to the present day,
he has been largely associatedi, in mind and person, with all the acts and progress, professional and political, of my life. I feel his loss intensely; and I
feel it with more regret, because I know that on this occasion his voice would
have been potential in our counsels, and would have been united with all of us,
who labor most earnestly for the preservation of the Union.
I tender my sympathies to the family of the deceased. I unite with them
in their regrets, and in their hopes of the happy future to which he may have
attained.
The Hon. WILLIAM C. RIVES, of Virginia, said:
Though wholly unprepared to say anything worthy of the solemnity of this occasion, I feel that I should be wanting, sir, in that sentiment of respect which is
due to the character of a distinguished citizen, if I were not to add to what has
been so eloquently spoken by others a few words of personal recollection in regard to our deceased friend, Judge WRIGUT. It so happened that we entered the
public councils of the country at the same moment, and continued in them for the
same period of time. It is now just thirty-seven years since I had the pleasure
of meeting Judge WRIGHT, for the first time, in the House of RepresentAtives of
the United States. I may be permitted to say, that there were giants in those
days.  My honorable friend from Kentucky, (Governor WICKLIFFE,) who has
already so feelingly addressed the Convention, will reccollect that on the roll
of the House of Representatives at that time stood the names of Webster and
Everett, of Oakley and of Storrs, of Sergeant and of Hemphill, of Lewis McLane, of the immortal Clay, and Barbour, and Randall, and other gentlemen
known to fame, from the State which I have the honor to represent in this body,
and Livingston, of Louisiana, McDuffie and Hamilton, of South Carolina, and
other gentlemen who, on the spur of the occasion, I am not now able to recall,
but whose names will forever shine upon the rolls of their country's glory.
And yet in that body Judge WRIGHT, then in the maturity of his powers, though
not previously known to the nation, vindicated an equal rank in debate with
those gentlemen whose names I have mentioned. Sir, I shall never forget with 
20
what earnestness, with what manliness, with what integrity, with what ability,
he ever uttered his convictions of public duty, whatever they were, in that
consecrated hall.
After remaining there, I think, for six years, he retired to his own State for
the purpose of assuming the duties of a highly important and dignified office,
which was soon followed by his retirement into the bosom of private life, where
he met a rich and ample solace for the storms of his public career.  He  was
followed there by the respect of his fellow-citizens throughout the country,
and the confidence of his own State, as we have recently seen, by his being
called from that honorable retirement to take part in the grave and solemn
duties of this assembly. Sir, he came among us in obedience to the solemn
call of patriotic duty, at a most exigent and distressing period in our national
annals. He came here on an errand of peace, in the spirit of peace and conciliation. Such was the feeling entertained towards him by the whole of this
assembly, that without the slightest preconcert, so far as I know, he was invited
by general consent to preside during the preliminary stages of the organization of this Convention. I had the opportunity, from time to time, of private
conversation with the aged statesman. I found no member of the assembly I
met here-and, indeed, I have found nowhere any citizen of this wide Republic of ours whose heart was more deeply imbued with the spirit of conciliation
and of peace-of that spirit which was so solemnly and impressively uttered
in his last prayer, "May the Union be preserved." Sir, it is not given to
mortal man to choose the manner of his death, but if such were the privilege
accorded to any human being, what more glorious end could he, appreciating
a true fame, covet than that which has been the lot of our departed friend!
Sir, I speak what I feel, and I dare say I express a sentiment which has impressed itself upon many other bosoms in this assembly, when I say that his
sudden death in the midst of our deliberations, seems to me to exalt-in some
degree, to canonize-our labors. This manifestation of the visible hand of God
among us brings us in the immediate presence of those solemn responsibilities
which attach themselves to the discharge of our duties here. I doubt not that
every member of this assembly is already deeply impressed with the solemnity
of those duties, and I feel convinced that there are few, if any, in this assembly,
who would not lay down their fleeting and feverish existence, and follow our
deceased brother to his final account, if by doing so they could restore peace
and harmony to this glorious Republic -f ours.
It does not become me to make any professions of devotion to my countryto my whole country!  But this I will say, in the spirit of the last prayer of
my friend, that I should regard my poor life, such as it is, a cheap purchasethe cheapest imaginable purchase-for that great boon to our country, the
restoration of its peace, of its harmony, of its unity, of its ancient confederated
strength and glory.
The question was taken, and the resolutions were unanimously
adopted.
The body of Mr. WRIGHT was then brought into the hall, preceded by the Rev. Dr. Hall, who read the impressive funeral
service of the Episcopal Church. A number of the members of
the family, and of the friends of the deceased, were present during the services. The funeral cortege proceeded from the hall
to the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.*
* FUNERAL SERVICES OF HON. JOHN C. WRIGHT.
CINCINNATI, February 17,1861.
The funeral of the late Judge WRIGHT was very largely attended yesterday afternoon, from his
residence on west Sixth street. The funeral service of the Episcopal Church was read by Rev. Dr. 
21
The following gentlemen acted as pall-bearers on the occasion:
MR. EWING,                  MR. CHASE,
MIR. HITCHCOCK,             MR. LOOMIS,
MR. BACKUS,                 MR. GROESBECK,
MR. WOLCOTT,                MR.STANTON,
MR. SHERMAN,                MR. HARLAN,
MR. VINTON,                 MR. GURLEY.
By resolution of the Committee, the proceedings were reported
in full, and ordered to be printed.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 15, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Renner.
The journals of the 13th and the special session of the 14th
were read and approved.
Greenleaf, Rector of St. Paul's, of which the deceased was a member. The remains were inclosed
in a double mahogany coffin, on the lid of which was a silver plate with the inscription:
"JO H N C. WRIGHT,
BORN Aug. 10, 1784.
DIED Feb. 13, 1861."
In consequence of the large attendance the coffin was placed on the pavement in front of the
residence, and the members of the bar, railroad men, and citizens, formed in procession, passed
by and took a last look at the face with which they had been so long familiar. The coffin, covered
with a black velvet pall, was placed in a hearse and conveyed to the depot of the Cincinnati,
Hamilton. and Dayton Railroad, followed by carriages with relations and friends. The pallbearers were:
NICHOLAS LONGWORTH, Esq.,                             JUDGE ESTE,
JUDGE LEVI I'T,                                        JUDGE STORER,
CHARLES STETSON, Esq.,                                 CHARLES FOX, Esq.,
ADAM RIDDLE, Esq.,                                     E. S. HAINES, Esq.,
V. WORTHINGTON, Esq.,                                 GEORGE CARLISLE, Esq.,
JOHIN P. FOOTE, Esq.
Arrived at the depot, the remains were placed in the front car of a special train of nine cars, in
charge of Mr. Potter, conductor.  The train moved to the sacred resting place of the dead. slowly,
as became the solemnity of the occasion. Another hearse and carriages had been provided at the
grounds, and the procession wound its way through the avenues towards the vault, where the services were concluded, snd with the words, "earth to earth, d,,st to dust," were committed to the
tomb all that was earthly of him who was so honored in life ahd lamented in death.
FURTHER OF THE ILLNESS AND DEATH OF JUDGE WRIGHT.
Dr. Miller, of Washington, the physician in attendance upon Hon. JOHN C. WRIGHT during his
last illness in that place. states that Mr. WRIGHT had been laboring under chronic broli-hitis for
many years; that he had taken cold, which terminated in effusion in the lungs, and that he was
unable to throw off the fluid which accumulated on account of paralysis of the lungs. The result
was suffocation.
Judge WRIGHnT was entirely conscious to within a few hours of his death. At ten o'cloclk
Wednesday morning last, he received a letter from his wife, and, it having been read to him, he
struggled to sit up to reply to it, but found himself unable to do so. At eleven o'clock, seeming
revived, he called upon his son to bring and read to him the Federal Constitution, and repeated
that part pertaining to the counting of the votes for President and Vice President, in the performance of the duty under which he supposed the two houses of Congress to be then engaged. At
twelve o'clock he urged his son, with other friends, to leave him for the Convention, and at the
same time exacted a promise from his son, that if he should be compelled to attend his body home,
he would at once return and resume his duties as Secretary of the Conventioa.-Cincinnati
Gazette. 
22
The President laid before the Convention a communication
from Horatio Stone, extending an invitation to members of the
Convention to visit his studio; which was read, and laid on the
table.
The President presented to the Convention a resolution of the
House of Representatives, tendering admission to the floor of
the House to members of the Convention; in accordance with
which cards of admission had been sent.
The President also presented a letter from J. E. Sands, proffering to the Convention some flags with historical reminiscences,
to be placed in this hall during its session; which was read, and
laid on the table.
Also a communication from Horatio G. Warner; which was
received, and laid on the table.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the Committee on Credentials, presented
a telegraph despatch from the Governor of Ohio, appointing C.
P. WOLCOTT a commissioner in the place of JOHN C. WRIGIIXT,
deceased.
Mr. WOLCOTT'S name was entered on the list of members.
Mr. ORTEI, of Indiana, offered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That rules sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) of this Convention be
and the same are hereby rescinded.
Resolved, That the President is hereby authorized to grant cards of admission to reporters of the press not exceeding    - in number, which shall entitle
them to seats on the floor of the Convention, for the purpose of reporting its
proceedings.
Resolved, That no person be admitted to the floor of this Convention, except
the members, officers, or reporters.
After discussion by Messrs. WICKLIFFE and ORTH, on motion
of Mr. RANDOLPH, the resolutions were laid on the table.
Mr. GUTHRIE, from the Committee of one from each State,
made a report, and submitted the following proposed amendments of the Constitution:
ARTICLE 1.  In all the territory of the United States, not embraced within the
limits of the Cherokee treaty grant, north of a line from east to west on the
parallel of 36 degrees 3O minutes north latitude, involuntary servitude, except
in punishment of crime, is prohibited whilst it shall be under a Territorial
government; and in all the territory south of said line, the status of persons
owing service or labor as it now exists shall not be changed by law while such
territory shall be under a Territorial government; and neither Congress nor
the Territorial government shall have power to hinder or prevent the taking to
said territory of persons held to labor or involuntary service, within the
United States, according to the laws or usages of the State from which such
persons may be taken, nor to impair the rights arising out of said relations,
which shall be subject to judicial cognizance in the federal courts, according to
the common law; and when any territory north or south of said line, within
such boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a population required
for a member of Congress, according to the then federal ratio of representation, it shall, if its form of government be republican. be admitted into the 
Union on an equal footing with the original States, with or without involuntary
service or labor, as the constitution of such new State may provide.
ARTICLE 2. Territory shall not be acquired by the United States, unless by
treaty; nor, except for naval and commercial stations and depots, unless such
treaty shall be ratified by four-fifths of all members of the Senate.
ARTICLE 3. Neither the Constitution, nor any amendment thereof, shall be
construed to give Congress power to regulate, abolish, or control, within any
State or territory of the United States, the relation established or recognized by
the laws thereof touching persons bound to labor or involuntary service therein,
nor to interfere with or abolish involuntary service in the District of Columbia
without the consent of Maryland and without the consent of the owners, or
making the owners who do not consent just compensation; nor the power to
interfere with or prohibit representatives and others from bringing with them
to the city of Washington, retaining, and taking away, persons so bound to
labor; nor the power to interfere with or abolish involuntary service in places
under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States within those States and
Territories where the same is established or recognized; nor the power to prohibit the removal or transportation, by land, sea, or river, of persons held to
labor or involuntary service in any State or Territory of the United States to
any other State or Territory thereof where it is established or recognized by
law or usage; and the right during transportation of touching at ports, shores,
and landings, and of landing in case of distress, shall exist. Nor shall Congress have power to authorize any higher rate of taxation on persons bound to
labor than on land.
ARTICLE 4.  The third paragraph of the second section of the fourth article
of the Constitution shall not be construed to prevent any of the States, by
appropriate legislation, and through the action of their judicial and ministerial
officers, from enforcing the delivery of fugitives from labor to the person to
whom such service or labor is due.
ARTICLE 5. The foreign slave trade and the importation of slaves into the
United States and their Territories, from places beyond the present limits
thereof, are forever prohibited.
ARTICLE 6. The first, second, third, and fifth articles, together with this arti cle, of these amendments, and the third paragraph of the second section of the
first article of the Constitution, and the third paragraph of the second sec tion of the fourth article thereof, shall not be amended or abolished without the
consent of all the States.
ARTICLE 7. Congress shall provide by law that the United States shall pay
to the owner the full value of his fugitive from labor, in all cases where the
marshal or other officer, whose duty it was to arrest such fugitive, was pre vented from so doing by violence or intimidation, or when, after arrest, such
fugitive was rescued by force, and the owner thereby prevented and obstructed
in the pursuit of his remedy for the recovery of such fugitive.
Mr. BALDWIN, from the same committee, submitted the following report:
The undersigned, comprising a part of the minority of the committee of one
from each State, to whom was referred the consideration of the resolutions of
the State of Virginia and the other States represented, and all propositions for
the adjustment of existing differences between the States, with authority to
report what they deem right, necessary, and proper to restore harmony and
preserve the Union, and report thereon, entered upon the duties of the committee with an anxious desire that they might be able to unite in the recommenda.
tion of some plan which, on due deliberation, should seem best adapted to maintain the dignity and authority of the Government of the United States, and, at
the same time, secure to the people of every section that perfect equality of
right to which they are entitled.
23 
Convened, as we are, on the invitation of the Governor of Virginia, in pursuance of the resolutions of the General Assembly of that State, with an accompanying expression of the deliberate opinion of that body that, unless the unhappy controversy which now divides the States shall be satisfactorily adjusted,
a permanent dissolution of the Union is inevitable; and, being earnestly desirous of an adjustment thereof, in concurrence with Virginia, in the spirit in
which the Constitution was originally formed, and consistently with its principles, so as to afford to the people of alt the States adequate security for all their
rights, the attention of the undersigned was necessarily led to the consideration of the extent and equality of our powers, and to the propriety and expediency, under existing circumstances, of a recommendation by this Conference
Convention of any specific action by Congress, whether of ordinary legislation,
or in reference to constitutional amendments to be proposed by Congress on its
own responsibility to the States.
A portion of the members of this Convention are delegated by the legislatures
of their respective States, and are required to act under their supervision and
control, while others are the representatives only of the Executives of their
States, and, having no opportunity of consulting the immediate representatives
of the people, can only act on their individual responsibility.
Among the resolutions and propositions suggesting modes of adjustment appropriate to this occasion which were brought to the notice of the committee,
were the resolutions of the State of Kentucky recommending to her sister States
to unite with her in an application to Congress for the calling of a convention
in the mode prescribed by the Constitution for proposing amendments thereto.
The undersigned, for the reasons set forth in the accompanying resolution,
and others which have been herein lnd;cated, is of opinion that the mode of
adjustment by a general convention, as proposed by Kentucky, is the one which
affords the best assurance of an adjustment acceptable to the people of every
section, as it will afford to all the States who may desire amendments an opportunity of preparing them with care and deliberation, and in such form as they
may deem it expedient to prescribe, to be submitted to the consideration and
deliberate action of delegates duly chosen and invested with equal powers from
all the States.
The undersigned did not, therefore, deem it expedient that any of the measures of adjustment proposed by the majority of the committee should be reported
to this body to be discussed or acted upon by them, and he respectfully submits
as a substitute for the articles of amendment to the Constitution, reported by the
majority of the committee, the following preamble and resolution, and respectfu          l     l     y      recommends the adoption thereo f.  
ROGER S. BALDWIN.
WHEREAS, unhappy differences exist which have alienated from each other
portions of the people of the United States to such an extent as seriously to disturb the peace of the nation, and impair the regular and efficient action of the
Government within the sphere of its constitutional powers and duties:
And whereas, the Legislature of the State of Kentucky has made application
to Congress to call a conventiou for proposing amendments to the Constitution
of the United States:
And whereas, it is believed to be the opinion of the people of other States
that amendments to the Constitution are or may become necessary to secure to
the people of the United States, of every section, the full and equal enjoyment
of their rights and liberties, so far as the same may depend for their security
and protection on the powers granted to or withheld from the General Government, in pursuance of the national purposes for which it was ordained and
established:
And whereas, it may be expedient that such amendments as any of the States
may desire to have proposed, should be presented to the convention in such
form as the respective States desiring the same may deem proper:
This convention does, therefore, recommend to the several States to unite with
24 
25
Kentucky in her application to Congress to call a convention for proposing
amendments to the Constitution of the United States, to be submitted to the
Legislatures of the several States, or to conventions therein, for ratification,
as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress, in
accordance with the provision in the fifth article of the Constitution.
Mr. FIELD, of New York, and Mr. CROWNINSHIELD, of Massachusetts, of the same committee, stated that they had not concurred in the majority report.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, from the same committee, submitted
the following report:
The undersigned, acting on the recommendation of the commissioners from
the State of Virginia, as a member of the committee appointed by this Convention to consider and recommend propositions of adjustment, has not been so
happy as to accord with the report submitted by the majority; and as he more
widely dissents from the opinions entertained by the other dissenting members,
he feels constrained, in vindication of his position and opinions, to present on
his part this brief report, recommending, as a subsitute for the report of the
majority, a proposition subjoined.   To this course he feels the more impelled,
by deference to the resolutions of the General Assembly of his State, inviting
the assemblage of this Convention, and suggesting a basis of adjustment.
These resolutions declare, that "in the opinion of the General Assembly of
Virginia, the propositions embraced in the resolutions presented to the Senate
of the United States by the Hon. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, so modified as that the
first article proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
shall apply to all the territory of the United States now held or hereafter acquired south of latitude 36~ 30', and provided that slavery of the African race
shall be effectually protected as property therein during the continuance of the
Territorial government, and the fourth article shall secure to the owners of
slaves the right of transit with their slaves between and through the non-slaveholding States or Territories, constitute the basis of such an adjustment of
the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this Confederacy, as
would be accepted by the people of this Commonwealth."
From this resolution, it is clear that the General Assembly, in its declared
opinion of what would be acceptable to the people of Virginia, not only required
the Crittenden propositions as a basis, but also held the modifications suggested
in addition essential. In this the undersigned fully concurs. But, in his opinion, the prepositions reported by the majority do not give, but materially
weaken, the Crittenden propositions themselves, and fail to accord the modifications suggested. The undersigned, therefore, feels it his duty to submit and
recommend, as a substitute, the resolutions referred to, as proposed by the
Hon. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, with the incorporation of the modifications suggested
by Virginia explicitly expressed, and with some alterations on points which, he
is assured, would make them more acceptable to that State, and, as he hopes,
to the whole Union. The propositions submitted are appended, marked No. 1.
The undersigned, while contenting himself, in the spirit of the action taken
by the General Assembly of his State, with the proposal of that substitute for
the majority report, would be untrue to his own convictions, shared, as he believes, by the majority of the commissioners from Virginia, and to his sense of
duty, if he did not emphatically declare, as his settled and deliberate judgment,
that for permanent safety in this Union to the slaveholding States, and the
restoration of integrity to the Union, and harmony and peace to the country, a
guarantee of actual power in the Constitution and in the working of the Government to the slaveholding and minority section is indispensable. How such guarantee might be most wisely contrived and judiciously adjusted to the frame of
the Government, the undersigned forbears now to inquire. He is not exclusively 
26
addicted to any special plan, but believing that such guarantee might be adequately afforded by a partition of power in the Senate between the two sections,
and by a recognition that ours is a Union of freedom and consent, not constraint
and force, he respectfully submits, for consideration by members of the Convention, the plan hereto appended, marked No. 2.
Whether he shall feel bound to invoke the action of the Convention upon it,
may depend on the future manifestations of sentiment in this body.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Com'r forn Va.
February 15th, 1861.
No. 1.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS proposing certain Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Whereas serious and alarming dissensions have arisen between the northern
and southern States, concerning the rights and security of the rights of the
slaveholding States, and especially their rights in the common territory of the
United States; and whereas, it is eminently desirable and proper that those
dissensions, which now threaten the very existence of this Uuion, should be
permanently quieted and settled by constitutional provisions, which shall do
equal justice to all sections, and thereby restore to the people that peace and
good will which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the United States:
Therefore,
Resolved by this Convention that the following articles are hereby approved
and submitted to the Congress of the United States, with the request that they
may, by the requisite constitutional majority of two-thirds, be recommended
to the respective States of the Union, to be, when ratified by conventions of
three-fourths of the States, valid and operative as amendments of the Constitution of the Union.
ARTICLE 1. In all the territory of the United States now held or hereafter acquired, situate north of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, slavery
or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, is prohibited, while
such territory shall remain under territorial government. In all the territory
south of said line of latitude slavery of the African race is hereby recognized as
existing, and shall not be interfered with by Congress; but shall be protected
as property by all the departments of the territorial government during its continuance; and when any territory, north or 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 ratio of representation
of the people of the United States. it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States,
with or without slavery, as the constitution of such new State may provide.
ARTICLE 2. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in places under
its exclusive jurisdiction, and situate within the limits of States that permit
the holding of slaves.
ARTICLE 3. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery within the District of Columbia, so long as it exists in the adjoining States of Virginia and
Maryland, or either, nor without the consent of the free white inhabitants, nor
without just compensation first made to such owners of slaves as do not consent to such abolishment.  Nor shall Congress at any time prohibit officers of
the Federal Government or members of Congress, whose duties require them
to be in said District, from bringing with them their slaves and holding them,
as such, during the time their duties may require them to remain there, and
afterwards taking them from the District.
ARTICLE 4. Congress shall have no power to prohibit or hinder the trans 
27
portation of slaves from one State to another, or to a Territory in which slaves
are by law permitted to be held, whether that transportation be by land, navigable rivers, or by the sea. And if such transportation be by sea, the slaves
shall be protected as property by the Federal Government. And the right of
transit by the owners with their slaves in passing to or from one slaveholding
State or Territory to another, between and through the non-slaveholding States
and Territories, shall be protected. And in imposing direct taxes pursuant to
the Constitution, Congress shall have no power to impose on slaves a higher
rate of tax than on land, according to their just value.
ARTICLE 5. That, in addition to the provisions of the third paragraph of the
second section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States,
Congress shall provide by law, that the United States shall pay to the owner
who shall apply for it, the full value of his fugitive slave, in all cases, when
the marshal, or other officer, whose duty it was to arrest said fugitive, was prevented from so doing by violence or intimidation, or when, after arrest, said
fugitive was rescued by force, and the owner thereby prevented and obstructed
in the pursuit of his remedy for the recovery of his fugitive slave, under the
said clause of the Constitution and the laws made in pursuance thereof. And
in all such cases, when the United States shall pay for such fugitive, they shall
reimburse themselves by imposing and collecting a tax on the county or city in
which said violence, intimidation, or rescue was committed, equal in amount to
the sum paid by them, with the addition of interest and the costs of collection;
and the said county or city, after it has paid said amount to the United States,
may, for its indemnity, sue and recover from the wrong-doers, or rescuers, by
whom the owner was prevented from the recovery of his fugitive slave, in like
manner as the owner himself might have sued and recovered.
ARTICLE 6. No future amendment of the Constitution shall affect the five
preceding articles, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the first
article of the Constitution, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the
fourth article of said Constitution, and no amendment shall be made to the
Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress any power to abolish or
interfere with slavery in any of the States by whose laws it is or may be allowed
or permitted.
ARTICLE 7. SEC. 1. The elective franchise and the right to hold office,
whether federal, State, territorial, or municipal, shall not be exercised by persons who are, in whole or in part, of the African race.
And whereas, also, besides those causes of dissension embraced in the foregoing amendments proposed to the Constitution of the United States, there are
others which come within the jurisdiction of Congress, and may be remedied
by its legislative power: and whereas it is the desire of this Convention, as far
as its influence may extend, to remove all just cause for the popular discontent
and agitation which now disturb the peace of the country, and threaten the
stability of its institutions: Therefore,
1. Resolved, That the laws now ia force for the recovery of fugitive slaves
are in strict pursuance of the plain and mandatory provisions of the Constitution, and have been sanctioned as valid and constitutional by the judgment of
the Supreme Court of the United States; that the slaveholding States are entitled to the faithful observance and execution of those laws, and that they
ought not to be repealed or so modified or changed as to impair their efficiency;
and that laws ought to be made for the punishment of those who attempt, by
rescue of the slave or other illegal means, to hinder or defeat the due execution
of said laws.
2. That all State laws which conflict with the fugitive slave acts, or any other
constitutional acts of Congress, or which in their operation impede, hinder, or
delay the free course and due execution of any of said acts, are null and void
by the plain provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Yet those
State laws, void as they are, have given color to practices, and led to consequences which have obstructed the due administration and execution of acts of 
28
Congress, and especially the acts for the delivery of fugitive slaves, and have
t hereby contributed much to the discord and commotion now prevailing. This
Convention, therefore, in the present perilous juncture, does not deem it improper, resnectfully and earnestly, to recommend the repeal of those laws to
the several States which have enacted them, or such legislative corrections or
explanations of them as may prevent their being used or preverted to such
mischievous purposes.
3. That the act of the eighteenth of September, eighteen hundred and fifty,
commonly called the tugitive-slave law, ought to be so amended as to make
the fee of the commissioner, mentioned in the eighth section of the act, equal
in amount, in the cases decided by him, whether his decision be in favor of or
against the claimant. And to avoid misconstruction, the last clause of the fifth
section of said act, which authorizes the person holding a warrant for the arrest
or detention of a fugitive slave to summon to his aid the posse comitatus, and
which declares it to be the duty of all good citizens to assist him in its execution, ought to be so amended as to expressly limit the authority and duty to
cases in which there shall be resistance, or danger of resistance or rescue.
4. That the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade, and especially those prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, ought
to be made effectual, and ought to be thoroughly executed, and all further
enactments necessary to those ends ought to be promptly made.
No. 2.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY MR. SEDDON.
To secure concert and promote harmony between the slaveholding and nonslaveholding sections of the Union, the assent of the majority of the Senators
from the slaveholding States, and of the majority of the Senators from the nonslaveholding States, shall be requisite to the validity of all action of the Senate,
on which the ayes and noes may be called by five Senators.
And on a written declaration, signed and presented for record on the Journal
of the Senate by a majority of the Senators from either the non-slaveholding
or slaveholding States, of their want of confidence in any officer or appointee
of the Executive, exercising functions exclusively or continuously within the
class of States, or any of them, which the signers represent, then such officer
shall be removed by the Executive; and if not removed at the expiration of
ten days from the presentation of such declaration, the office shall be deemed
vacant, and open to new appointment.
The connection of every State with the Union is recognized as depending on
the continuing assent of its people, and compulsion shall in no case, nor under
any form, be attempted by the Government of the Union against a State acting
in its collective or organic capacity. Any State, by the action of a convention
of its people, assembled pursuant to a law of its legislature, is held entitled to
dissolve its relation to the Federal Government, and withdraw from the Union;
and, on due notice given of such withdrawal to the Executive of the Union, he
shall appoint two commissioners, to meet two commissioners to be appointed by
the Governor of the State, who, with the aid, if needed from the disagreement
of the commissioners, of an umpire, to be selected by a majority of them, shall
equitably adjudicate and determine finally a partition of the rights and obligations of the withdrawing State; and such adjudication and partition being
accomplished, the withdrawal of such State shall be recognized by the Executive, and announced by public proclamation to the world.
But such withdrawing State shall not afterwards be re-admitted into the
Union without the assent of two-thirds of the States constituting the Union at
the time of the proposed re-admission. 
29
Mr. COALTER, of Missouri, stated the basis of the action of
that State.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, moved the printing of the
reports, and that they be made the order of the day for to-morrow, at 12 o'clock; which, after discussion, was adopted.
Mr. CHASE, of Ohio, moved the printing of all resolutions of
the several States in relation to the subjects before this Convention; which was ordered.
Mr. WICKLIFFE offered the following preamble and resolutions:
The second section of the 4th article of the Constitution of the United States
declares, " that no person held to service or labor in one State, under the
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered
up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due."
This clause is one of the compromises without which no Constitution would
have been adopted. It was a guarantee to the States, in which such labor and
service existed by law, that their rights should be respected and regarded by
all the States; and it is not within the competency of any State to disregard
the obligation it imposes, or to render it valueless by legislative enactments.
And whereas, the House of Representatives of the United States did, on the
of February, by unanimous vote, declare that neither the Congress of the United
States nor the people or government of any non-slaveholding State has the constitutional right to legislate upon, or to interfere with slavery in any slaveholding State in the Union.
This declaration is regarded by this Convention as an admission that the
statutes of those States, passed for the purpose of defeating the provision of
the Constitution aforesaid, and the laws of Congress made to enforce the just
and proper execution of this constitutional guarantee, are in violation of the
supreme law of the land.
The provisions of the statutes in many of the non-slaveholding States, commonly known and called " personal liberty bills," amount in their consequences
to a practical nullification of the acts of Congress of February 12th, 1793, and
September 18th, 1850, and are in violation of the 2d section of the 4th article
of the Constitution, as before stated. That the spirit of those statutes appears
to be repugnant to the principles of compromise and mutual and liberal concessions which dictated the section of the Constitution in question, and which
pervades every part of that instrument.   It is, therefore, respectfully requested by this Convention that the several States abrogate all such obnoxious
enactments.
That the spirit of comity between the States, and the spirit of unity and
fraternity which should actuate all the people of these United States, require
that complete right and security of transit with all persons who owe the]& service
or labor should be allowed to the citizens of each State by the laws of every
other State.
Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing be sent by the President of this Convention to the Governors of each of the free States, as the deliberate judgment
and opinion of this Convention, and that he request the same be laid before
their respective Legislatures.
The Convention then adjourned until 12 o'clock, to-morrow. 
30
WASHINGTON CITY, February 16, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Sunderland.
The journal of the preceding day was read and approved.
The President laid before the Convention a communication
from W. C. Jewett, which was received and laid on the table.
Mr. WICKLIFFE offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That in the discussions which may take place in this Convention
upon any questions, no member shall be allowed to speak longer than thirty
minutes.
Which, after debate thereon, was postponed by the mover
until Tuesday.
Mr. CRISFIELD moved the hour of meeting of the Convention
be at ten o'clock, which was amended to eleven o'clock, a. m.,
and adopted.
Mr. CHASE moved to amend the first rule by inserting after the
word " represented," the following: "The yeas and nays of the
delegates from each State, on any question, shall be entered on
the Journal when it is desired by any delegate." Which was
not agreed to.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on Organization, offered
the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the 11th Rule of this Convention be so amended as to allow
an appeal from the decision of the President, which appeal shall be decided
without debate.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, gave notice that he should move
to insert the word present, before the word Territories, in the
first line of the first section of the majority report, so as to conform to the intention of the majority of the committee.
On motion adjourned.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 18, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.   President
TYLER in the chair.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr.
Gurley.
The journal of Saturday was read and approved.
Mr. CHITTENDEN, of Vermont, offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the rules of this Convention be so far modified as to require
the secretary to employ a competent stenographer, who shall write down
I% 
31
and preserve accurate notes of the debates and other proceedings of this body,
which notes shall not be communicated to any person, nor shall copies thereof
be taken, nor shall the same be made public until after the final adjournment of
this Convention, except in pursuance of a vote authorizing their publication. 
Mr. POLLOCK, of Pennsylvania, moved to lay the resolution upon
,he table.
A vote by States was taken.
AYEs-Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri, Virginia, and Pennsylvania-11.
NoEs-Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois
Iowa, and New York-8.
Ohio, being divided, did not vote.
The motion to lay upon the table was thereupon declared carried.
Mr. TucK, of New Hampshire, presented the following address
and resolutions; which were read, and on motion ordered to be
laid on the table and printed:
To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:
This Convention of Conference, composed in part of commissioners appointed
in accordance with the legislative action of sundry States, and in part of commissioners appointed by the Governors of sundry other States, in compliance
with an invitation by the General Assembly of Virginia, met in Washington
on the 4th February, 1861. Although constituting a body unknown to the
Constitution and laws, yet being delegated for the purpose, and having carefully
considered the existing dangers and dissensions, and having brought their proceedings to a close, publish this address, and the accompanying resolutions, as
the result of their deliberations.
We recognize and deplore the divisions and distractions which now afflict our
country, interrupt its prosperity, disturb its peace, and endanger the Union of
the States; but we repel the conclusion, that any alienations or dissensions
exist which are irreconcilable, which justify attempts at revolution, or which
the patriotism and fraternal sentiments of the people, and the interests and
honor of the whole nation, will not overcome.
In a country embracing the central and most important portion of a continent, among a people now numbering over thirty millions, diversities of opinion
inevitably exist; and rivalries, intensified at times by local interests and sectional attachments, must often occur; yet we do not doubt that the theory of
our government is the best which is possible for this nation, that the Union of
the States is of vital importance, and that the Constitution, which expresses
the combined wisdom of the illustrious founders of the government, in'still the
palladium of our liberties, adequate to every emergency, and justly entitled to
the support of every good citizen.
It embraces, in its provisions and spirit, all the defence and protection which
any section of the country can rightfully demand, or honorably concede.
Adopted with primary reference to the wants of five millions of people, but
with the wisest reference to future expansion and development, it has carried
us onward with a rapid increase of numbers, an accumulation of wealth, and a
degree of happiness and general prosperity never attained by any nation.
Whatever branch of industry, or whatever staple production, shall become,
in the possible changes of the future, the leading interest of the country, thereby creating unforeseen complications or new conflicts of opinion and interest, 
the Constitution of the United States, properly understood and fairly enforced,
is equal to every exigency, a shield and defence to all, in every time of need.
If, however, by reason of a change in circumstance, or for any cause, a portion
of the people believe they ought to have their rights more exactly defined or
more fully explained in the Constitution, it is their duty, in accordance with
its provisions, to seek a remedy by way of amendment to that instrument; and
it is the duty of all the States to concur in such amendments as may be found
necessary to insure equal and exact justice to all.
In order, therefore, to announce to the country the sentiments of this Convention, respecting not only the remedy which should be sought for existing
discontents, but also to communicate to the public what we believe to be the
patriotic sentiment of the country, we adopt the following resolutions:
1st.  Resolved, That this Convention recognize the well understood proposition that the Constitution of the United States gives no power to Congress, or
any branch of the Federal Government to interfere in any manner with slavery
in any of the States; and we are assured by abundant testimony, that neither
of the great political organizations existing in the country contemplates a violation of the spirit of the Constitution in this regard, or the procuring of any
amendment thereof, by which Congresg, or any department of the General Government, shall ever have jurisdiction over slavery in any of the States.
2d. Resolved, That the Constitution was ordained and established, as set
forth in the preamble, by the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for
the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to themselves and their posterity; and when the people of any State
are not in full enjoyment of all the benefits intended to be secured to them by
the Constitution, or their rights under it are disregarded, their tranquillity disturbed, their prosperity retarded, or their liberty imperiled by the people of
any other State, full and adequate redress can and ought to be provided for
such grievances.
3d. Resolved, That this Convention recommend to the Legislatures of the
several States of the Union to follow the example of the Legislatures of the
States of Kentucky and of Illinois, in applying to Congress to call a Convention
for the proposing of amendments to the Constitution of the United States, pursuant to the fifth article thereof.
Mr. GUTHRIE offered the following resolution, which was
adopted:
Resolved, That if the President shall choose to speak on any question, he
may for the occasion call any member to preside.
Mr. MEREDITHII gave notice of his intent to offer a proposition,
as follows; which was read, laid upon the table, and ordered to
be printed:
ARTICLE -. That Congress shall divide all the territory of the United States
into convenient portions, each containing not less than sixty thousand square
miles, and shall establish in each a Territorial Government; the several Territorial Legislatures, whether heretofore constituted or hereafter to be constituted, shall have all the legislative powers now vested in the respective States
of this Union; and whenever any Territory having a population sufficient,
according to the ratio existing at th. time, to entitle it to one member of Congress, shall form a republican constituion, and apply to Congress for admission
as a State, Congress shall admit the same as a State accordingly.
Mr. WICKLIFFE moved that the journal of the Convention up
to the present day be printed.
32 
33
Mr. GOODRICH moved to amend, by inserting "-that it be
printed from day to day;" which amendment was adopted, and
the resolution as amended passed.
The order of the day having been called,
Mr. JOHNSON moved the adoption of the amendment submitted
by him on the 16th.
Mir. REID, of North Carolina, moved to add to the proposed
amendment of Mr. Johnson the words " and future;" whereupon
a vote was taken by States, with the following result:
AYES-New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri, and Virginia-8.
NoEs-Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Iowa-12.
So the amendment was lost.
A debate ensued on the amendment of Mr. Johnson, which
was adopted; the first section of the majority report as amended
reading as follows:
SEc. 1. In all the present territory of the United States, not embraced within
the limits of the Cherokee treaty grant, north of a line from east to west, on the
parallel of 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, involuntary servitude, except
in punishment of crime, is prohibited whilst it shall be under a territorial government; and in all the present territory south of said line, &c.
The Convention, on motion, adjourned at 4 p. m.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 19, 1861.
Convention met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment.  President TYLER in the chair.
Proceedings opened by prayer.
The journal of proceedings was read, amended, and approved.
Mr. SUMIMERS, from the Committee on Credentials, reported
that the committee had received the credentials of the Ilon.
Francis Granger, as a commissioner,of the State of New York,
in the place of Addison Gardiner; and the list of members was
altered accordingly.
Mr. WICKLIFFE called up the following resolution, heretofore
offered by him, and laid upon the table:
Resolved, That in the discussions which may take place in this Convention
upon any questions, no member shall be allowed to speak longer than thirty
minutes.
Mr. DAVIS, of North Carolina, moved to amend, by striking
out thirty minutes, and inserting ten minutes.
3 
34
MIr. CARUTHERS moved further to amend  by  adding the following:
"And that all debates shall cease at 3 o'clock to-day, and the vote taken on
such amendments as may be offered, and then on the report."
It was moved to lay "the whole subject upon  the table."  A
division was called for, the result of which was as follows:
Ayes 49,
Nays 54.
So the motion to lay on the table was not agreed to.
Mr. RANDOLPH, of New Jersey, offered the following,  as a
substitute for the resolution and amendments:
Resolved, That this Convention will hold two sessions daily, viz.: from 10
o'clock a. m. to 4 o'clock p. m.; and fromn 8 to 10 o'clock p. m.; and that
no motion to adjourn prior to said hours of 4 and 10 p. m., shall be in order,
if objection be made; and that on Thursday next, at 12 o'clock, noon, all debate shall cease, and the Convention proceed to vote upon the questions or
propositions before them in their order.
After debate, the whole subject was, on motion of Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina, laid upon the table until 10 o'clock
a. m. to-morrow.
Mr. RUFFIN, of North Carolina, gave notice of his intention
to offer certain amendments to the majority report of the committee.
A motion was made that when this Convention adjourns it
adjourn to meet at ten o'clock a. m. An amendment was offered
to insert half-past ten. A further amendment was proposed to
adjourn to half-past seven this p. m. The resolution and ame(lndments were subsequently withdrawn; whereupon the motion to
adjourn to ten o'clock a. m. was renewed, pending a vote upon
which a motion was made to adjourn, and declared carried.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 20, 1861.
Convention met at ten o'clock.
President TYLER in the chair.
After prayer by the Rev. Dr. Samson, the journal of yesterday was read and approved.
Mr. HARRIS, of Vermont, offered the following preamble and
resolutions; which were read, ordered to be printed, and laid on
the table:
Whereas, the Federal Constitution and the laws made in pursuance thereof,
are the supreme law of the land, and should command the willing obedience of
all good citizens; and, whereas, it is alleged that sundry States have enacted
laws repugnant thereto; therefore, 
35
Resolved, That this Convention respectfully requests the several States to
revise their respective enactments, and to modify or repeal any laws which may
be found to be in co:.ifliCt with the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Resolved, That the President of this Convention is requested to send a copy
of the foregoing preamble and resolution to the Governor of each of the States,
with the request that the same be communicated to the Legislature thereof.
Mr. RANDOLPH called up the resolutions yesterday laid upon
the table, and the question was taken on striking out the latter
clause of Mr. Randolph's  substitute for Mr. Wickliffe's resolution, and the amendments offered thereto. A vote by States was
ordered and taken with the following result:
AYEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland,
New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont-12.
NoEs —Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode
Island, Tennessee, and Virginia-8.
So the clause was stricken out.
Mr. CLAY moved to lay the original and amendments upon the
table. A vote by States being called for by Mr. Chase, resulted
as follows:
AYEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia-10.
NoEs-Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee-9.
The resolution and amendments were laid on the table.
Mr. WICKLIFFE gave notice of his intention to move on Thursday, to close the debate on the report of the Committee on
Propositions and Resolutions from and after the 21st, in order
to take a vote on the 22d, the birthday of Washington.
The Convention proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Propositions and Resolutions.
Mr. SMITH, of New York, having the floor, gave way  to a
motion to adjourn.
Adjourned to 10 o'clock, February 21.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 21, 1861.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The Convention was opened by prayer from the Rev. Mr.
Stockton.
The journal was read and approved.
Mr. CHASE, of Chio, presented the following resolutions, which
were read, ordered to be printed, and laid upon the table.
Resolved, That it is inexpedient to proceed to final action on the grave and
important matters involved in the resolutions of the State of Virginia, in corn 
36
pliance with which this Convention has assembled, and in the several reports
of the majority and minorities of the committee to which said resolutions were
referred, until opportunity has been given to all the States to participate in deliberation and action upon them, and ample time has been allowed for such deliberation and action.
Resolved, therefore, That this Convention adjourn to meet in the city of Washington on the 4th day of April next; and that the President be requested to
address a letter to the Governors of the several States not now represented in
this body, urging the appointment and attendance of commissioners.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, pursuant to his motion of yesterday, offered
and asked the adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, 1st, That at one o'clock, the 22d February, 1861, all debate upon
the report of the committee of one from each State shall cease, and the Convention will proceed to vote, and continue to vote until the whole subject shall have
been disposed of.
2d. If an amendment be offered by the Commissioners of any State, or minority of such commissioners, five minutes is allowed for explanation, and the like
time is allowed to the committee to resist the amendment, if they desire to do
so, and the mover of the amendment, or any member of the same State, may
have five minutes for reply.
3d. A motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided.
Which several resolutions were agreed to.
Mr. DENT, of Maryland, offered and asked the adoption of the
following rule:
When the vote on any question is taken by States, any Commissioner dissenting from the vote of his State may have his dissent entered on the Journal.
Mr. CmHASE, of Ohio, offered the following as a substitute for
Mr. Dent's rule:
The yeas and nays of the Commisssoners of each State, upon any question,
shall be entered upon the journal when it is desired by any Commissioner, and
the vote of each State shall be determined by the majority of Commissioners
present from each State.
The question being upon the adoption of the substitute, the
same was rejected.
The question recurring upon the original rule of Mr. Dent,
it was adopted.
Mr. BRONSON, of New York, moved that this Con;ention have
a night session, and that when the Convention adjourn it shall
adjourn to half past seven o'clock this evening.
Mr. CHASE called for a vote by States as to a night session,
which resulted as follows:
AYEs-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, New  Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-13.
NOEs-Connecticut, Indians, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont-7.
So the motion carried. 
37
Mr. WILMOT, of Pennsylvania, gave notice he should offer an
amendment, as follows, to the report of the Committee on Propositions and Resolutions; which was read, laid on the table, and
ordered to be printed:
And Congress shall further provide by law, that the United States shall make
full compensation to a citizen of any State, who in any other State shall suffer,
by reason of violence or intimidation from mobs and riotous assemblies, in his
person or property, or in the deprivation, by violence, of his rights secured by
this Constitution.
Mr. COALTER, of Missouri, gave notice that he should offer, as
an amendment to the same report, the following; which was
read, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:
The term of office of all Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States,
hereafter elected, shall be six years; and any person once elected to either of
said offices, shall ever after be ineligible to the same office.
Mr. BRONSON, of New York, gave notice that he should offer,
as an amendment to the same report, the following; which was
read, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed:
Congress shall have no power to legislate in respect to persons held to service or labor in any case, except to provide for the rendition of fugitives from
such service or labor, and to suppress the foreign slave trade; and the existing
status or condition of all the Territories of the United States in respect to persons held to service or labor shall remain unchanged during their Territorial
condition; and whenever any Territory, with suitable boundaries, shall contain the population requisite for a representative in Congress, according to the
then federal ratio of representation, it shall be entitled to admission into the
Union on an equal footing with the original States, with or without persons
held to service or labor, as the constitution of such new State my prescribe.
Mr. HITCHCOCK, of Ohio, gave notice that he should offer, as
an amendment to the same report, the following; which was laid
on the table, and ordered to be printed:
Strike out Section 3, and insert the three following:
SECTION 3.  The Congress shall have no power to regulate, abolish, or control within any State the relations established or recognized by the laws thereof,
touching persons held to service or labor therein.
SECTION 4. The Congress shall have no power to discharge any person held
to service or labor from such service or labor in the District of Columbia, under
the laws thereof, or to impair any rights pertaining to that relation under the
laws now in force within the said District, without the consent of the State of
Maryland, and of those to whom the service or labor is due, or making to
them just compensation therefor; nor the power to interfere with or prohibit
members of Congress, and officers of the Federal Government, whose duties
require them to be in said District, from bringing with them, retaining, and
taking away persons so held to service or labor; nor the power to impair or
abolish the relations of persons owing service or labor in places under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, within those States and Territories
where such relations areeestablished or recognized by law.
SECTION 5.  The Congress shall have no power to- prohibit the removal or 
38
transportation, by land, sea, or river, of persons held to labor or service in any
State or Territory of the United States, to any State or Territory thereof,
where the same obligation or liability to labor or service is established or
recognized by law; and the right during such transportation of touching at
ports, shores, and landings, and of landing in case of distress, shall exist; nor
shall the Congress have power to authorize any higher rate of taxati6n on persons held to service or labor, than on land.
Strike out Section 7, and insert
SECTION 9.  The Congress shall provide by law, that in all cases where the
marshal, or cther officer, whose duty it shall be to arrest any fugitive from service or labor, shall be prevented from so doing by violence of a mob or riotous
assemblage; or where, after arrest, such fugitive shall be rescued by force,
and the party to whom such service or labor is due, shall thereby be deprived
of the same, the United States shall pay to such party the full value of such
service or labor.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the report
of the Committee on Propositions and Resolutions.
At half past four, Mr. CHITTENDEN having the floor, gave way
to a motion to adjourn.
The Convention adjourned to half past seven o'clock p. m.,
February 21.
EVENING SESSION.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment at seven and a half
o'clock p. m.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the report
of the committee on propositions and resolutions.
At twelve o'clock Mr. POLLOCK, of Pennsylvania, gave way to
a motion to adjourn.
The Convention adjourned to ten o'clock a. m., February 22.
WASHINGT'ON CITY, February 22, 1861.
Convention met, pursuant to adjournment.  President TYLER
in the chair.
Convention opened by prayer.
The journal of proceedings was read and approved.
On motion of Mr. WICKLIFFE, the President was authorized to
appoint a committee of three upon the subject of finance and
printing.
The president appointed as such Committee: Mr. Johnson, of
Maryland; Mr. Pollock, of Pennsylvania; and Mr. Granger, of
New York.
Mr. TURNER, of Illinois, offered and moved the adoption of
the following:
Resolved, That the time fixed upon to commence voting upon the questions before this Convention be postponed until Monday, February 25th, at 12 o'clock m.
I 
39
A motion to lay the resolution on the table was lost by the
following vote:
AYES-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,  New  Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia-10.
NOEs —Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Vermont-10.
The  resolution  was  withdrawn,  and  Mr.  CHASE, of Ohio,
offered the same resolution.
Mr. BACKUS, of Ohio, offered the following substitute:
Resolved, That the resolution heretofore passed, limiting debate on amendments that shall be offered to the report of the Grand Committee, be so amended
as to allow the delegates who may desire to speak not exceeding ten minutes
on each amendment.
Mr. CHASE accepted this in substitution of his own.
A  motion by Mr. WICKLIFFE  to  lay on the table resulted in
the following vote:
AYEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carol.na, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia-9.
NOES-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine,  Massachusetts,  New
York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont-11.
The Convention refused to lay on the table.
The question recurring as to the adoption of said resolution,
the same prevailed by the following vote:
AYEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,  Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont-11.
NoEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-9.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the Committtee on Credentials, reported
that the credential of J. C. Stone, as delegate from Kansas, had
been duly submitted to them, examined, and approved, and he
was reported as a delegate from that State. 
The order of the day being the report of' the Committee on
Propositions and Resolutions, the Convention proceeded to the
consideration of the same during the time allotted.
Mr. FIELD, of New York, rose to a question of privilee in
regard to the adoption of the report of the Committee on Credentials, admitting the member frem Kansas.
Mr. F. suggested that he was informed that the credential
was issued by those not authorized to do so.
Mr. F. moved a reconsideration of the agreement to said
report.
The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-10. 
40
NOEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Vermont-9.
y general consent the delegate from Iowa was asked to make
h wn statement as to the authenticity of said instrument.
Mr. STONE stated that the credential was regularly issued,
the authorities who executed the same were, under the Contion of Kansas, the proper authorities; that neither the inment nor the appointment had been questioned.
r. FIELD, of New York, mluoved the adoption of the follow
ng:
Resolved, That the credentials of Mr. Stone, who  desires to act as a Commissioner from Kanusas, be referred back to the Committee on Credentials to
report the facts concerning his appointment, and whether it proceeded from the
Territorial Secretary.
Which resolution was carried.
According to previous order, the Convention proceeded to consider and vote on the report of the committee of one from each
State, as submitted by Mr. GUTHRIE, and the amendment submitted.
The question being on the adoption of the first section of said
report, as follows:
ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION 1. In all the present territory of the United States, not embraced
within the limits of the Cherokee treaty grant, north of a line from east to
west ou the parallel of 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, involuntary servitude, except in punishment of crime, is prohibited whilst it shall be under a
territorial government; and in all the present territory south of said line, the
status of persons owing service or labor as it now exists shall not be changed
by law while such territory shall be under a territorial government; and neither
Congress nor the territorial government shall have power to hinder or prevent
the taking to said territory of persons held to labor or involuntary service,
within the United States, according to the laws or usages of the State from
which such persons may be taken, nor to impair the rights arising out of said
relations, which shall be subject to judicial cognizance in the federal courts,
according to the common law; and when any territory north or south of said
line, within such boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a population required for a member of Congress, according to the then federal ratio of
representation, it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted
into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, with or without
involuntary service or labor, as the constitution of such new State may provide.
SECTION 2. Territory shall not be acquired by the United States, unless by
treaty; nor, except for naval and commercial stations and depots, unless such
treaty shall be ratified by four-fifths of all the members of the Senate.
SECTION 3. Neither the Constitution nor any amendment thereof shall be
construed to give Congress power to regulate, abolish, or control, within any
State or Territory of the United States, the relation established or recognized
by the laws thereof touching persons bound to labor or involuntary service
therein; nor to interfere with or abolish involuntary service in the District of
Coluttibia, without the consent of Maryland  and without the consent of the
owners, or making the owners who do not consent just compensation; nor the
I 
41
power to interfere with or prohibit representatives and others from bringing
with them to the city of Washington, retaining and taking away, persons so
bound to labor; nor the power to interfere with or abolish involuntary service
in places under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States within those
States and Territories where the same is established or recognized; nor the
power to prohibit the removal or transportation, by land, sea, or river, of persons held to labor or involuntary service in any State or Territory of the United
States to any other State or Territory thereof where it is established or recognized by law or usage; and the right during transportation of touching at
ports, shores, and landings, and of landing in case of distress, shall exist.
Nor shall Congress have power to authorize any higher rate of taxation on
persons bound to labor than on land.
SECTION 4. The third paragraph of the second section of the fourth article
of the Constitution shall not be construed to prevent any of the States, by
appropriate legislation, and through the action of their judicial and ministerial
officers, from enforcing the delivery of fugitives from labor to the person to
whom such service or labor is due.
SECTION 5. The foreign slave trade and the importation of slaves into the
United States and their Territories, from places beyond the present limits
thereof, are forever prohibited.
SECTION 6. The first, third, and fifth sections, together with this section six
of these amendments, and the third paragraph of the second section of the
first article of the Constitution, and the third paragraph of the second section
of the fourth article thereof, shall not be amended or abolished without the
consent of all the States.
SECTION 7. Congress shall provide by law that the United States shall pay
to the owner the full value of his fugitive from labor, in all cases where the
marshal, or other officer, whose duty it was to arrest such fugitive, was prevented from so doing by violence or intimidation from mobs or riotous assemblages, or when, after arrest, such fugitive was rescued by force, and the
owner thereby prevented and obstructed in the pursuit of his remedy for the
recovery of such fugitive.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, moved to amend the 1st section of
said report by inserting after the word  line, in clause  "and  in
all the present territory south of said line," found in the 5th line,
the following words, "'including the Cherokee grant."
Mr. FOWLER, of New Hampshire, moved to amend  the amendment of Mr. Seddon, by substituting the word excluding for
including, which prevailed by the following vote:
AYEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York,
New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont-11.
NoEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-9. 
The question recurring on the adoption of the amendment of
Mr. SEDDON as amended, the same was lost by the following
vote:
AYES-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Vermont-10.
NoEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia-10.
The question recurring as to the adoption of the original
port 
42
Mr. REID, of North Carolina, moved to amend said 1st section, in the 7th line, by inserting after the word "line," at the
end of the clause, "and in all the present territory south of said
line," the words'involuntary servitude is recognized, and property in those of the African race held to service or labor in any
of the States of'the Union, when removed to such territory shall
be protected, and"-whichli amendment was lost by the following
vote:
AYES-Virginia, North Carolina, and Missouri-3.
NOFs-M\laiue,  New Halmpshire, Vermont, Massachlusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mlaryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa-17.
Thle following gentlemen dissenting from the vote of their
States, asked to have their names recorded as voting: Mr. Clay
and Mr. Butler, of Kentucky, and Mr. Dent, Maryland, aye.
The question recurring on the original section as reported, Mr.
FRANKLIN, of Pennsylvania, moved to amend the first section by
striking out therefrom all after the words "United States" in
the first line, and insert in place thereof
"Not embraced by the Cherokee treaty, north of the parallel of thirty-six
degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, involuntary servitude, except in
punishment of crime, is prohibited. In all the present territory south of that
line, the status of persons held to service or labor, as it now exists, shall not
be changed; nor shall any law be passed to hinder or prevent the taking of such
persons to said territory, nor to impair the rights arising from said relation; but
the same shall be subject to judicial cognizance in the federal courts, according
to the common law. When any territory north or south of said line, within such
boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a population equal to that
required for a member of Congress, it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States,
with or without involuntary servitude, as the constitution of such State may
provide."
Mr. CURTIS, of Iowa, moved to amend the amendment of Mr.
FRANKLIN by striking out all after the word "prohibited," (found
in the third line,) down to and including the word "common law,"
(found in the eighth line,) and inserting in place thereof, "but
this restriction shall not apply to territory now held south of that
line."
Pending the consideration of which,'the Convention adjourned
to 10 o'clock, the 23d of February.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 23d, 1861.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair. 
43
The proceedings were opened by prayer from the Rev. Dr.
Butler.
Mr. VANDEVER, of Iowa, offered and moved the adoption of the
following:
Resolved, That whatever may be the ultimate determination upon the amendments of the Federal Constitution, or other propositions for adjustment approved by this Convention, we, the members, do recommend our respective States
and constituencies to faithfully abide in the Union.
It was moved to lay the resolution on the table, and resulted
in the following vote:
AYES.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Marylan(ld,
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio-11l.
NoEs. —Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-9.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the order of
the day, being Mr. Curtis' amendment to Mr. Franklin's amendr-ent to the first section of the report of the Committee on Propositions and Resolutions.
The question on the adoption of said amendment of Mr.
Curtis to strike out and insert being taken, resulted in the following vote:
AYES.-Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Iowa-6.
NOES.-New Hanmpshire,  Rhode Island, New Jersey,  Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri,
Ohio-12.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their States:
Amos Tuck, of New Hampshire.
Erastus Corning, of New York.
Francis Granger, of New York.
Greene C. Bronson, of New York.
William E. Dodge, of New York. 
David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania.
C. P. Wolcott, of Ohio.
Mr. BRONSON moved the adoption of the following:
Resolved, Whereas, John E. Wool, a delegate from New York, is unable to
attend the Convention from sickness, therefore, that he be permitted, when' he
does attend, or by communication to the Secretary in writing, to have his dis-'
sent recorded as to any vote of his State.
Agreed to unanimously.
9 
44
The question recurring as to the adoption of the amendment
of Mr. Franklin:
The following amendments were proposed and accepted by
Mr. Franklin:
1st. In the 5th line, after the word passed, (occurring in the
clause, "nor shall any law be passed,") insert the words, "by
Congress or the Territorial Leqislature."
2d. In the 6th line, after the word "' persons," (occurring in
the clause, "the taking of such persons,") insert, "from any of
the States of this Union."
3d. In the 8th line, before the words "common law," (occurring in the clause, " according to the common law,") insert the
word " course of the."
Mr. JAMES moved to amend Mr. Franklin's amended proposition, in the 5th line, by inserting the words "nor facilitate,"
after the word "prevent," (occurring in the clause, " to hinder
or prevent.")
The question, on agreeing to said amendment, resulted in the
following vote:
AYES —Maine, New tIampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-10.
NOEs-New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio-10.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. WILMOT moved to amend Mr. Franklin's proposition, in
the 4th line, by inserting the word "legal" before the word
"status," (occurring in the clause, "the status of persons held
to service.") 
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-9.
NOES-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missoiri, Ohio-11l.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. TURNER moved to amend Mr. Franklin's amendment in
the 5th line, by inserting the word " encourage," after the word
"prevent,"  occurring in the clause,  "hinder or prevent the
taking of such persons."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES —laine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-10.
NOES-New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio-10. 
45
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. GOODRICH, of Massachusetts, moved to amend Mr. Franklin's amendment, by striking out from the first line, the words
following: "not embraced by the Cherokee treaty."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-11.
NoEs-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri-9.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON, in behalf of President Tyler, moved to amend
the amendment of Mr. Franklin, by inserting at the close of said
amendment, so as to follow after the clause relating to division
of territory, the following:
All appointments to office in the territories lying north of the line 36~ 30',
as well before as after the establishment of Territorial governments in and over
the same, or any part thereof, shall be made upon the recommendation of a majority of the Senators representing at the time the non-slaveholding States.
And in like manner, all appointments to office in the territories which may lie
south of said line of 36~ 30' shall be made upon the recommendation of a majority of the Senators representing at the time the slaveholding States. But nothing
in this article shall be construed to restrain the President of the United States
from removing, for actual incompetency or misdemeanor in office, any person
thus appointed, and appointing a temporary agent, to be continued in office
until the majority of Senators as aforesaid may present anew recommendation,
or from filing any vacancy which may occur during the recess of the Senate,
such appointment to continue ad interim. And to insure on the part of the
Senators the selection of the most trustworthy agents, it is hereby directed
that all the net proceeds arising from the sales of the public lands shafll be distributed annually among the several States, according to the combined ratio of
representation and taxation; but the distribution aforesaid may be suspended
by Congress in case of actual war with a foreign nation, or imminent peril
thereof.
By unanimous consent, the rule was suspended in reference to
the ten minute rule in behalf of Mr. TYLER, (President,) who
proposed to address the Convention.
The question on agreeing to the proposed amendmentof Mr.
SEDDON was, on motion, divided, anti the vote on the first part
resulted as follows:
AYEs-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri-5.
NoEs —Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-14.
So the first part of the proposed amendment was not agreed to.
The second part was withdrawn. 
46
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
REVERDY JOHNSON, of Maryland.
JNO. W. CRISFIEL1), of Maryland.
Mr. MCCURDY moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Franklin, by adding at the end thereof the words following:
Provided, That nothing in this article shall be so construed as to carry any law
of involuntary servitude into such Territory.
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Iowa-7.
NoEs-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois-13.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentleman dissented from the vote of his State:
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. CHASE moved that the Convention adjourn to Monday.
The question on agreeing to said motion resulted in the following vote:
AYEs-Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Indiana-5.
NoEs-New Hampshlire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri
-12.
So the Convention refused to adjourn.
The question recurring on Mr. Franklin's amendment as
amended, was deternined by the following vote:
AYEs-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois-14.
NOEs-Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri-4.
So the amendment of Mr. Franklin was agreed to.
It was agreed unanimously, that President Tyler inform the
lon. A. Lincoln, (President elect of the United States,) that the
members of this Convention would be happy to wait upon him at
such time as would suit his convenience, and that the President
inform this Convention of the result.
On motion of Mr. LOGAN, the Convention adjourned to 721 p.
m., February 23. 
47
SATURDAY EVENING, 71 O'CLOCK.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
Mr. SUMM.ERS, from the Committee on Credentials, to whom
was recommitted the report of said committee, as to J. C. Stone
as a delegate from Kansas, reported the same back without
amendment, and recommended the admission of said member;
which was agreed to.
Mr. SUMMERS, from the same committee, made a further report, that the credentials of the gentlemen hereafter named had
been duly submitted to and examined by said committee, and were
approved by them, and they reported and recommended them to
be admitted as delegates:
M. F. CONWAY, from Kansas.
HIENRY J. ADAMS, from Kansas.
THOS. EWING, Jr., from Kansas.
Which was agreed to.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the order of
the day, being the adoption of the 2d section of the report of
Mr. Guthrie, from the Committee on Propositions, &c.
Mr. SUMMERS, of Virginia, moved the adoption of the following as an amendment: To strike out all of said section, and in
place thereof, insert
No territory shall be acquired by the United States without the concurrence
of a majority of all the Senators from States which allow involuntary servitude,
and a majority of all the Senators from States which prohibit that relation;
nor shall territory be acquired by treaty, unless the votes of a majority of the
Senators from each class of States hereinbefore mentioned, be cast as a part of
the two-third majority necessary to the ratification of such treaty.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, moved to amend the same by inserting, after the words " United States," in the first line, the
words, "except by discovery, and for naval and commercial
stations, depots, and transit routes." 
Which was accepted by Mr. Summers.
The question on the adoption of said amendment of Mr. Summers resulted in the following vote:
AYES.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri —9.
NoEs.-Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-10.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the following as an amendment; to strike out the second section, and
substitute in place the following: 
48
"Territory may be acquired for naval and commercial stations, depots, and
transit routes, and by discovery, and for no other purposes, without the concurrence of four-fifths of the Senate."
The question on the adoption of Mr. Guthrie's amendment
resulted in the following vote:
AYEs.-Ne'w Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio-10.
NoEs. —MaIine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, North Carolina,
Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-10.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentleman dissented from the vote of his State:
R. M. PRICE, of New Jersey.
Moved that the order of the day be suspended, in order to
hear the report of the President in regard to the reception of
Mr. Lincoln, the President elect,
Mr. TYLER informed the Convention that he had, according to
request, communicated with Mr. Lincoln, the President elect,
and that at 9 o'clock, or any time thereafter, he would be happy
to receive the members of the Convention.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky,  moved that a committee of
three be appointed by the President to make arrangements for
the reception of the members of the Convention.
The President appointed as such committee:
Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky; Mr. Field, of New York; Mr.
Chase, of Ohio.
Mr. McKENNAN, of Pennsylvania, moved a reconsideration of
the vote on the amendment of Mr. Summers.
Pending which, the proceedings were suspended to hear the
report of the committee to arrange for the reception of the members of the Convention by Mr. Lincoln, the President elect.
Mr. FIELD, in behalf of said committee, reported that Mr.
Lincoln was then desirous of receiving the members of the Convention, at his parlor.
Mr. EWING moved that the Convention adjourn to Monday,
at 10 o'clock, a. m. 
WASHINGTON CITY, February 25, 1861.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. President
TYLER in the chair.
The proceedings were opened by prayer from the Rev. Mr.
Smith. 
49
The journal of the 23d was read and approved.
Mr. HACKLEMAN, on behalf of Indiana, asked to record the
vote of that State on the amendment of SIr. Curtis, voted on on
the 23d inst.
Leave was granted. Voted; recorded as of that day.
The President informed the Convention that he had received
certain resolutions, purporting to emanate from the Democratic
State Convention of Pennsylvania, which he was asked to present, which he accordingly did, and requested to know what
action the Convention would take on the same.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, stated, that as the Convention had
not received or acted on any mere party proposition, he moved
to lay the proceedings on the table.
Which was agreed to.
Mr. BROCKENBROUGH, of Virginia, presented certain amendments, which he proposed to offer at the proper time, and which
he read and asked to have printed.
(These have not been sent to the Secretary.)
The order of the day being the reconsideration of the vote
taken on the 23d on the amendment proposed by Mr. Summers,
the same, by general consent, was passed informally for the
present, subject to call.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the third
section of Mr. Guthrie's report.
Mr. GUTHRIE moved to amend said report, in the 13th line
of this report, by striking out the words, "by land, sea, or river."
Which was agreed to.
Mr. GUTHRIE moved to amend the same section, in the 16th
line of this journal, after the word "transportation," and insert
"by sea or river."
Which was agreed to.
Mr. HITCHCOCK, of Ohio, moved  to amend said section by
striking out all after the word "give," in the 2d line of this
journal, and insert:
Strike out Section 3, and insert the three following:
SECTION 3. Neither the Constitution nor any amendment thereof shall be
construed to give to Congress power to regulate, abolish, or control within any
State the relations established or recognized by the laws thereof, touching persons held to service or labor therein.
SECTION 4. Congress shall have no power to discharge any person held to
service or labor in the District of Columbia, under the laws thereof, from such
service or labor, or to impair any rights pertaining to that relation under the
laws now in force within the said District, while such relation shall exist in the
State of Maryland, without the consent of said State, and of those to whom the
service or labor is due, or making to them just compensation therefor; nor the
power to interfere with or prohibit members of Congress, and officers of the
Federal Government whose duties require them to be in said District, from
4 
50
bringing with them, for personal service only, retaining, and taking away persons so held to service or labor; nor the power to imtnpair or abolish the relations of persons owing service or labor in places under the exclusive jurisdiction
of the United States, within those States and Territories where such relations
are established or recognized by law.
SECTION 5. Congress shall have no power to prohibit the removal or transportation of persons held to labor or service in any State or Territory of the
United States, to any State or Territory thereof, where the same obligation or
liability to labor or service is established or recognized by law; and the right
during such transportation, by sea or river, of touching at ports, shores, and
landings, and of landing in case of distress, shall exist; nor shall the Congress
have power to authorize any higher rate of taxation on persons held to service
or labor than on land.
Strike out Section 7, and insert:
SECTION 9.  Congress shall provide by law, that in all cases where the marshal, or other officer whose duty it shall be to arrest any fugitive from service
or labor, shall be prevented from so doing by violence of a mob or riotous assemblage, or where, after arrest, such fugitive shall be rescued by like violence,
and the party to whom such service or labor is due shall thereby be deprived
of the same, the United States shall pay to such party the full value of such
service or labor.
Mr. JAMES moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Hitchcock
by striking out, and inserting:
1st. Ne amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize
or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with
the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or
service by the laws of said State.
The question on the adoption of said amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Indiana-7.
NOES.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Kansas-13.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. WOOD dissented from the vote of his State.
Mr. BALDWIN moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Hitchcock by striking out the words, " nor shall Congress have the
power to authorize any higher rate of taxation on persons held
to service or labor than on land."
Mr. H. withdrew his proposed amendment for the present.
Mr. SEDDON moved to amend the third section of the original
report in the third line, by inserting after the word " State,"
the words, " obstruct, hinder, or prevent."
The question on the adoption of this amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYES.-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri
-— 6. 
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Kentucky-14.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON moved to amend the third section of the report
by striking out the city of Washington in the ninth line (this
report,) and insert, "District of Columbia."
Which was agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON offered to amend the third section of the report
by inserting the words, "and Virginia," after the words, "District of Columbia," in the 9th line (of this report,) as substituted
as per last agreement.
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri-5.
NoEs.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas-14.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON moved to amend the third section by inserting
after the word, "exist," in the seventeenth line (of this report,)
these words: "and if the transportation be by sea, the right of
property in the person held to service or labor shall be protected
by the Federal Government as other property."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri-4.
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-17.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State.
Mr. DONIPHAN, Mr JOHNSON, of Missouri.
Mr. DENT, Mr. CRISFIELD, of Maryland.
Mr. CLAY, Mr. BUTLER, of Kentucky.
Mr. SEDDON moved to amend the third section by inserting
after the word, "exist," in the seventeenth line, as  above,  the
following:
" And the rights of transit by persons holding those of the African race to
labor or service, in and through the States not recognizing the relations of persons held to labor or service, in passing with them from one State or Territory
recognizing such relations to another, shall be secure."
51
I 
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri-4.
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-17.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON moved to amend the third section by inserting in
the fourth line (of this report,) after the word, " touching," the
following words: "the relations existing between master and
slave."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri-3.
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky-18.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. ALEXANDER, of New Jersey.
Mr. DENT, Of Maryland.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky.
Mr. HIIALL, of Vermont, moved to amend the 3d section of said
report in the 10th line, (this report,) by striking out the word
"nor," and inserting in place thereof, "but the bringing into
said District of persons held to service for the purpose of being
sold, or placed in depot to be afterwards transferred to any other
place to be sold as merchandise, is forever prohibited, and Congress may pass all necessary laws to make this prohibition effectual; nor shall Congress have"
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-11.
N)Es.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri-10.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. HOPPIN, of Rhode Island.
Mr. BROWNE, of Rhode Island.
Mr. MCCURDY, moved to amend said 3d section, by inserting,
at the close thereof, the following words:
,' Provided, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent
52 
53
any State in which involuntary servitude is prohibited, from restraining by law
the transfer of such persons, or of any right or interest in their services, from
one individual to another, within the limits of such State."
The question on the adoption of said amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYEs.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-11.
NoEs. —Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri-10.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. LOGAN, of Illinois.
Mr. PALMER, of Illinois.
Mr. TURNER moved a reconsideration of the above vote, which
was agreed to. The immediate consideration of said question
was passed.
Mr. HITCHCOCK proposed to insist on his amendment.
Mr. BROWN moved to lay the amendment of Mr. Hitchcock
on the table.
Which was agreed to.
Mr. BALDWIN moved to strike out all after the word "exist,"
in the 17th line.
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. BATES, of Delaware, moved to amend said section by
striking out the word " bound," where it occurs in the 4th, 10th,
19th lines, or other places, and insert "held;" also to insert,
after the word "held," the words "or service."
Which were agreed to.
Mr. GROESBECK moved to amend said 3d section by striking
out the same, and inserting in place thereof the following:
SECTION 3. Congress shall have no power to abolish or control within any
State the relations established or recognized by the laws thereof respecting persons held to service or labor therein.
SECTION 4. Congress shall have no power to legislate respecting th] relation
of service or labor in places under its exclusive jurisdiction, but within States
where that relation is established or recognized, and while it continues, without
the consent of such States; nor abolish or impair such relation in the District
of Columbia, without the consent of Maryland, and compensation to persons to
whom such service or labor is due.
SECTION 5. Congress shall have no power to prohibit the removal from any
State or Territory of persons held to service or labor therein, to any other State
or Territory in which persons are so held; and the right during removal of
touching at ports, shores, and landings, and of landing in case of distress, shall
exist, but not the right of transit in or through any State or Territory without
its consent. No higher rate of taxation shall be imposed on persons so held
than on land. 
The question on the adoption of said amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYES.-New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Ohio, Indiana-7.
NOES.-Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas —12.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. POLLOCK moved to amend said section by inserting after
the word " distress," in the 17th line of this report, "but not
for sale or traffic."
'Vhich was agreed to.
Mr. VANDEVER moved to amend said section by adding to the
section the following:
Provided nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent any
State from prohibiting the introduction as merchandise of persons held to service or labor, or to prevent such State from prohibiting the transit of persons
so held to service or labor through its limits.
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Indiana,
Iowa-7.
NOES.-New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio,
Illinois, Kansas-14.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, asked unanimous consent to introduce the Crittenden propositions.
Which was not given.
Mr. GROESBECK moved to amend said third section by inserting, after the word, "traffic," the words, "but not the right of
transit in or through any State or Territory without its consent."
Mr. RUFFIN moved to amend the amendment by substituting
in lieu of the words, "without its consent," the words, " against
its dissent."
Which was agreed to.
The question on agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Groesbeck
resulted in the following vote:
AYES.-Maine,'New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio-10.
NOES.-Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Missouri, Illinois-8.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentleman dissented from the vote of his State:
Mr. ALEXANDER, of New Jersey.
54 
55
Mr. GRANGER moved that when the Convention adjourn it
will adjourn to 721 this evening.
The question on the adjournment resulted in the following
vote:
AYEs. —Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Pennslyvania, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-13.
NOES.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Mis.___! 6
So the Convention agreed to adjourn to 71 p. m. 
On motion of Mr. CHASE the Convention then adjourned.
The Convention adjourned to 721 p. m.
FEBRUARY:5, 71 P. M.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
Mr. SMITH, of New York, proposed that a committee of two
be appointed by the chair to arrange for the printing of the
journal.
chair appointedMr. SMITH, of New York.
Mr. HIOWARD, of Maryland.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the order
of the day, being the third section of the report.
Mr. HITCHCOCK moved to amend the third section by striking
out the words, "or territory of the United States," in the third
line; also to strike out in the third and fourth lines, (this report,)
the word, "involuntary."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky-10.
NOES.-Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri-9.
So the amendments were agreed to. I
Mr. SUMMERS called up for consideration the amendment
which had been proposed by him on the 23d, as amended by Mr.
Johnson, to the second section, as follows:
"No territory shall be acquired by the United States, except by discovery and
for naval and commercial stations, depots, and transit routes, without the concurrence of a majority of all the Senators from States which allow involuntary
servitude, and a majority of all the Senators from States which prohibit that
relation; nor shall territory be acquired by treaty, unless the votes of a majority of the Senators from each class of States hereinbefore mentioned be cast
as a part of the two-third majority necessary to the ratification of such treaty."
.1 
56
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES -New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio —12.
NOES.-Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas-6.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the 4th
section of the report. No amendments being proposed, they
proceeded to the 5th section.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, moved to strike out all of said
section.
The question on agreeing to said motion resulted in the following vote:
AYEs-Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri-4.
NoEs —Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-17.
So the Convention refused to strike out.
Mr. JAMIES  moved to amend  said section by striking out the
following  words:   "from  places  beyond  the  present  limits
thereof."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas-17.
NoEs-Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri-3.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, moved to amend said section by inserting, in the fore part of said section, the words: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit," and to strike out from the
latter clause the words, "and forever prohibit."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouui-5.
NoEs-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-16.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. DONIPHAN and Mr. JOHNSON, of Missouri, dissent from
the vote of their State.
Mr. MOREHEAD moved to amend said section by striking out,
and inserting in lieu thereof:
" The foreign slave trade is hereby forever prohibited; and it shall be the 
57
duty of Congress to pass laws to prevent the importation of slaves into the
United States and their Territories beyond the limits thereof."
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, moved to amend said amendment, by inserting after "importation of slaves," the words
"coolies or persons held to service or labor."
Which was accepted by Mr. MOREHEAD.
The question on agreeing to said amendment of Mr. Morehead resulted in the following vote:
AYES.-Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois-11.
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
York, New Jersey, Kansas-8.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentlemen disagreed to the vote of their States:
Mr. tIloN, of Rhode Island.
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. ELLIS, of Indiana.
Mr. STOCKTON, of New Jersey.
Mr.                  of Massachusetts, moved to strike out the
whole section.
The question on striking out resulted in the following vote:
AYES.-Massachusetts, Virginia, Tennessee-3.
NOEs.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rbode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas-18.
So the Convention refused to strike out.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration of the sixth
section. No amendment being proposed, they proceeded to the
seventh section.
Mr. TURNER, of Illinois, moved the adoption of the following
amendment to the seventh section, by striking out and inserting:
"Congress shall provide by law for securing to the citizens of each State the
privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States"
Mr. LOGAN, of Illinois, moved to amend said amendment by
inserting "free white " before the word " citizens."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,  North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois-10.
NoEs.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,  Massachusetts, Rhode  Island,
Connecticut, New York, Iowa —8.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana, disagreed to the vote of his State. 
58
The question recurring to the amendment as amended, resulted
in the following vote:
AYES.-None.
NOES.-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana-18.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. WILMOT moved the adoption of the following as an amendment to the 7th section:
"And Congress shall further provide by law, that the United States shall make
full compensation to a citizen of any State, who in any other State shall suffer,
by reason of violence or intimidation from mobs and riotous assemblies, in his
person or property, or in the deprivation, by violence, of his rights secured by
this Constitution."
Mr. ORTII moved that the Convention adjourn, which resulted
in the following vote:
AYES-Maine, Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas-7.
NoEs-New HIampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio-14.
So the Convention refused to adjourn.
The question recurring to agree to the amendment of Mr. Wilmot, resulted in the following vote:
AYEs-Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa-8.
NoEs-Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio-14.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. BARRINGER moved to amend the 7th section by adding at
the end of this section the words following:
"And in all cases in which the United States shall pay for such fugitive, Congress shall also provide for the collection by the United States of the amount
so paid, with interest, from the county, city, or town in which such arrest shall
have been prevented, or rescue made."
The question on agreeing to said amendment, resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Virginia, North Carolina, and Kansas-3.
NoEs-Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Deleware, Maryland, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa-17.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen disagreed to the vote of their States:
Mr. KENT, of Maryland.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky. 
59
Mr. FRELINGIIUYSEN moved to amend the 7th section by adding
the following words:
"Congress shall provide by law for securing to thecitizens of each State the
privileges immunities of citizens in the several States."
The question on the adoption of said amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYEs-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, Kansas-16.
NoEs-Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia-4.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentleman dissented from the vote of his State:
Mr. ROMAN, of Maryland.
Mr. AMES, of Massachusetts, moved to amend said section by
striking out the word  "force,"  and inserting in place of the
same the words:  "like violence and intimidation;" which was
agreed to.
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana, moved to amend said section by adding
at the close thereof the following words:
"And such fugitive shall then be discharged from such service, after being
paid therefor."
The question on the adoption of said amendment resulted in
the following vote:
AYE.s.-Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,  New York, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas-10.
NOES.-Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey,
North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia-11.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. CLAY moved to amend said report by adding as Section 8
the following:
" The second paragraph of the second section of fourth article of Constitution
shall be so construed that no State shall have the power to consider and determine what is treason, felony, or crime in another State; but that a person
charged in any State with treason, felony, or crime, who shall flee from justice
and be found in another State, shall, on demand of the executive authority of
the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the Statohaving
jurisdiction of the crime."
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia-5.
Nors.-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont, Kansas-16.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
At 2 o'clock a. m. Convention adjourned to 11 a. m. on the 26th. 
60
WASHINGTON, February 26, 1861.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
The order of the day being the reconsideration of the vote on
Mr. Orth's amendment,
The question as to the reconsideration of said vote resulted
as follows:
AYES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Vermont, Kansas —11.
NOES. —Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-10.
So the vote was reconsidered.
Mr. BACKUS moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Orth, by
substituting the following:
"And the acceptance of such payment shall preclude the owner from further
claim to said fugitive."
The question on the adoption of the amendment resulted as
follows:
AYES.-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont-17.
NOES.-Indiana, Missouri, Virginia-3.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the votes of their
States:
Mr. DENT, Mr. ROMAN, of Maryland.
Mr. STEPHENS, Mr. TOTTEN, of Tennessee.
Mr. BRONSON, of New York, moved the adoption of the following:
"Before reaching the final question on the plan to be submitted to Congress,
no member shall be allowed to speak more than three minutes on any proposition."
Which was laid on the table.
Mr. FIEND moved to amend said report by adding the following:
SECTION 8. The union of the States under the Constitution is indissoluble,
and no State can secede from the Union, or nullify an act of Congress, or absolve
its citizens from their paramount obligation of obedience to the Constitution
and laws of the United States.
Mr. EWING moved to lay the same on the table; which was
agreed to.
Mr. FIELD moved to amend the seventh section by striking
out and inserting the following:
ARTICLS 1.  No State shall withdraw from the Union without the consent of 
61
all the States, given in a Convention of the States, convened in pursuance of an
act passed by two-thirds of each House of Congress.
Mr. CLAY raised a point of order as to this proposed amendment, and stated the point of order to be that the amendment was
not germain to the subject matter of the section.
The President over-ruled the point of order.
Mr. GOODRICH moved to amend said amendment by inserting
in lieu thereof the following:
"And no State can secede from the Union, or nullify an act of Congress, or
absolve its citizens from their paramount obligations of obedience to the Constitution and laws of the United States."
The President decided the amendment not to be in order.
Mr. FIELD accepted certain amendments to his amendment, and
moved to amend said section, by striking out and substituting the
following, in lieu of section seven of said report.
"It is declared to be the true intent and meaning of the present Constitutution that the union of the States under it is indissoluble."
Mr. BUCKNER moved to amend the same by adding the following:
"But this declaration shall not be construed so as to give the Federal Government power or authority to coerce or to make war directly or indirectly upon a
State, on account of a failure to comply with its obligations."
The question on agreeing to said amendment  resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia-5.
NOES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Kansas-15.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. BRONSON moved to amend said amendment by striking
out and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"While we do not recognize the constitutional right of any State to secede
from the Union, we are deeply impressed by the fact that this Government is
not maintained by force, but by unity of origin and interest, inducing fraternal feelings between the people of different sections of the country, and our
labors have been directed to the end of giving a new assurance to our lbrethren,
north, south, east, and west, of our determination to stand firmly by all the
compromises of the Constitution."
The question on the adoption of said amendment being called
without a vote of States, the same was not agreed to.
The question recurring to the amendment of Mr. Field, was
determined by the following vote:
AYES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Kansas-I0.
NOES.  Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New  Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-11. 
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. SOMES moved to amend by adding the following as Section 8:
,, That the freedom of speech, or of the press, shall not be abridged; but that
the people of any Territory of the United States shall be left perfectly free to
discuss the subject of slavery."
It was moved to lay the same on the table, and resulted in
the following vote:
AYEs.-Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey,
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Kansas-13.
NoEs.-Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Vermont-5.
So the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. VANDEVER moved to amend the same by the following
section:
"The navigation of the Mississippi river shall remain free to the people of
each and all the States; and Congress shall provide by law for the protection
of commerce on said river against all interference, foreign or domestic.
It was moved to lay the same on the table, and resulted in
the following vote:
AYEs.-Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North
Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia-14. 
NOES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York-6.
So the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. BALDWIN moved to strike out all the sections of the report, and insert the following:
Whereas unhappy differences exist, which have alienated from each other
portions of the people of the United States, to such an extent as seriously to
disturb the peace of the nation and impair the regular and efficient action of the
Government within the sphere of its constitutional powers and duties:
And whereas the Legislature of the State of Kentucky has made application
to Congress to call a Convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution
of the United States:
And whereas it is believed to be the opinion of the people of other States
that amendments to the Constitution are or may become necessary to secure to
the people of the United States, of every section, the full and equal enjoyment
of their rights and liberties, so far as the same may depend for their security
and protection on the powers granted to or withheld from the General Government in pursuance of the national purposes for which it was ordained and
established:
This Convention does therefore recommend to the several States to unite
with Kentucky in her application to Congress to call a Convention for proposing
amendments to the Constitution of the United States, to be submitted to the
Legislatures of the several States, or to conventions therein, for ratification, as
the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress, in accordance with the provision in the fifth article of the Constitution.
62 
63
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New
Hampshire, Vermont-8.
NoEs.-Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey,
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Kansas-13.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen disagreed to the vote of their State:
Mr. BRONSON, of New York.
Mr. GRANGER, of New York.
Mr. DODGE, of New York.
Mr. CORNING, of New York.
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. HACKLEMAN, of Indiana.
Mr. SEDDON, of Virginia, moved to amend said report by striking out and inserting as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTIONS proposing certain Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Whereas serious and alarming dissensions have arisen between the northern
and southern States, concerning the rights and security of the rights of the
slaveholding States, and especially their rights in the common territory of the
United States; and whereas, it is eminently desirable and proper that those
dissensions, which now threaten the very existence of this Uuion, should be
permanently quieted and settled by constitutional provisions, which shall do
equal justice to all sections, and thereby restore to the people that peace and
good will which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the United States:
Therefore,
Resolved by this Convention that the following articles are hereby approved
and submitted to the Congress of the United States, with the request that they
may, by the requisite constitutional majority of two-thirds, be recommended
to the respective States of the Union, to be, when ratified by conventions of
three-fourths of the States, valid and operative as amendments of the Constitution of the Union.
ARTICLE 1. In all the territory of the United States now held or hereafter acquired, situate north of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, slavery
or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, is prohibited, while
such territory shall remain under territorial government. In all the territory
now or hereafter acquired south of said line of latitude slavery of the African
race is hereby recognized as existing, and shall not be interfered with Dy Congress; but shall be protected as property by all the departments of the territorial government during its continuance; and when any territory, north or
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 ratio of representation of the people of the United States. it shall,
if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal
footing with the original States, with or without slavery, as the constitution of
such new State may provide.
ARTICLE 2. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in places under
its exclusive jurisdiction, and situate within the limits of States that permit
the holding of slaves.
ARTICLE 3. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery within the Dis 
64
trict of Columbia, so long as it exists in the adjoining States of Virginia and
Maryland, or either, nor without the consent of the free white inhabitants, nor
without just compensation first made to such owners of slaves as do not consent to such abolishment. Nor shall Congress at any time prohibit officers of
the Federal Government or members of Congress, whose duties require them
to be in said District, from bringing with them their slaves and holding them,
as such, during the time their duties may require them to remain there, and
afterwards taking them from the District.
ARTICLE 4. Congress shall have no power to prohibit or hinder the transportation of slaves from one State to another, or to a Territory in which slaves
are by law permitted to be held, whether that transportation be by land, navigable rivers, or by the sea. And if such transportation be by sea, the slaves
shall be protected as property by the Federal Government. And the right of
transit by the owners with their slaves in passing to or from one slaveholding
State or Territory to another, between and through the non-slaveholding States
and Territories, shall be protected. And in imposing direct taxes pursuant to
the Constitution, Congress shall have no power to impose on slaves a higher
rate of tax than on land, according to their just value.
ARTICLE 5. That, in addition to the provisions of the third paragraph of the
second section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States,
Congress shall provide by law, that the United States shall pay to the owner
who shall apply for it, the full value of his fugitive slave, in all cases, when
the marshal, or other officer, whose duty it was to arrest said fugitive, was prevented from so doing by violence or intimidation, or when, after arrest, said
fugitive was rescued by force, and the owner thereby prevented and obstructed
in the pursuit of his remedy for the recovery of his fugitive slave, under the
said clause of the Constitution and the laws made in pursuance thereof. And
in all such cases, when the United States shall pay for such fugitive, they shall
reimburse themselves by imposing and collecting a tax on the county or city in
which said violence, intimidation, or rescue was committed, equal in amount to
the sum paid by them, with the addition of interest and the costs of collection;
and the said county or city, after it has paid said amount to the United States,
may, for its indemnity, sue and recover from the wrong-doers, or rescuers, by
whom the owner was prevented from the recovery of his fugitive slave, in like
manner as the owner himself might have sued and recovered.
ARTICLE 6. No future amendment of the Constitution shall affect the five
preceding articles, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the first
article of the Constitution, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the
fourth article of said Constitutioa, and no amendment shall be made to the
Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress any power to abolish or
interfere with slavery in any of the States by whose laws it is or may be allowed
or permitted.
ARTICLE 7. SEC. 1. The elective franchise and  the right to hold office,
whether federal, State, territorial, or municipal, shall not be exercised by persons who are, in whole or in part, of the African race.
And whereas, also, besides those causes of dissension embraced in the foregoing amendments proposed to the Constitution of the United States, there are
others which come within the jurisdiction of Congress, and may be remedied
by its legislative power: and whereas it is the desire of this Convention, as far
as its influence may extend, to remove all just cause for the popular discontent
and agitation which now disturb the peace of the country, and threaten the
stability of its institutions: Therefore,
1. Resolved, That the laws now in force for the recovery of fugitive slaves
are in strict pursuance of the plain and mandatory provisions of the Constitution, and have been sanctioned as valid and constitutional by the judgment of
the Supreme Court of the United States; that the slaveholding States are entitled to the faithful observance and execution of those laws, and that they
ought not to be repealed or so modified or changed as to impair their efficiency; 
65
and that laws ought to be made for the punishment of those who attempt, by
rescue of the slave or other illegal means, to hinder or defeat the due execution
of said laws.
2. That all State laws which conflict with the fugitive slave acts, or any other
constitutional acts of Congress, or which in their operation impede, hinder, or
delay the free course and due execution of any of said acts, are null and void
by the plain provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Yet those
State laws, void as they are, have given color to practices, and led to consequences which have obstructed the due administration and execution of acts of
Congress, and especially the acts for the delivery of fugitive slaves, and have
thereby contributed much to the discord and commotion now prevailing. This
Convention, therefore, in the present perilous juncture, does not deem it improper, resnectfully and earnestly, to recommend the repeal of those laws to
the several States which have enacted them, or such legislative corrections or
explanations of them as may prevent their being used or preverted to such
mischievou as purposes.
3. That the act of the eighteenth of September, eighteen hundred and fifty,
commonly called the fugitive-slave law, ought to be so amended as to make
the fee of the commissioner, mentioned in the eighth section of the act, equal
in amount, in the cases decided by him, whether his decision be in favor of or
against the claimant. And to avoid misconstruction, the last clause of the fifth
section of said act, which authorizes the person holding a warrant for the arrest
or detention of a fugitive slave to sumnmon to his aid the posseo comitatus, and
which declares it to be the duty of all good citizens to assist him in its execution, ought to be so amended as to expressly limit the authority and duty to
cases in which there shall be resistance, or danger of resistance or rescue.
4. That the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade, and especially those prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, ought
to be made effectual, and ought to be thoroughly executed, and all further
enactments necessary to those ends ought to be promptly made.
The question on agreeing to said amendment  resulted  in the
following vote:
AYES.-Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia-4.
NoEs-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, M:Issachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Kansas-16.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. DENT, of Maryland, dissented from the vote of his State.
Mr. CLAY, according to previous notice, moved to amend said
report by striking out the same, and inserting the following:
WHEREAS the Union is in danger; and owing to the unhappy divisions existing in Congress, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for that body tg concur,
in both its branches, by the requisite majority, so as to enable it either to adopt
such measures of legislation, or to recommend to the States such amendments
to the Constitution as are deemed necessary and proper to avert that danger;
and whereas in so great an emergency, the opinion and judgment of the people
ought to be heard, and would be the best and surest guide to their representatives: Therefore,
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law, without delay, for taking
the sense of the people, and submitting to their vote the following resolutions
as the basis for the final and permanent settlement of those disputes that now
disturb the peace of the country and threaten the existence of the Union.
And that whereas serious and alarming dissensions have arisen between the
northern and southern States, concerning the riglits and security of the rights 
66
of the slaveholding States, and especially their rights in the common territory
of the United States; and whereas, it is eminently desirable and proper that
those dissensions, which now threaten the very existence of this Union, should
be permanently quieted and settled by constitutional provisions, which shall do
equal justice to all sections, and thereby restore to the people that peace and
good will which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the United States;
Therefore,
Resolved, That the following articles be, and are hereby, proposed and submitted as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of said Constitution, when ratified by
conventions of three-fourths of the several States.
ARTICI,E 1.  In all the territory of the United States now held or hereafter
acquired, situate north of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, slavery
or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, is prohibited, while
such territory shall remain under territorial government. In all the territory
south of said line of latitude slavery of the African race is hereby recognized as
existing, and shall not be interfered with by Congress; but shall be protected
as property by all the departments of the territorial government during its continuance; and when any Territory, north or 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 ratio of representation
of the people of the United States, it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States,
with or without slavery, as the constitution of such new State may provide.
ARTICLE 2. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in places under
its exclusive jurisdiction, and situate within the limits of States that permit the
holding of slaves.
ARTICLE 3. Congress shall have no power to abolish,lavery within the District of Columbia, so long as it exists in the adjoining States of Virginia and
Maryland, or either, nor without the consent of the inhabitants, nor without
just compensation first made-to such owners of slaves as do not consent to such
abolishment. Nor shall Congress at any time prohibit officers of the Federal
Government or members of Congress, whose duties require them to be in said
District, from bringing with them their slaves and holding them, as such, during the time their duties may require them to remain there, and afterwards
taking them from the District.
ARTICLE 4. Congress shall have no power to prohibit or hinder the transportation of slaves from one State to another, or to a Territory in which slaves
are by law permitted to be held, whether that transportation be by land, navigable rivers, or by the sea.
And the right of transit by the owners with their slaves in passing to or from
one slaveholding State or Territory to another, between and through the nonslaveholding States and Territories, shall be protected.
ARTICLE 5.  That, in addition to the provisions of the third paragraph of
the second section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States,
Congress shall have power to provide by law, and it shall be its duty so to pro vide, that the United States shall pay to the owner who shall apply for it, the
full value of his fugitive slave, in all cases, when the marshal, nor other officer,
whose duty it was to arrest said fugitive, was prevented from so doing by vio lence or intimidation, or when, after arrest, said fugitive was rescued by force,
and the owner thereby prevented and obstructed in the pursuit of his remedy
for the recovery of his fugitive slave, under the said clause of the Constitution
and the laws made in pursuance thereof. And in all such cases, when the
United States shall pay for such fugitive, they shall have the power to reim burse themselves by imposing and collecting a tax on the county or city in
which said violence, intimidation, or rescue was committed, equal in amount
to the sum paid by them, with the addition of interest and the costs of collec tion; and the said county or city, after it has paid said amount to the 
67
United States, may, for its indemnity, sue and recover from the wrong-doers,
or rescuers, by whom the owner was prevented from the recovery of his fugi tive slave, in like manner as the owner himself might have sued and recov ered.
ARTICLE 6. No future amendment of the Constitution shall affect the five
preceding articles, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the first
article of the Constitution, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the
fourth article of said Constitution, and no amendment shall be made to the Con stitution which will authorize or give to Congress any power to abolish or inter fere with slavery in any of the States by whose laws it is or may be allowed or
permitted.
ARTICLE 7. SEC. 1.  The elective franchise and  the right to hold office,
whether federal, State, territorial, or municipal, shall not be exercised by per sons who are, in whole or in part, of the African race.
SEc. 2. The United States shall have power to acquire from time to time,
districts of country in Africa and South America, for the colonization, at ex pense of the federal Treasury, of such free negroes and mulattoes as the several
States may wish to have removed from their limits, and from the District of
Columbia, and such other places as may be under the jurisdiction of Congress.
AND WHEREAS, also, besides those causes of dissension embraced in the fore going amendments proposed to the Constitution of the United States, there are
others which come within the jurisdiction of Congress, and may be remedied
by its legislative power; and whereas it is the desire of this Convention, as far
as its influence may extend, to remove all just cause for the popular discontent
and agitation which now disturb the peace of the country, and threaten the sta bility of its institutions: Therefore,
1. Resolved, That the laws now inforce for the recovery of fugitive slaves are
in strict pursuance of the plain and mandatory provisions of the Constitution,
and have been sanctioned as valid and constitutional by the judgment of the
Supreme Court of the United States; that the slaveholding States are entitled
to the faithful observance and execution of those laws, and that they ought not
to be repealed or so modified or changed as to impair their efficiency; and that
laws ought to be made for the punishment of those who attempt, by rescue of
the slave or other illegal means, to hinder or defeat the due execution of said
laws.
2. That all State laws which conflict with the fugitive slave acts, or any other
constitutional acts of Congress, or which in their operation impede, hinder, or
delay the free course and due execution of any of said acts, are null and void
by the plain provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Yet those
State laws, void as they are, have given color to practices, and led to consequences which have obstructed the due administration and execution of acts
of Congress, and especially the acts for the delivery of fugitive slaves, and have
thereby contributed much to the discord and commotion now prevailing. This
Convention, therefore, in the present perilous juncture, does not deem it improper, respectfully and earnestly, to recommend the repeal of those laws to
the several States which have enacted them, or such legislative corrections or
explanations of them, as may prevent their being used or perverted to such mischievous purposes.
3. That the act of the eighteenth of September, eighteen hundred and fifty,
commonly called the fugitive slave law, ought to be so amended as to make the
fee of the commissioner, mentioned in the eighth section of the act, equal in
amount, in the cases decided by him, whether his decision be in favor of or against
the claimant. And to avoid misconstruction, the last clause of the fifth section
of said act, which authorizes the person holding a warrant for the arrest or detention of a fugitive slave to summon to his aid the posse comitatus, and which
declares it to be the duty of all good citizens to assist him in its execution,
ought to be so amended as to expressly limit the authority and duty to cases in
which there shall be resistance, or danger of resistance or rescue. 
68
4. That the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade, and especially those prohibiting the importation of slaves into the UTited St.,tes, ought to
be made effectual, and ought to he thoroughly executed, and all further enactments necessary to those ends ought to he promptly ma-de.
The question on agreeing to said amendment  resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Kentucky, Missouri, Nortlh Carolina., Tennessee, Virginia —5.
NoEs-Connecticut,  Delaware,  Illin,Ois, Iillana, M, ie,  Mlas-acliuetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New tlampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont-14.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. DENT, of Maryland, dissented from the vote of his State.
Mr. TucK, of New liampshlire, nmoed to amend said report by
striking out, and inserting as follows:
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:
On the 4th day of February, 1861, in compliance with the invitation of the
State of Virginia, commissioners fiomr several other States met the cot,niissioners of that State in Conlterence Conv ntion,  in the city of Wasliiigton.
From time to time, commtis,ioners from other St tes appe;tred, ai,l,oilnt,d as
were those who first appeared, some by the Legislatu-es, and souLe by the
Governors of their respective Slates, until, on the 2od instant, twenty-one
States were then represented.  The Convention thus constituted claimis no
authority under the Constitution and laws; but deeply impressed with a sense
of existing dissensions and dangers, proceeded to a careful consideration of
them and their appropriate remedies, and having brought their deliberations to
a close, now submit the result to the judgment of their fellow-citizenrs.
We recognize and deplore the divisions and distractions which now afflict our
country, interrupt its prosperity, disturb its peace, and endanger the Union of
the States; but we repel the conclusion, that any alienations or dissensions
exist which are irreconcilable, which justify attempts at revolution, or which
the patriotism and fraternal sentiments of the people, and the interests and
honor of the whole nation, will not overcome.
In a country embracing the central and most important portion of a continent, among a people now numbering over thirty millions, diversities of opinion
inevitably exist; and rivalries, intensified at times by local interests and sectional attachments, must often occur; yet we do not doubt that the theory of
our government is the best which is possible for this nation, that the Union of
the States is of vital importance, and that the Constitution, which expresses
the combined wisdom of the illustrious founders of the government, is still the
palladium of our liberties, adequate to every emergency, and justly entitled to
the support of every good citizen.
It-embraces, in its provisions and spirit, all the defence and protection which
any section of the country can rightfully demand, or honorably concede.
Adopted with primary reference to the wants of five millions of people, but
with the wisest reference to future expansion and development, it has carried
us onward with a rapiu' increase of numbers, an accumulation of wealth, and a
degree of happiness and general prosperity never attained by any other nation.
Whatever branch of industry, or whatever staple production, shall become,
in the possible changes of the future, the leading interest of the country, there by creating unforeseen complicatiotns or new conflicts of opinion and interest,
the Constitution of the Utited States, ptroperly understood and fairly enforced,
is equal to every exigency, a shield and d(lefetice to all, in every time of need.
If, however, by reason of a change in circumstances, or for any cause, a portion 
69
of the people believe they ought to have their rights more exactly defined or
more fully explained in the Constitution, it is their duty, in accordance with
its provisions, to seek a remedy by way of amendment to that instrument; and
it is the duty of all the States to concur in such amendments as may be found
necessary to insure equal and exact justice to all.
In order, therefore, to announce tq the country the sentiments of this Convention, respecting not only the remedy which should be sought for existing
discontents, but also to communicate to the public what we believe to be the
patriotic sentiment of the country, we adopt the foil )wing resolutions:
1st.  Resolved, That this C )nvention recognize the well understood proposition that the C(onstitution of the Utnited States gives no power to Congress, or
any brainch of the Federal Government to interfere in any ma,nner with slavery
in any of the States; and we are assured by abundant testimony, that neither
of the great political org,inizations existing in the country contemplates a violation of the spirit of the Constitution in this regard, or the procuring of any
amendment thereof, by which Congress, or any department of the General Governiment, shall ever have jurisdiction over slavery in allty of the States.
2d.  Resolvei, That the Constitution was orlainel and  established, as set
forth in the preamble, by the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for
the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to themselves and their posterity; and when the pe)ple of any State
are not in ftll enjo) ment of all the benefits ixntender to be secured to them by
the C,nstitution, or their rights under it ore disregarded, their tranquillity disturbeil, their prosperity retarle'l, or their liberty imperiled by the people of
any other State, full and adequate redress can and ought to be provided for
such grievances.
3d. Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States, and the acts of
C)ngress in pursutance thereof, are the supreme ltw of the land, to which every
citizen owes faithful (obedience; ati(i it is thterefo)re respectfully recommended
to the Legisl:itures of the several States'to consider imp:krtihilly whatever complaints may be iad(le of acts, as incotisstent therewith, by sister States or their
citizens, and cartfu ly revise their statutes, in view (if such complaints, and to
repeal whatever provisiotns may be found to be in contravention of that supreme
law.
4th. Resolved, That this Convention recommend to the Legislatures of the
several States of the Unioti to follow the ex:Lmple of the Legislatures of the
States of Kentucky and of Illinois, in applying to Congress to call a Convention for the proposing of amendments to the C,onstitution uf the United States,
pursuant to the fifth article thereof.
The question on agreeing to said amendment resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Vermont-9.
NOES-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, north Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia -11.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. BROCKENBROUGH proposed to amend said report by what
he read.
The Chair ruled the same out of order.
Mr. GUTHRIE moved that the Convention proceed to vote on
the sections of the report as amended, section by section; which
was agreed to. 
70
. ELLIS, of Indiana, moved so to amend the rule that the
t shall be taken up, and each section and each distinct propn be voted on separately.
Chair determined the motion was out of order.
. GUTHRIE moved the adoption of the 1st section, as fol
lows:
ARTICLE 13.
SECTION 1. In all the present territory of the United States, north of the
parallel of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, involuntary
servitude, except in punishment of crime, is prohibited. In all the present
territory south of that line, the status of persons held to involuntary service or
labor, as it now exists, shall not be changed; nor shall any law be passed by
Congress or the Territorial Legislature to hinder or prevent the taking of such
persons from any of the States of this Union to said territory, nor to impair the
rights arising from said relation; but the same shall be subject to judicial
cognizance in the federal courts, according to the course of the common law.
When any territory north or south of said line, within such boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a population equal to that required for a
member of Congress, it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, with or without involuntary servitude, as the constitution of such State may provide.
The question on agreeing to said section resulted in the following vote:
AYEs-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Tennessee-8.
NoEs-Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New
York, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia-11.
So the section was not agreed to.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. RUFFIN and Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
Mr. TOTTEN, of Tennessee.
Mr. COALTER and Mr. HOUGH, of Missouri.
Mr. BRONSON, Mr. CORNING, Mr. DODGE, Mr. WOOL, and
Mr. GRANGER, of New York.
Mr. MEREDITH and Mr. WILMOT, of Pennsylvania.
Mr. RIVES and Mr. SUMMERS, of Virginia. 
Mr. CLAY and Mr. BUTLER, of Kentucky.
Mr. LOGAN, of Illinois.
A reconsideration of said'vote was called by Illinois, and
agreed to-14 to 5.
Pending the consideration of said section, Mr. GRANGER moved
an adjournment to 721 o'clock p. m.
The Convention then adjourned. 
71
71 O'CLOCK P. M.
The Convention assembled according to adjournment.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, moved the Convention adjourn
to 10 o'clock, the 27th.
Which was agreed to-Ayes 17.
Noes 5.
So the Convention adjourned.
WASHINGTON CITY, February 27, 1861.
Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
President TYLER in the chair.
The proceedings were opened with prayer from the Rev. Dr.
Gurley.
The order of the day was the adoption of the first section.
Mr. GUTHRIE moved the adoption of the first section of the
report, as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 1. In all the present territory of the United States, north of the
parallel of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, involuntary
servitude, except in punishment of crime, is prohibited. In all the present
territory south of that line, the status of persons held to involuntary service or
labor, as it now exists, shall not be changed; nor shall any law be passed by
Congress or the Territorial Legislature to hinder or prevent the taking of such
persons from any of the States of this Union to said territory, nor to impair
the rights arising from said relation; but the same shall be subject to judicial
cognizance in the federal courts, according to the course of the common law.
When any territory north or south of said line, within such boundary as Congress may prescribe, shall contain a population equal to that required for a
member of Congress, it shall, if its form of government be republican, be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, with or
without involuntary servitude, as the constitution of such State may provide.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs.-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee-9.
NoEs.-Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia-8.
So the section was adopted.
On calling New York, the members stated that one of their
number was absent, and the delegation were divided.  Inquiry
was made of the President whether an absent member could vote.
The President decided he could not, without general leave.
New York, Indiana, and Kansas were divided. 
72
When Indiana was called to vote on the first section, Mr.
HACKLEMAN rose and said:
The Commissioners of Indiana were appointed by virtue of resolutions passed
by the Legislature of that State, which required them to report to the Legislature any proposition before voting for it finally, so as to commit the State.  It
is impossible to obtain the time to submit the proposed amendments to the
Legislature of Indiana for its approval or rejection.   Indiana, therefore, declines to vote.
Indiana having declined to vote, Mr. T. C. SLAUGHTER asked to
have his individual vote entered in the affirmative on first section.
Mr. ELLIS, of Indiana, for the reason stated above, asked to
have his individual vote entered in the negative on the first
section.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
States:
CLAY and Mr. MOREHEAD, of Kentucky.
RUFFIN and Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
MEREDITH and Mr. WILMOT, of Pennsylvania.
TOTTEN, of Tennessee.
CooK, of Illinois.
RIVES and Mr. SUMMERS, of Virginia.
CHASE and Mr. WOLCOTT, of Ohio.
Mr. GUTHRIE moved the adoption of the 2d section of the
report as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 2. NO territory shall be acquired by the United States, except by
discovery, and for naval and commercial stations, depots, and transit routes,
without the concurrence of a majority of all the Senators from States which
allow involuntary servitude, and a majority of all the Senators from States
which prohibit that relation; nor shall territory be acquired by treaty, unless
the votes of a majority of the Senators from each class of States hereinbefore
mentioned be cast as a part of the two-thirds majority necessary to the ratification of such treaty.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,  New Jersey,
Ohio, Pennsyvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-11.
NOES.-Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina
New Hampshire, Vermont-8. I
New York and Kansas were divided.
So the section was adopted.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
States:
Mr. MEREDITH and Mr. WILMOT, of Pennsylvania.
Mr. RUFFIN and Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
Mr. TYLER, of Virginia.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky.
Mr. HACKLEMAN and Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr.
Mr.
'Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
0
I 
73
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the 3d
section of the report as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 3. Neither the Constitution nor any amendment thereof shall be
construed to give Congress power to regulate, abolish, or control, within any
State, the relation established or recognized by the laws thereof touching persons held to labor or involuntary service therein, nor to interfere with or abolish
involuntary service in the District of Columbia without the consent of Maryland and without the consent of the owners, or making the owners who do not
consent just compensation; nor the power to interfere with or prohibit representatives and others from bringing with them to the District of Columbia, retaining and taking away, persons so held to labor or service; nor the power to
interfere with or abolish involuntary service in places under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States within those States and Territories where the
same is established or recognized; nor the power to prohibit the removal or
transportation of persons held to labor or involuntary service in any State or
Territory of the United States to any other State or Territory thereof where
it is established or recognized by law or usage; and the right during transportation, by sea or river, of touching at ports, shores, and landings, and of
landing in case of distress, shall exist-; but not the right of transit in or through
any State or Territory, or of sale or traffic, against the laws thereof. Nor
shall Congress have power to authorize any higher rate of taxation on persons
held to labor or service than on land.
The bringing into thle District of Columbia of persons held to labor or service for sale, or placing them in depots to be afterwards transferred to other
places for sale as merchandise, is prohibited.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs.-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia-12.
NOES.-Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Vermont-7.
New York and Kansas were divided.'
So the section was adopted.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
States:
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky.
Mr. COOK, of Illinois.
Mr. SLAUGHTER, of Indiana.
Mr. CHASE and Mr. WOLCOTT, of Ohio.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the 4th
section of the report as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 4. The third paragraph of the second section of the fourth article
of the Constitution shall not be construed to prevent any of the States, by appropriate legislation, and through the action of their judicial and ministerial
officers, from enforcing the delivery of fugitives from  labor to the person to
whom such service or labor is due.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYis.-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mis
9.
Ir 
74
souri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tenn es
see, Vermont, Virginia-15.
NOES.-Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New lampshire-4.
New York and Kansas were divided.
So the section was adopted.
The  following gentlemen  dissented from  the  vote of their
State:
Mr. BALDWIN, of Connecticut.
Mr. HACKLEMAN, Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. CHASE, Mr. WOLCOTT, of Ohio.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved  the adoption of  the fifth
section of the report as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 5. The foreign slave trade is hereby forever prohibited; and it shall
be the duty of Congress to pass laws to prevent the importation of slaves,
coolies, or persons held to service or labor, into the United States and the Territories from places beyond the limits thereof.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs-Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Kansas-16.
NOES.-Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Virginia-5.
So this section was adopted.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. BALDWIN, of Connecticut.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky.
Mr. RUFFIN, Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
Mr. WOLCOTT, Mr. CHASE, of Ohio.
Mr. HACKLEMAN, Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the 6th
section of the report as amended, and reading as follows:
SECTION 6. The first, third, and fifth sections, together with this section of
these amendments, and the third paragraph of the second section of the first
article of the Constitution, and the third paragraph of the second section of
the fourth article thereof, shall not be amended or abolished without the consent of all the States.
The question on the adoption of said section resulted in the
following vote:
AYES.-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Kansas-11.
NOES.-Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, North Corolina,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia-9.
New York was divided.
So this section was adopted. 
75
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. RUFFIN, Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
Mr. WOLCOTT, Mr. CHASE, Ohio.
Mr. CooK, of Illinois.
EITr. SUMMERS, Mr. RIVES, of Virginia.
Mr. GUTHRIE, of Kentucky, moved the adoption of the seventh
section of the report as amended, and reading as follows:
SEcTION 7. Congress shall provide by law that the United States shall pay
to the owner the full value of his fugitive from labor, in all cases where the
marshal, or other officer, whose duty it was to arrest such fugitive, was prevented from so doing by violence or intimidation from mobs or riotous assemblages, or when, after arrest, such fugitive was rescued by like violence or
intimidation, and the owner thereby deprived of the same; and the acceptance
of such payment shall preclude the owner from further claim to such fugitive.
Congress shall provide by law for securing to the citizens of each State the
privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.
The question on the adoption of said section, resulted in the
following vote:
AYEs.-Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Kansas-12.
NOEs.-Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia-7.
New York was divided.
So this last section was adopted.
The following gentlemen dissented from the vote of their
State:
Mr. RUFFIN, of North Carolina.
Mr. MOREHEAD, of North Carolina.
Mr. TOTTEN, of Tennessee.
Mr. HACKLEMAN, of Indiana.
Mr. ORTH, of Indiana.
Mr. CHASE, of Ohio.
Mr. WOLCOTT, of Ohio.
Mr. CHASE called for the consideration of the seven -propositions as a whole collectively.
The President decided that the Convention, having gone
through, amended, and adopted said sections in severalty, and
then having determined and passed on the same as amended in
severalty, the whole were adopted, and no further vote could be
taken.
Mr. CHASE appealed from the decision of the President.
The President stated his decision.
Mr. CHASE withdrew his appeal. 
76
Mr. FRANKLIN, of Pennsylvania, moved the adoption of the
following resolution:
Resol,ed, As the sense of this Convention, that the highest political duty of
every citizen of the United States is his allegiance to the Federal  G)vernment
created by the Constitution of the United States, and that no State of this
Union has any constitutional right to secede therefrom, or to) absolve the citizens of such State from their allegiance to the Government of the United
States.
MIr. BARRINGER  moved to lay the resolution  on the table.
And the vote by States resulted as follows:
AYEs.-Delawar%, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia-9.
NoES.-Connecticut, Illnois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New
York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kansas-12.
The Convention refused to lay on the table.
Mr. COALTER, of Missouri, offered the following as an amendment and substitute:
The term of office of all Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States,
hereafter elected, shall be six years; and any person once elected to either of
said offices shall ever after be ineligible to the same office.
Which was laid on the table.
Mr. SEDDON moved  to amend by striking out and inserting
his second set of amendments, as follows:
To secure concert and promote harmony between the slaveholding and nonslaveholdiag sections of the Union, the assent of the mjo)rity of the Senators
from the slaveholding, States, and of the majolrity of the Senators from the nonslaveholding States, shall be requisite to the validity of all action of the Senate,
on which the ayes and noes may be called by five Senators.
And on a written declaration, signed and presented for record on the Journal
of the Senate by a majority of the Senators from either the noni-slaveholding
or slaveholding States, of their want of confidence in any officer or appointee
of the Executive, exercising functions exclusively or contituously within the
class of States, or any of them, which the signers represent, then such officer
shall be removed by the Executive; and if not removed at the expiration of
ten days from the presentation of such declaration, the office shall be deemed
vacant, and open to new appointment.
The connection of every State with the Union is recognized as depending on
the continuing assent of its people, and compulsion shall in no case, nor under
any form, be attempted by the Government of the Union against a,State acting
in its collective or organic capacity.  Any State, by the action of a convention
of its people, assembled pursuant to a law of its legislature, is held entitled to
dissolve its relation to the Federal Government, and withdraw from the Union;
and, on due notice given of such withdrawal to the Executive of the Union, he
shall appoint two commissioners, to meettwo commissioners to be appointed by
the Governor of the State, who, with the aid, if needed from the disagreement
of the commissioners, of an umpire, to be selected by a majority of them, shall
equitably adjudicate and determine finally a partition of the rights and obligations of the withdrawing State; and such adjudication and partition being
accomplished, the withdrawal of such State shall be recognized by the Executive, and announced by public proclamation to the world.
But such withdrawing State shatll not afterwards b re.admitted into the 
Union without the assent of two-thirds of the States constituting the Union at
the time of the proposed re-admission.
The amendments were laid on the table, with leave to have
them placed on the journal.
The question recurring to the amendment proposed by Mr.
Franklin,
Mr. RUFFIN moved to postpone the consideration of the same
indefinitely; and the same was postponed, by the following vote:
AYES.-Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolin}, Ohio, Rtiode Island, Tennessee, Virginia —10.
NoEs.-Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania-7.
New York was divided.
Mr. DUNCAN, of Rhode Island, dissented from the vote of his
State.
Mr. AMES dissented from his State.
Mr. GUTHRIE offered the following preamble:
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
The Convention assembled upon the invitation of the State of Virginia to
adjust the unhappy differences which now disturb the peace of the Union and
threaten its continuance, make known to the Congress of the United States
that their body convened in the city of Washington on the 4th instant, and continued in session until the 27th.
There were in the body, when action was taken upon that which is here submitted, one hundred and thirty-three commissioners, representing the following
States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas.
They have approved what is herewith submitted, and respectfully request
that your honorable body will submit it to conventions in the States as an article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. RANDOLPH moved that the preamble be adopted, and that
the same, together with the sevenr, propositions, be authenticated
by the President and Secretary, and the same should be presented by President Tyler to the Senate and House of Representatives, and ask the passage thereof. 
Agreed to.
Mr. BARRINGER moved that the injunction of secrecy against
speaking of the action of the Convention, or the publication of
its proceedings, be now removed.
Agreed to.
Mr. JOHNSON, of MAissouri, asked leave to offer and have placed
in this journal, the following:
Resolved, That while the adoption, by the States of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, of ordinances declaring
77 
78
the dissolution of their relations with the Union, is an event deeply to be deplored, and while abstaining from any judgment on their conduct, we would
express the earnest hope that they may soon see cause to resume their honored
places in this Confederacy of States; yet to the end that such return may be
facilitated, and from the conviction that the Union being formed by the assent
of the people of the respective States, and being compatible only with freedom,
and the republican institutions guarantied to each, cannot and ought not to be
maintained by force, we deprecate any effort by the Federal Government to
coerce in any form the said States to reunion or submission, as tending to irreparable breach, and leading to incalculable ills; and we earnestly invoke the
abstinence from all counsels or measures of compulsion towards them.
Leave was granted
Mr. POLLOCK, on behalf of the Committee of Finance, reported
that they had examined into the expenses necessary to be met
by the Convention. That the printing of the Journal would be
done by the city. They have found that the aggregate amount
will be $735. The portion of each State is consequently $35,
if the Convention decide to make  an equal instalment upon all
the States.
Mr. BROWN moved the adoption ofthe following:
Resolved, That the report of the Committee be received and accepted; that the
Committee be continued, and requested to make the necessary disbursements;
and that the States now pay over the sum assessed to the chairman.
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Loomirs, of Pennsylvania, sent to the Secretary's table
and caused to be read the following letter:
CRAFTS J. WRIGHT, ESQ.,
Secretary Conference Convention:
SIR:  Pleaseinform the Convention that we have tendered, free of charge,
the use of our Hall and lights, which they have occupied. We hope the use may
be sanctified by restoring peace to the Union.
We are, respectfully, &c.,
February 23, 1861.                              J. C. & H. A. WILLARD.
Whereupon Mr. LOOIrs offer3   anrid:isked the adoption of the
following resolution:
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are justly due, and are hereby
given, to the Messrs. Willard, for the liberal and generous tender, free of
charge, of the use of the hall and the lirets, for the purposes expressed in
their letter to the Secretary; and that the Secretary be requested t communicate to them a copy of this resolution.
Which was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. DODGE, of New York, moved the adoption of the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are justly due and hereby given
to the Mayor and Council of the city of Washington, for their kindness and
liberality to the members of this Convention, indefraying so large an amount
of their expenses for printing and stationery, and also for the officers to protect
this hall and the members from intrusion whilst in session, and that the Secretary be requested to communicate the same to said parties.
Which was unanimously agreed to. 
79
Mr. RANDOLPH moved that the thanks of the Convention are
justly due and be given to the clergy of the city, for their kind
services during the Convention; which was unanimously agreed
to.
The thanks of the Convention were presented to the Secretary,
and his assistants.
Mr. EwING, of Ohio, moved the adoption of the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered to the President
for the dignified and impartial manner in which he has presided over the deliberations of this body.
Which was unanimously agreed to: whereupon President TYLER returned to the Convention appropriate thanks.
Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Kentucky, moved that the Convention now
close its session and adjourn; that they informally meet and take
parting leave of each other at 3 o'clock.
Mr. BROWN moved to amend the same by now adjourning
without day; which was carried by the following vote:
AYES.-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode
Island, Tennessee, Vermont-9.
NOES.-Connecticut, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania-6.
So the Convention adjourned without day.
NOTE.-The proposition of Judge BROCKENBOUGH which was to be placed on
the journal, has not been sent to the Secretary by Judge B.
WASHINGTON CITY, JMarch 9th, I861.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Journal, printed
by McGILL & WITHEROW, has been printed from the original manuscript Journal of the Conference Convention, which began its session in
this city February 4th, and terminated February 27th, 1861, and that
thq said printed copy has been carefully compared with the original
papers, and found to be accurate.
CRAFT      S J. WRIGHT,
Secretary. 
NAMES AND RESIDENCES
OF THE
"I% to tht  TOUft'rt lrr                 t
MAINE.
William P. Fessenden,................... Biddeford.
Lot M. Morrell.........................
Daniel E. Somes.......................Biddeford.
John J. Perry......................... Oxford.
Ezra B. French.......................... Damaris Cotta.
Freeman H. Morse,.................... Bath.
Stephen Coburn.........................
Stephen C. Foster.......................Pembroke.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Amos Tuck,..............................Exeter.
Levi Chamberlain.......................
Asa Fowler...............................Concord.
VERMONT.
Hiland Hall...............................North Bennington.
Levi Underwood.........................Burlington.
H. Henry Baxter.......................Rutland.
L. E. Chittenden.................... Burlington.
B. D. Harris..............................Brattleboro'.
MASSACHUSETTS.
John Z. Goodrich........................Stockbridge.
Charles Al len...................o.........Vorcester.
George S. Boutwell......................Boston.
Theophilus P. Chandler................Boston.
Francis B. Crowninshield............ Boston.
John M. Forbes................ Boston.
Richard P. Waters.......................Salem.
* 401, - 
81
RHEODE ISLAND.
Samuel Ames.............................Providence.
Alexander Duncan....................... Providence.
William W. Hoppin............. Providence.
George IHI. Browne....................... Providence.
Samuel G. Arnold......................Providence.
CONNECTICUT.
Roger S. Baldwin.......................Weindham.
Chauncey F. Cleveland.................
Charles J. McCurdy..................... Lyme.
James T. Pratt...........................
Robins Battell...........................
Amos S. Treat............................Bridgeport.
NEW YORK.
David Dudley Field..................... Vew York.
William Curtis Noyes................... New York.
James S. Wadsworth.................... Geneseo.
James C. Smith............... C(anandaigua.
Amaziah B. James................. Ogdensburg.
Erastus Corning..........................Albany.
Francis Granger.........................Canandaigua.
Greene C. Bronson.......................New York.
William E. Dodge........................New York.
John A. King............................Jamaica.
John E. Wool............................ Troy.
NEW JERSEY.
Charles S. Olden......................... Princeton.
Peter D. Vroom..........................Trenton.
Robert F. Stockton............Princeton.
Benjamin Williamson.....................Elizabeth.
Joseph F. Randolph.....................Trenton.
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen...........Newar7ck.
Rodman M. Price........................ Harrison, Hudson Co.
William C. Alexander................... P. 0., 92 Broadway, N. Y.
Thomas J. Stryker............. Trenton.
PENNSYLVANIA.
James Pollock...........................Milton.
William M. Mereditb....................Philadelphia.
6
I,,' 
82
David Wilmot............................ Towanda.
A. W. Loomis............................I'ittsburg.
Thomas E. Franklin.................... Lancaster.
William MIeKennan...............Washington.
Thomas White............................Indiana.
DELAWARE.
George B. Rodney.............Newcastle.
Daniel M. Bates.........................Wilmington.
Henry Ridgely............................Dover.
John W. Ilouston............... Milford.
Williamu Cannon..........................Bridgeville.
MARYLAND.
John F. Dent.....                Milestown.
Reverdy Johnson —----  ----— Baltimore.
John W. Crisfield- --    --— Princess Ann.
Augustus W. Bradford —-------  Govanstown.
William T. Goldsborough    ----— Cabridge.
J. Dixon Roman..    Hagerstown.
Benjamin C. Howard —-.. — -----— Catonsville.
VIRGINIA.
John Tyler ------------------— Sherwood Forest.
William C. Rives-..
John W. Brockenbrough —-------- Lexington.
George W. Summers. —--------— Kanawha C. f.
James A. Seddon:
NORTH CAROLINA.
George Davis —--------             Wilmington.
Thomas Ruffin ---------------— Graham.
David S. Reid   --------------— Pleasantville.
D. M. Barringer ----— aleih.
J. M. Morehead —-—. —---           Greensboro'.
TENNESSEE.
Samuel Milligan --— Greenville.
Josiah M. Anderson ----------— Walnut Valley.
Robert L. Caruthers - ----------.-  Lebanon.
. 
83
Thomas Martin -------— Pulaski.
Isaac R. Hawkins. —----------- Huntington.
A. W. O. Totten —-------------- Jackson.
R. J. McKiuney         ---------— Knoxville.
Alvin Cullom —----------------- Livingston.
William P. Hickerson —--------- Manchester.
George WV. Jones —--- -------— Fayetteville.
F. K. Zollicoffer ---------------- Nashville.
William H. Stephens —-- ------— Jackson.
KENTUCKY.
William 0. Butlcr —------------- Carrollton.
James B. Clay —---- ---------— Ashland.
Joshua F. Bell —-- ----------       Danville.
Charles S. Morehead —---- ----—.Louisville.
James Guthrie —-------- ------— Louisville.
Charles A. Wickliffe —---------- Bardstown.
MISSOURI.
John D. Coalter ---------- ------ St. Louis.
Alexander W. Doniphan. —-----— Liberty.
Waldo P. Johnson - --------— Osceolo.
Aylett H. Buckner —------------ Bowling Green.
Harrison Hough —---- --------— Charleston.
OHIO.
Salmon P. Chase —. ——. --—. —-— Columbus.
William S. Groesbeck -----—. —-- Cincinatti.
Franklin T. Backus —-- ------ -— Cleveland.
Reuben Hitchcock -----------       Cleveland.
Thomas Ewing --------------— Lancaster.
V. B. Horton —------------  -Pomeroy.
C. P. Wolcott. —-.. —-----------— Akron.
INDIANA.
Caleb B. Smith.. —--. ndianapolis.
Pleasant A. Hackleman --------— Rushville.
Godlove S. Orth —---- ---------- Lafayette.
E. W. H. Ellis-. —-                Goshen.
Thomas C. Slaughter -----     -.  Corydon.
I 
84
ILLINOIS.
John Wood —---- --— Quincy.
Stephen T. Logan   5. —---------— Springfield.
John M. Palmer C —------------— Carlinville.
Burton C. Cook —-------------- Ottowa.
Thomas J. Turner -----------—.Freeport.
IOWA.
James Harlan M —------—. Pleasant.
James W. Grimes -------------— Burlington.
Samuel H. Curtis --------------— Keokuk.
William Vandever. —----------— Dubuque.
KANSAS.
Thomas Ewing jr. —----—.Leavenworth.
J. C. Stone.........Leavenworth.
H. J. Adams —--—. —----------- Leavenworth.
M. F. Conway —--------------- Lawrence. 
85
APPENDIX.
The delegates from the several States presented the following as the resolutions of their respective States, to be considered by the Convention; which were
ordered to be printed, and made part of the journal:
TENNESSEE.
RESOLUTIONS proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That a Convention
of delegates from all the slaveholding States should assemnble at Nashville, Tennessee, or such other place as a majority of the States co-operating may designate, on the 4th day of Februarv, 1861, to digest.and define a basis upon which,
if possible, the Federal Union and the constitutional rights of the slave States
may be perpetuated and preserved.
Resolved, That the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee appoint a
number of delegates to said Convention, of our ablest and wisest men, equal to
our whole delegation in Congress; and that the Governor of Tennessee immediately furnish copies of these resolutions to the Governors of the slaveholding
States, and urge the participation of such States in said Convention.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, such plan ofadjustment should embrace the following propositions as amendments to the Constitution of the United States:
1. A declaratory amendment that African slaves, as held under the institutions of the slaveholding States, shall be recognized as property, and entitled to
the status of other property, in the States where slavery exists, in all places
within the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress in the slave States, in all the Territories south of 36 deg. 30 min., in the District of Columbia, in transit, and
whilst temporarily sojourning with the owner in the non-slaveholding States and
Territories north of 36 de-. 30 min., and when fugitives from the owner, in the
several places above named, as wqll as in all places in the exclusive jurisdiction
of Congress in the non-.laveholding States.
2. That all the territory now owned, or which may be hereafter acquired by
the United States south of the parallel of 36 deg. 30 min., African slavery shall
be recognized as existing, and be protected by all the departments of the Federal
and Territorial Governments, and in all north of that line, now owned, or to be
acquired, it shall not be recognized as existing; and whenever States formed out
of any of said territory south of said line, having a population equal to that of a
congressional district, -hall apply for admission into the Union, the sane shall
be admitted as slave States, whilst States north of the line, formed out of said
territory, and having a population equal to a congressional district, shall be
admitted without slavery; but the States formed out of said territory north and
south having been admitted as members of the Union, shall have all the powers
over the institution of slavery possessed by the other States of the Union.
3. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in places under its exclusive jurisdiction, and situate within the limits of States that permit the holding
of slaves.
4. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery within the District of
Columbia, as long as it exists in the adjoining States of Virginia and Maryland,
or either, nor without the consenlt (-f the inhabitants, nor without just compensation made to such owners of slaves as do not consent to such abolishment.
Nor shall Congress at any time prohibit the officers of the Federal Government 
86
or members of Congress whose duties require them to be in said District, from
bringing with them their slaves, and holding them as such, du,ring the time their
duties may require them to remain there, and afterwards take them firom the
District.
5. Congress shall have no power to prohibit or hinder the transportation of
slaves from one State to another, or the Territory in which slaves are by  low
permitted to be held, whether that transportation be by land, inavigable rivers,
or by seas.
6. In addition to the Fugitive Slave clause, prrviule that when a slave lha
been demanded of the Executive authority of thq State to which lie has flel, if
he is not delivered, and the owner permitted to carry him out of the State in
peace, the State so failing to deliver, shall pay to tihe owner the value of such
slave, and such damages as he may have sustained in attempting to reclaim  his
slave, and secure his right of action in the Supreme (;outt of the United States,
with execution against the property of such State and the individuals thereof.
7. No future amendment of the Constitution shall affect the six preceding articles, nor the third paragraph of the set'ond section of the first article of the Constitution, nor the thirdi paragraph of the seco,nd section of the fourth art cle of
the Constitution; and no amendments shall be made to the C,unstitutiu,n whi'hl
will authorize or give to Congress any power to abolish or interfefe with slavery in any of the States by whose laws it is, or may be, allowrd or [ierniitted.
8. That slave property shall be rendered secure in transit throu Ih, or whilst
temporarily sojourning in, non-slaveholding States or Territories, or in the District of Columbia.
9. An amendment to the effect that all fugitives are to be deemed those offending the laws within the jurisdiction of the State, and who escape therefrom to
other States; and that it is the duty of each State to suppress armed invasions of
another State.
Resolved, That said Convention of the slaveholdinZ States having agreed uipon
a basis of adjustment satisfactory to themselves, should, in the opiinion of this
General Assembly, refer it to a Convention of all thle States, slaveholding and
non-slaveholding, in the manner following:
It should invite all States friendly to such plan of adjustment, to elect delegates in such manner as to reflect the popular will, to aissermble in a Constitutional Convention of all the States North and South, to be held at Richmond,
Virginia, on the -     day of February, 1861, to revise and perfect such lulau of
adjustment, for its reference for final ratification and tdoption by a Couvention
of the States respectively.
Resolved, That should a plan of adjustmerit, satisfactory to the Soutl, not be
acceded to by a requisite number of States to perfect amendments to the Constitution of the United States, it is the opinion of this General Assembly that the
slaveholding States should adopt for themselves the Cotstitution of the United
States, with such amendments as may be satisfactory to the slaveholding States,
and that they should invite into the Union with them all States of the North
which are willing to abide such amended Constitution aid firame of Government,
severing at once all connections with States refusingt such reasotinab)le guarantees
to our future safety; such renewed coniaitioi,s of F,deral Union being first submitted for ratification to Conventions of all the States resfiectiveiy.
Resolved, That the Governor of the State ol Tennessee furtiisheopies of these
resolutions immediately to the Governors of the non-slaveholding States.
OHIO.
JOIN 1 RESOLUTIONS of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, rela  tive to the appointment of Commissioners to the C(onventioni to meet in Wash  ington on the 4th of February, proximo.  Passed January 30, 1861.
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Virgitia has appointed five Commissioners to meet in the City of Washington on the 4th day of February next, with 
87
simnilar Commissioners from other States, and after full and free conference to
agree, if practicable, upon  s me adjustment of the unhappy  difficulties now
d,viding our country, which omay be alike satisfactory and honorable to the
States concerned: therefire be it
Resolvel, by tie G,ne,al s.ssemibl9 of the State of Ohio, That the Governor, by
and withti the advice and conseut of the Senate, be and he is hereby auth.)rized
an:l I empowered to appoint five Comrnissiotiers to represent the State of Ohio in
saidi C,itference.
R,solved, That while we are not prepared to assent to the ternis of settlement
prop,)sed by Virginia, and are fully satisfi, d that the Constitution of the United
States as it is, if f;iriv interpreted and obeyed by all sections of our country,
contains ample pr.visior,is within itself fi,r the correction of all evils complained
of, yet a disposition to reciprocate the patriotic spirit of a sister State, anl a sincere desire to have harmoniously adjusted all differences between us, induce us
to favor the aprpo)ntnieit of the Commission as requested.
Resol,ed, That the G,veriinr ie requested to transmit without delay a copy of
these Resolutions t X each,f the Commissiine's to be appointed as aforesaid, to
the end that they may repair to the City of Washington, on the day hereinbef,re named, t.t meet such Ci)mmissioners as may be appointed  by any of the
Sta-es in accordance with ihe afioresaid prol)ositiotis of Virginia.
Ke,olved, Ttiat in the opiniimn of this General Assembly, it will be wise and
ex a,dvent to at]j urn the proposed Cotiventi,n to a later (lay, and that the Commissione-rs to be ape,inted as aforesaid, are requested to use their influence ini
procuring an adjournment to the 4th day of April next.
KENTUCKY.
RESOLUTIONS appointing Commissioners to attend a Conference at Wash  ing,oti City, February 4,h, iii accordance with the invitation of the Virginia
Lefis.-latui-e.
WHERF,AS, The General Assembly of Virginia, with a view to make an effort
to l,reset v the Unioii atid the Co,nstitution in the sp)irit in which they were established by the tathtiers of the R.pi)lic, have, Ity ie.soltitton, invited all the States
whoi are willing ti, unite wit, li, r in an e,,riiest effort to adjust the present unhati)y ci)iti,rveisies, to atirioitit Commissioners to rm,eet oni the 4th of February
next, to ronsider, anid if praicticable, agree upon some suitable adjustment  Re.soired, Thait we, eartily accept the invitation of our Old Mltither Virginia,
and that the following six C,immis-ii)ters, Liz: Wm. O. Butler, Jas. B.  Clay,
Joshua F. Bell, C. S. Morehead, Jas. Gutirie, and.'has. A. Wickliffe, be appointed to represent the.tate of Kentucky in the contemplated Convention,
whose duty it shall t)e to repair to the city of Washington, on  the day designated, to meet such Commissioners as may be ap)ointed by any of the States
in accordlance with the foregoing itivitati.)n.
Resolved, Tilhat if said CG,mriis..ioners shall agree upon any plan of adjustmetit requirin-g amendments to the Federal Constitutio), they be reqtvsted to
communicate the proposed amendments to Congress, for the purpose of having
the same suibmitted by ttiat body, accordi,g to the forms of the Constitution, to
the several States for ratificaio)ti.
Resolv d, That if sadl Cominissioners cannot agree in an adjustment, or if
ag,reeing,, (iongress shall refuse to submit fir ratification such amendments as
they may propose, the (omnmiisione,s of this State shall immediately communicate the result to the Executive of this Commonwealth, to be by him laid before this General Assembly.
Resolved, That in the opinion of the General Assembly of Kentucky, the propositiotis embraced in the resolutions presented to the Senate ot thie United States
by the Hon. Johni J. Critt-tiden, so constiued that the first article proposed as
ant ametidiment to the Constituti,n of the United States shall apply to all theTerritory of the United Stat  now held or hereafier acquired south of latitude 36
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88
deg. and 30 min., and provide that slavery of the African race shall be effectually
protected as property herein during the continuance of the Territorial Government; and the fourth article shall secure to the owners of slaves the right of
transit with their slaves between and through the non-slaveholding States and
Territories, constitute the basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this Confederacy, as would be acceptable
to the people of this Commonwealth.
Resolved, That the Governor be, and he is hereby, requested to communicate
information of the foregoing appointment to the Commissioners above named,
at as early a day as practicable, and that he also communicate copies of the foregoing resolutions to the Executive of the respective States.
INDIANA.
A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the Governor to appoint Commissioners
to meet those sent by other States in Convention on the state of the Union.
WHEREAS, The State of Virginia has transmitted to this State resolutions
adopted by her General Assembly, inviting all such States as are willing to unite
with her in an earnest effort to adiust the unhappy controversies, in the spirit in
whiech the Constitution was originally formed, to send Commissioners to meet
those appointed by that State in Convention, to be held in the city of Washington, on the fourth day of February next, to consider, and if possible, to agree
upo* some suitable adjustmrnent.
And' whereas, some of the States to which invitations were extended by the
State of Virginia have already responded and appointed their Commissioners:
therefore,
Resolved, by the General assembly of the State of Indiana, That we accept the
invitation of the State of Virginia, in the true spirit of fraternal feeling, and that
the Governor of the State is hereby directed and empowered to appoint five Commissioners to meet the Commissioners appointed by our sister States, to consult
upon the unhappy differences now dividing the country; but the said Commissioners shall take no action that will commit this State until nineteen of the
States are represented, nor without first having communicated with this General
Assembly in regard to such action, and having received the authority of the
same so to commit the State.
Resolved, That while we are not prepared to assent to the terms of settlement
proposed by the State of Virginia, and are fully satisfied that the Constitution,
if fairly interpreted and obeyed, contains ample provision within itself for the
correction of the evils complained of; still, with a disposition to reciprocate the
patriotic desire of the State of Virginia, and to have harmoniously adjusted all
differences existing between the States of the Union, this General Assembly is
induced to respond to the invitation of Virginia, by the appointment of the Commissioners herein provided for; but as the time fixed for the Convention  to assemble is so near at hand that the States cannot all be represented, it is expected
that the Commissioners on behalf of this State will insist that thie Convention
adjourn until such time as the States shall have an opportunity of being represented.
Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, be requested to transmit copies
of these resolutions to the Executives of each of the States of the Union.
DELAWARE.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS appointing Commissioners.
Whereas, the State of Virginia has recommended the holding of a Convention of Delegates fromall the States of the Union, at the City of Washington, on
0
II,
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the fourth day of February next, for the purpose of taking into consideration
and perfecting some plan of adjusting the matters of controversy now so unhappily subsisting in the family of States, and has appointed five Commissioners to
represent the people of that Commonwealth in said Convention; and
Whereas, the people of the State of Delaware regard the preservation of the
Union as paramount to any political consideration, and are fixed in their determination that Delaware, the first to adopt the Federal Constitution, will be the
last to do any act tending to destroy the integrity of the Union; therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware
in General issembly met, That the Hon. George B. Rodney, Daniel M. Bates,
Esq., Dr. Henry Ridgley, Hon. John W. Houston, and William Cannon, Esq.,
be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners, on behalf of the State of
Delaware, to represent the people of said State in the Convention to be held at
Washington, on the fourth day of February next.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, the people of Delaware are thoroughly devoted to the perpetuity of the Union, and that the Commissioners appointed by the foregoing resolution are expected to emulate the
example set by the immortal patriots who framed the Federal Constitution, by
sacrificing all minor considerations upon the altar of the Union.
Resolved further, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to furnish
a copy of the above preamble and resolutions to each of the Commissioners
herein and hereby appointed, duly attested under the great seal of thie State.
Resolvedftfurther, That immediately upon the adoption of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, it shall be the duty of the Clerk of the House to transmit to
the Secretary of State a copy thereof, certified by him; and when the Secretary
of State shall have received said copy so certified, it shall be evidence that said
preamble and resolutions were duly adopted by this General Assembly.
lLLINOIS.
Whereas, resolutions of the State of Virginia have been communicated to
the General Assembly of this State, proposing the appointment of Commissioners
by the several States to meet in convention, on the 4th day of February, A. D.
1861, at Washington.
Resolved by the Senate, the Hotuse of Representatives concurring herein, That with
the earnest desire for the return of harmony and kind relations among all our
sister States, and out of respect to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Governor of
this State be requested to appoint five Comrmissioners on the part of the State of
Illinois, to confer and consult with the Commissioners of other States who shall
meet at Washington: Provided, That said Commissioners shall at all times be
subject to the control of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois.
Resolved, That the appointment of Commissioners bv the State of Illinois, in
response to the invitation of the State of Virginia, is not an expression of opinion
on the part of this State that any amendment of the Federal Constitution is requisite to secure to the people of the slaveholding States adequate guarantees for
the security of their rights, nor an approval of the basis of settlenent of our
difficulties proposed by the State of Virginia, but it is an expression of our willingness to unite with the State of Virginia in an earnest effort to adjust the present unhappy controversies in the spirit in which the Constitution was originally
formed, and consistently with its principles.
Resolved, That while we are willing to appoint Commissioners to meet in conventionr. with those of other States for consultation upon matters which at present distract our harmony as a nation, we also insist that the appropriate ard
constitutional method of considering and  acting upon  the grievances  complained of by our sister States, would be by the call of a conventioa for the
amendment of the Constitution in the manner contemplated by the fifth article
of that instrument; and if the States  deeming  themselves  aggrieved, shall
request Congress to call such convention, the Legislature of Illinois will and does
concur in such call.
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NEW JERSEY.
JOINT  RESOLUTIONS  in relation to the Union of the States.
Whereas, tlie people of New Jsrsev, conforming to the opinion of, the
Father of his Country," consider the unity of the government, which constitutes
the people of the United States one people, a mair. pillar in the,difice of their
indeplendence, the sopp,)rt (,f their tranquility at home and peace alroad, of their
prosperity, and of that liberty which they so highly prize; and properly estimating the i:nmense value of their National Union to their individual happin,ess,
they cherish a cordial, haliatital, av,d immovable attachment to it as the palladium
of their political safety and prosperity; therefore,
1. Be it tesolvtd by the Senate and General Assemibly of the State of J  w Jiersey,
That  it is the duty -,f every good citizen, in all suitalle and proper ways, to
stand b)y and susta n the Unii,,n of the States as transmitted to us by our fathers.
2. Ilad be it resol,.d,  Ilhat the governmrent of the Uiiited States is a national
goverlinient, and tie Union it wais d(lesig,ed to perfect is not a mere compact or
league; and that the C,,utsltitution was adopted in a spirit of muitual compromise
and concession by the peol,le of the United States, and can only be preserved by
tile c,onstant recognitio:n,,f that spirit.
3.itd be It resoled(l, That however undoubted may be the right of the general
government ti, maintain its authority and enforce its laws over all parts of the
country, it is equally certain that fiorbearance and compromise ate indispensible
at thiis crisis to the pierpetuity of the Union, and that it is the dictate of reason,
wisdom, and patricti.m peacefully to adjust whatever differences exist between
the different sections of the country.
4. And be it res,lved, That the resolutions and propositions submitted to the
Setnate of the United States by the Honorable John J. Crittenden,of Kentucky, for
the comnpromise of the questions in dispute between the people of the northern
and of thle s,,utheri States, or airy other constitutional method that will permaneotty settle thie question of slavery, will be acc.el-tatile to the people of the State
of New  Jeisey, arid tile Senators aid Representatives in Ctongress from New
Jersey be iequested and earnestly urged to support thtose resolutions and propoSi' 101I5.
5.  nad be it resolred, That as the Union of the States is in imminent danger
unless thle remedies before su.ggested be speedily adopted, then, as a last resort,
the Sta,e of New Jersey hereby makes applicatisin,according to the terms of the
C(,nstitutiln, of the Coneiress of tha  United States, to call a convention (of the
States) to liroli(,se amiern,ments to said C4,)stitutIon.
6  datd be it resoled,'lhat such of the States as have in force laws which
interfere with the constitutional rights of ci izens of tile other States, either in
regard lo their persons (,r iro(lerty, or which militate against the just constructioii of that paart of the Conistitution that pro,vides that " the citizens of'each State
shall be entitled to all the privileges and iimmunities of citizens in the several
Sttiates," are eari est'y urged arid requies ed, for the sake of peace and the Union,
to repeal all such laws.
7. dtlt be it resolved, That his Excellency Charles S. Olden, Peter D. Vroom,
Robert F. Stocktorn, Betijamin Williamson  Joseph F. Rand-lph, Frederick T.
Fielii,ghuysei), R,,doiiat M.  Pr-ice, William C. Alexander, aidTl'homas  J.
Stryker be appointed commissioners to confer with Congress and our sister States,
and urge upon  them the importance of carrying into effect thie priiinc(iples anid
objects of the foregoing resolutions.
8. Ind be it resolved, T'hat the commissioners above named, in addition to
their other powers, be authorized to meet with those now or hereafter to bie apppinted ti,y our sister State (f Virginia, and such commissioners o,f other States
as have been, or niay be hereafter appointed, to meet at Washington on the
fourth day of February next.
9. dad be it resolv,d, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the
Presidetit  of the Seijate and Speaker of the Hous, of Representatives of the United
States, atid to the Senators aud Representatives in Congress from Iew Jersey,
and to the Govei-norb of the several btates. 
NEW YORK.
CONCURRENT  RESOLUTIONS  appointing Commissioners from this State
to meet Comnmissioners from other States at Washington, on ijlvitation of
Virginia.
WHFRE'AS, the State of Virginia, by resolutions of her General  Assembly,
passed the 19th instatit, has invited such of the slaveholding and non.slavehtolding States as are willing to unite with her, to meet at *  ashitigton, on the 4'h
of February next, to consider, and, if practicable, agree on some suitable adjustnment of outir nationtal difficu'ties; atid whereas, the people of New fork,
while they holdi the opi i.n that the CoiIs,titutioo of the United States, as it is,
contains all needful guarantees for the rigihts of the States, are nevertheless
ready, at all tinies, to contifer with thei  brethren upon all alleged grievances
and to do all that can justly I,e required of them to) allay discontent; therefore
Resofited, That David  Duiley  Field, Wm.  Cuctis Noyes, Jamies S.  Wadsworth, Jats. C. Smith, Amaziah B James, ErastLus C)roirg, Addis,ti Gardinr)er,
Green C. Broisi,,n. WVm.  E. Dodtige, Ex-Governor Jotn A. Kit,g, aid M~ijor
General John E. Wo(,I, lie andi are beteleby atl)oitited( Cominissioners,,no the
part of this State, to meet C,mmmtssittt,ers from other States. in the city of
Wa.shingtou, on the 4h dtay of F,trtary next, or so soon  thereafter as Commissioners shall be a)poirited by a mijorily of the,Sates of the Union, to confer with them upon the complaints,f' any part of the country, and to suggest
such remedies therefor as t,) ttem shiall seem  fit and propler; but the slid commissioners shall at all times be stl.iject to the control of this Legislature, and
shall cast five votes to be determined by a majority of their number.
Resolved, That in thus acceding to the request of Virginia, it is not to be
unde-stiood that this Leg.islature al)irove of the propositionis submitted by the
General Assembly of that State, or concedes the I roptriety of their adoption by
the proptsed Convention.   Bitt while adhetii)g to tije position she has heretofore
occupied, New  York  will not reject an iavitatior  to a conference, which, by
bringing together the men of b,,tih sections, holds out the possibility of an
hon,)rable settlement of our national difficulties, and the restoration of peace and
harmniony to the country.
Resolved,'hat the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the  foregoing resolutions to the Executive of the several States, and also to the President of the United States, atid to ift,orm the Commissioners without delay of
their appoinlmtent.
Resolved, Jlhat the foregoing resolutiors be transmitted to the honorable the
Senate, with a request that they concur therein.
PENNSYLVANIA.
RESOLUTIONS to appoint Commissioners to a Convention of the States.
Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Virginia has invited aGeeting of
Commissioners from the several States of this Uniott, to be held( in the (itv of
WVashinigton, on the 4th day of February next, to consider, and if practicable,
agree upon some suitable adjustment of the unhappy differences which now disturb the business of the country and threaten the dissolution of this Union:
And whereas, in the opinion of this Legislature, no reasonable cause exists
for this extraordinary excitement which now pervades some of the States, in
relation to their domestic institutions, and while Pennsylvania still adheres to,
and cannot surrender the principles which she has  tlwtiys entertained on the
subject of slavery, this Legislature Is willing to accept the invitation of Virginia,
and unite with her in an earnest effort to restore the peace of the coiuntry, by
such means as may be consistent with the principles upon which the Conlstitution is f,,unded; therefore,
Resolved by the Stnate and  House oJ Rtpresetatives qf Ihe Ccitmoaowoalh of
91 
92
Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That the invitation of the Legislature of
Virginia to her sister States, for the appointment of Commissioners to meet in
the city of Washington, on the fourth of February next, be and thi same is
hereby accepted; and that the Governor be and he is hereby authorized to appoint seven Commissioners for the State of Pennsylvania, whose duty it shall
be to repair to the city of Washington, on the day designated, to meet such
Commissioners as may be appointed by any other States, which have not
authorized or sanctioned the seizure of the forts, arsenals, or other property of
the United States, to consider, and if possible, to agree upon suitable measures
for the prompt and final settlement of the difficulties which now exist: Provided,
That the said Commissioners shall be subject, in all their proceedings, to the
instructions of this Legislature.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Legislature, the people of Pennsylvania
do not desire any alteration or amendment of the Constitution of the United
States, and any recommendation from this body to that effect, while it does not
come within its appropriate and legitimate duties, would not meet with their approval; that Pennsylvania will cordially unite with the other States of the
Union in the adoption of any proper constitutional measures adequate to
guarantee and secure a more strict and faithful observance of the second section
of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States, which provides,
among other things, that " the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States," and tha tno person
held to service or labor in one State under the law thereof, escaping into another,
shall in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged fiom such
service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom
such service or labor may be due.
MASSACHUSETTS.
RESOLVE for the appointment of Commissioners to attend a Convention
to be held in the city of Washington.
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is desirous of a full and free
conference with the General Government, and with any or all of the other States
of the Union, at any time and on every occasion when such conference may
promote the welfare of the country; and whereas, questions of grave moment
have arisen touching the powers of the Government and the relations between
the different States of the Union; and whereas, the State of Virginia has expressed a desire to meet her sister States in convention at Washington: Therefore,
Resolved, That the Governor of this Commonwealth, by and with the advice
and consent of the Council, be and he hereby is authorized to appoint seven
persons as commissioners, to proceed to Washington to confer with the General
Government, or with the separate States, or with any association of delegates
from such,tates, and to report their doings to the Legislature at its present
session; it being expressly declared that their acts shall be at all lAmes under
the control, and subject to the approval or rejection of the Legislature.
RHODE ISLAND.
Whe,eas, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the
19th day of January inst., adopted resolutions inviting the sister States of this
Union to appoint commissioners to meet on the 4th day of February next, in
the city of Washington, to consider the practicability of agreeing on terms of
adjustment of our present national troubles:
Resolved, That the Governor be and he is hereby authorized to appoint five
commissioners, on the part of this State, to meet such commissioners as may be 
93
appointed by other States, in the city of Washington, on the 4th day of February next, to consider and, if practicable, agree upon some amicable adjustment of the present unhappy national difficulties, upon the basis and in the
spirit of the Constitution of the United States.
MISSOURI.
JOINT RESOLUTION to appoint Commissioners.
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein, That
Waldo P. Johnson, John D. Coalter, A. W. Doniphan, Harrison Hough, and
A. H. Buckner be appointed commissioners on the part of the State of Missouri,
to meet commissioners from Virginia, and other States, in Convention at Washington city, on the 4th of February, 1861, to endeavor to agree upon some
plan of adjustment of existing difficulties, so as to preserve or to reconstruct the
Union of these States, and to secure the honor and equal rights of the slaveholding States. Said commissioners shall always be under the control of the
General Assembly, except when the State Convention shall be in session, during which time they shall be under the control of the Convention.
I