A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Part 64

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 Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth day of February next.

_Resolved_, That in the opinion of this General a.s.sembly, 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 Const.i.tution, 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 the State.

_Resolved, further_, 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 a.s.sembly.

ILLINOIS.

WHEREAS, resolutions of the State of Virginia have been communicated to the General a.s.sembly of this State, proposing the appointment of Commissioners by the several States to meet in Convention, on the fourth day of February, A.D. 1861, at Was.h.i.+ngton.

_Resolved by the Senate, the House 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 Commissioners on the part of the State of Illinois, to confer and consult with the Commissioners of other States who shall meet at Was.h.i.+ngton: _Provided_, That said Commissioners shall at all times be subject to the control of the General a.s.sembly of the State of Illinois.

_Resolved_, That the appointment of Commissioners by 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 Const.i.tution 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 settlement 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 Const.i.tution was originally formed, and consistently with its principles.

_Resolved_, That while we are willing to appoint Commissioners to meet in convention with those of other States for consultation upon matters which at present distract our harmony as a nation, we also insist that the appropriate and const.i.tutional method of considering and acting upon the grievances complained of by our sister States, would be by the call of a Convention for the amendment of the Const.i.tution 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.

NEW JERSEY.

JOINT RESOLUTIONS _in relation to the Union of the States._

WHEREAS, the people of New Jersey, conforming to the opinion of "the Father of his Country," consider the unity of the Government, which const.i.tutes 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; and properly estimating the immense value of their National Union to their individual happiness, they cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it as the palladium of their political safety and prosperity; therefore,

1. _Be it resolved by the Senate and General a.s.sembly of the State of New 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 compact or league; and that the Const.i.tution was adopted in a spirit of mutual compromise and concession by the people of the United States, and can only be preserved 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 perpetuity of the Union, and that it is the dictate of reason, wisdom, and patriotism, peacefully to adjust whatever differences exist between the different sections of the country.

4. _And be it resolved_, That the resolutions and propositions submitted to the Senate of the United States by the Honorable John J.

Crittenden, of Kentucky, for the compromise of the questions in dispute between the people of the northern and of the southern States, or any other const.i.tutional method that will permanently settle the question of slavery, will be acceptable to the people of the State of New Jersey, and the Senators and Representatives in Congress from New Jersey be requested and earnestly urged to support those resolutions and propositions.

5. _And be it resolved_, That as the Union of the States is in imminent danger unless the remedies before suggested be speedily adopted, then, as a last resort, the State of New Jersey hereby makes application, according to the terms of the Const.i.tution, of the Congress of the United States, to call a Convention (of the United States) to propose amendments to said Const.i.tution.

6. _And be it resolved_, That such of the States as have in force laws which interfere with the const.i.tutional 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 Const.i.tution that provides that "the citizens of each State shall be ent.i.tled 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. Frelinghuysen, Rodman M. Price, William O. Alexander, and Thomas J. Stryker, be appointed Commissioners 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 resolutions.

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 Commissioners of other States as have been, or may be hereafter appointed, to meet at Was.h.i.+ngton on the fourth day of February next.

9. _And be it resolved_, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from New Jersey, and to the Governors of the several States.

NEW YORK.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS _appointing Commissioners from this State to meet Commissioners from other States at Was.h.i.+ngton, on invitation of Virginia._

WHEREAS, the State of Virginia, by resolutions of her General a.s.sembly, pa.s.sed the 19th instant, has invited such of the slaveholding and non-slaveholding States as are willing to unite with her, to meet at Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth of February next, to consider, and, if practicable, agree on some suitable adjustment of our national difficulties; and whereas, the people of New York, while they hold the opinion that the Const.i.tution of the United States, as it is, contains all needful guarantees for the rights of the States, are nevertheless ready, at all times, to confer with their brethren upon all alleged grievances; and to do all that can justly be required of them to allay discontent; therefore

_Resolved_, That David Dudley Field, William Curtis Noyes, James S.

Wadsworth, James O. Smith, Amaziah B. James, Erastus Corning, Addison Gardiner, Greene O. Bronson, William E. Dodge, Ex-Governor John A.

King, and Major-General John E. Wool, be and are hereby appointed Commissioners, on the part of this State, to meet Commissioners from other States, in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth day of February next, or so soon thereafter as Commissioners shall be appointed by a majority of the States of the Union, to confer with them upon the complaints of any part of the country, and to suggest such remedies therefor as to them shall seem fit and proper; but the said Commissioners shall at all times be subject 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 understood that this Legislature approves of the propositions submitted by the General a.s.sembly of that State, or concedes the propriety of their adoption by the proposed Convention.

But while adhering to the position she has heretofore occupied, New York will not reject an invitation to a conference, which, by bringing together the men of both sections, holds out the possibility of an honorable settlement of our national difficulties, and the restoration of peace and harmony to the country.

_Resolved_, That 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, and to inform the Commissioners without delay of their appointment.

_Resolved_, That the foregoing resolutions 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 a meeting of Commissioners from the several States of this Union, to be held in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth 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 inst.i.tutions, and while Pennsylvania still adheres to, and cannot surrender the principles which she has always 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 country, by such means as may be consistent with the principles upon which the Const.i.tution is founded; therefore,

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General a.s.sembly met_, That the invitation of the Legislature of Virginia to her sister States, for the appointment of Commissioners to meet in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth of February next, be and the 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 Was.h.i.+ngton 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, a.r.s.enals, 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 Const.i.tution 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 const.i.tutional measures adequate to guarantee and secure a more strict and faithful observance of the second section of the fourth article of the Const.i.tution of the United States, which provides, among other things, that "the citizens of each State shall be ent.i.tled to all privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States," and that no 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 from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.

Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

RESOLVE _for the appointment of Commissioners to attend a Convention to be held in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton._

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Ma.s.sachusetts 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 Was.h.i.+ngton; 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 Was.h.i.+ngton to confer with the General Government, or with the separate States, or with any a.s.sociation of delegates from such States, and to report their doings to the Legislature at its present session; it being expressly declared that their acts shall be at all times under the control, and subject to the approval or rejection of the Legislature.

RHODE ISLAND.

WHEREAS, the General a.s.sembly 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 fourth day of February next, in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, 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 appointed by other States, in the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, on the fourth 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 Const.i.tution 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 Was.h.i.+ngton 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 a.s.sembly, except when the State Convention shall be in session, during which time they shall be under the control of the Convention.

No. II.

The following is a corrected list of the Delegates to the Conference, with their respective post office address.

MAINE.--William P. Fessenden, _Biddeford_; Lot M. Morrill; Daniel E.

Somes, _Biddeford_; John J. Perry, _Oxford_; Ezra B. French, _Damariscotta_; Freeman H. Morse, _Bath_; Stephen Coburn; Stephen C.

Foster, _Pembroke_.