204 



CONGKESS, U. S. 



part of slaveholding States against the operation 

 of the Federal Government, when administered 

 by those who have come into power avowedly 

 on grounds of hostility to their institutions ; 

 whether a majority of the slave interest should 

 not be required to sanction the measures of the 

 Government; also, a dual executive be estab- 

 lished, etc. 



By Mr. Cox, of Ohio : That the committee 

 inquire what further legislation is necessary to 

 carry out the fugitive slave law, especially so 

 as to punish attorneys, judges, and others who 

 obstruct its operation. 



By Mr. Hutchins, of Ohio : That the com- 

 mittee inquire what legislation is necessary, if 

 any, to secure to the citizens of each State all 

 the privileges and immunities of the citizens in 

 the several States ; also, to secure the right of 

 the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 

 papers, effects, etc. 



By Mr. Sherman, of Ohio: That the only 

 effectual remedy for the dissensions is a faithful 

 observance of all the compromises of the Con- 

 stitution, and the laws made in pursuance 

 thereof. 



By Mr. Bingham, of Ohio : That the com- 

 mittee report such further legislation as may 

 be necessary to put down armed rebellion 

 against the laws and authority of the United 

 StiitGs etc 



By Mr. Mallory, of Florida : That the line 

 of 86 30' be adopted, etc. ; all future States to 

 be admitted with or without slavery, as their 

 Constitution may provide ; that Congress shall 

 not interfere with the internal slave-trade, or 

 abolish slavery where it has exclusive jurisdic- 

 tion. 



By Mr. Stevenson, of Kentucky : That it be 

 made felony to resist the officers, or to attempt 

 to rescue a fugitive in their custody. 



By Mr. English,. of Indiana: That the terri- 

 tory of the United States be divided, and that 

 when either portion has a sufficient population, 

 it shall be admitted as a State, without regard 

 to the question of slavery. Congress shall not 

 interfere with the rights of property in the 

 slaveholding portion of the territory ; and when- 

 ever a fugitive is rescued from his master, the 

 township in which it takes place shall be liable 

 in double the amount. 



By Mr. Kilgore, of Indiana : To give right 

 of trial by jury in fugitive slave cases; also, 

 allow a writ of error ; rescued slaves to be paid 

 for; and those who obstruct the operation of 

 the law to be criminally prosecuted. 



By Mr. Holman, of Indiana : That the Con- 

 stitution is a compact of mutual and permanent 

 obligation duty of the Federal Government to 

 enforce the laws, and that the committee in- 

 quire if the acts of Congress now in force are 

 sufficient for that purpose. 



By Mr. Niblack, of Indiana : That the com- 

 mittee inquire if Congress is competent to pro- 

 vide by law for the payment of the value of 

 fugitives, and, if so, to report accordingly. 



By Mr. Noell, of Missouri : That the com- 



mittee report the propriety of abolishing the 

 office of President, and establishing an Execu- 

 tive Council of three, each armed with the veto 

 power, etc. ; also, report what measures may 

 be necessary to restore the equilibrium of the 

 States. 



By Mr. Hickman, of Pennsylvania: An ex- 

 press recognition of the right of property in 

 slaves ; a denial to the Government of all right 

 or power to prohibit the trade between the 

 slaveholding States ; the right of property in 

 slaves to be protected in the territories; every 

 territory to be admitted with or without sla- 

 very, as their Constitution may provide , safety 

 of slave property in transitu, etc. 



By Mr. Larrabee, of Wisconsin : That it be 

 recommended to the several States to request 

 Congress to call a convention to amend the 

 Constitution. 



Mr. Anderson, of Missouri, submitted the 

 following resolution, with a proposition that 

 the questions contained therein be submitted to 

 the Supreme Court for their decision : 



That the questions at issue between the slaveholding 

 and non-slaveholding States now involving the integ- 

 rity and stability of the Union, are : 1. The consti- 

 tutional power of Congress to prohibit the introduc- 

 tion of slaves into the territories of the United States 

 by persons emigrating to said territories from States 

 wherein slavery exists. 2. The constitutional power 

 of a Territorial Legislature to prohibit or establish 

 slavery. 3. The constitutional right of Congress to 

 protect slave property in the territories of the United 

 States. 4. The constitutional power of Congress to 

 pass laws making it a criminal offence for any person 

 to prevent or obstruct, or attempt to prevent or ob- 

 struct the execution of the " fugitive slave act." 5. 

 The constitutional power of Congress to pass laws 

 punishing any person who shall, directly or indirectly, 

 aid or assist any other person held to service or labor 

 in one State, under the laws thereof, to escape from 

 the person to whom such service or labor may be due. 

 6. The constitutional right of a State to pass laws pre- 

 venting, hindering, or in any way, directly or indi- 

 rectly, obstructing the execution of the "fugitive 

 slave act." 



Many other propositions were offered and 

 referred to the same committee. They em- 

 braced generally the points of the preceding 

 ones, except the following, offered by Mr. 

 Sickles, of New York, as an amendment to the 

 Constitution : 



Whenever a convention of delegates, chosen in any 

 State by the people thereof, under the recommendation 

 of its Legislature, shall rescind and annul its rati- 

 fication of this Constitution, the President shall nomi- 

 nate, and by and with the advice and consent of the 

 Senate shall appoint commissioners, not exceeding 

 three, to confer with the duly appointed agents of such 

 State, and agree upon the disposition of the public 

 property and territory belonging to the United States 

 lying within such State, and upon the proportion of 

 the public debt to be assumed and paid by such State ; 

 and if the President shall approve the settlement 

 agreed upon by the commissioners, he shall thereupon 

 transmit the same to the Senate, and upon the rati- 

 fication thereof by two-thirds of the Senators present, 

 he shall forthwith issue his proclamation declaring the 

 assent of the United States to the withdrawal of such 

 State from the Union. 



A series of manoeuvres was then commenced, 

 to secure some kind of expression in the Hous 



