NEW JERSEY. 



515 



promise, we anxiously await the result. If it 

 should appear that their views cannot be har- 

 monized, then I earnestly recommend that 

 (unless some more approved plan is proposed) 

 without delay you adopt a resolution inviting 

 all the States to appoint delegates, in such 

 manner as can be most speedily and satisfac- 

 torily done, who shall meet and endeavor to 

 agree upon terms by which our Union may be 

 saved. We cannot believe it possible that such 

 a Convention would fail to agree on terms ac- 

 ceptable to a majority in all sections of the 

 country, and these terms could be presented to 

 Congress as the united wish of the people of 

 the States." 



In accordance with this disposition, January 

 15th, the Committee on National Affairs in 

 the Legislature reported joint resolutions, en- 

 dorsing the Crittenden compromise, and in- 

 structing Senators, and requesting Representa- 

 tives to support them in Congress, also to call 

 upon Congress for a National Convention. The 

 resolutions were adopted by the Legislature and 

 laid before Congress. They were as follows : 



Joint Resolutions on the state of the Union, passed by 



the legislature of New Jersey. 

 Whereas the people of New Jersey, 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 main pillar 

 in the edifice of their independence, the support of 

 their tranquillity at home and peace abroad, of their 

 prosperity, and of that liberty which they so highly 

 prize ; aud properly estimating the immense value of 

 their national Union to their individual happiness, 

 they cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable at- 

 tachment to it as the palladium of their political safety 

 aud prosperity ; therefore, 



1. Be it resolved by the Senate and General Assembly 

 ofttie State ojFJfew Jersey, That it is the duty of every 

 good citizen, in all suitable and proper ways, to stand 

 by and sustain the Union of the States as transmitted 

 to us by our fathers. 



2. And be it resolved. That the Government of the 

 United States is a National Government, and the 

 union it was designed to perfect is not a mere com- 

 pact or league ; and that the Constitution was adopted 

 in a spirit of mutual compromise and concession by 

 the people of the United States, and can only be pre- 

 served by the constant recognition of that spirit. 



3. And be it resolved, That however undoubted may 

 be the right of the General Government to maintain 

 its authority and enforce its laws over all parts of the 

 country, it is equally certain that forbearance and 

 compromise are indispensable at this crisis to the per- 

 petuity of the Union ; and that it is the dictate of 

 reason, wisdom, and patriotism, peacefully to adjust 

 whatever differences exist between the different sec- 

 tions of our country. 



4. And be it resohed, That the resolutions and propo- 

 sitions submitted to the Senate of the United States by 

 Hon. John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, for the com- 

 promise of the question in dispute between the people 

 of the Northern and of the Southern States, or any 

 other constitutional method of settling the slave ques- 

 tion permanently, will be acceptable to the people of 

 the State of New Jersey, and the Senators and Rep- 

 resentatives in Congress from New Jersey be requested 

 and earnestly urged to support these resolutions and 

 propositions. 



5. And be it resolved, That as the union of these 

 States is in imminent danger, unless the remedies be- 

 fore suggested be speedily adopted, then, as a last re- 

 sort, the State of New Jersey hereby makes application, 

 according to the terms of the Constitution, to the Con- 



gress of the United States, to call a Convention (of the 

 States) to propose amendments to said Constitution. 



6. And be it resolved, That such of the States as 

 have in force laws which interfere with the constitu- 

 tional rights of citizens of the other States either in 

 regard to their persons or property, or which militate 

 against the just construction of that part of the Con- 

 stitution that provides that the " citizens of each State 

 shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities 

 of citizens in the several States," are earnestly urged 

 and requested, for the sake of peace and the Union, to 

 repeal all such laws. 



7. And be it resolved, That his Excellency, Charles S. 

 Olden, Peter D. Vroom, Robert F. Stockton, Benjamin 

 Williamson, Joseph F. Randolph, Frederick T. Fre- 

 linghuysen, Rodman M. Price, Thomas J. Stryker, 

 and William C. Alexander, be appointed commission- 

 ers to confer with Congress and our sister States, 

 and urge upon them the importance of carrying into 

 effect the principles and objects of the foregoing reso- 

 lutions. 



8. And be it resolved, That the commissioners above 

 named, in addition to their other powers, be authorized 

 to meet with those now or hereafter to be appointed 

 by our sister State of Virginia, and such commission- 

 ers of other States as have been or may hereafter be 

 appointed, to meet at Washington on the 4th of Feb- 

 ruary next. 



On the 24th of January these resolutions 

 passed the Senate, 11 to 6. The affirmative 

 being 10 Democrats and 1 National Union. 

 On the 25th they passed the House, 31 to 11. 



Those Republican members who supported 

 Mr. Lincoln adopted the following preamble 

 and resolutions: 



Resolutions of the Republican members of the New 

 Jersey Legislature, on the present state of the Union. 

 Whereas the Democratic majority of the Legislature 

 of New Jersey, now in session, have, by a strictly 

 party vote, passed certain resolutions, indorsing the 

 Crittenden compromise resolutions and propositions, 

 and declaring the same to be acceptable to the people 

 of New Jersey, and we, the friends and supporters of 

 Lincoln and Hamlin, representing in said Legislature 

 one-half of the people of New Jersey, totally dissent 

 from the resolutions passed by the Democratic major- 

 ity, and it is proper that the views of ourselves and 

 our constituents should be formally made known to the 

 whole country ; therefore, 



Resolved, That we adhere to the following resolutions, 

 presented in our behalf and supported by us unani- 

 mously in our respective places in the Senate and Gen- 

 eral Assembly of New Jersey, to wit : 



1. Be it resolved, That the Constitution of the United 

 States 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 if the 

 people of any State in the Union are not in the full en- 

 joyment of all the benefits intended to be secured to 

 them by the said Constitution ; if their rights under 

 it are disregarded, their tranquillity disturbed, their 

 prosperity retarded, or their liberties imperilled, by the 

 people of any other State, full and adequate redress 

 can, and ought to be, provided for such grievances 

 through the action of Congress, and the other proper 

 departments of the National Government. 



2. And be it resolved, That while the people of New 

 Jersey can make no concessions to, or compromise 

 with traitors, levying war against the Government, 

 seizing its fortresses and revenues, and firing upon its 

 flag, yet they admire the patriotic fidelity of those 

 true "friends of the Union who are fighting an un- 

 equal battle in the Southern States, and they pledge 

 them their cooperation in all measures needful for 

 their welfare, security, and happiness within the 



