tained in attempting to reclaim his slave, and secure his right of action in the Supreme Court 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 second section of the first article of the Constitution, nor the third paragraph of the second section of the fourth article of the Constitution; and no amendments 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. S. That slave property shall be rendered secure in transit through, 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 slaveholding States having agreed upon a basis of adjustment satisfactory to themselves, should, in the opinion of this General Assembly, refer it to a Convention of all the 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 to reflect the popular will, to assemble 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 plan of adjustment, for its reference for final ratification and adoption by a Convention of the States respectively. Resolved, That should a plan of adjustment, satisfactory to the south, 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 Constitution 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 and frame of government, severing at once all connections with States refusing such reasonable guarantees to our future safety; such renewed conditions of federal Union being first submitted for ratification to Conventions of all the States respectively. Resolved, That the Governor of the State of Tennessee furnish copies of these resolutions, immediately, to the Governors of the non-slaveholding States." February 1. To the Legislature: Transmitting the following ordinance adopted by an Alabama Convention January 15, 1861, relative to postal arrangements: "Be it ordained, by the people of Alabama, in Convention assembled, that the postal contracts, arrangements and regulations in force on the 11th day of January, A. D., 1861, are permitted to be continued; and the persons charged with the duties thereof, are permitted to continue to discharge such duties until a postal treaty or treaties shall be concluded, or until otherwise ordered or provided by the authority of this State." February 1. To the Legislature: Transmitting the following ordinance adopted by a convention of the people of Georgia, dissolving the relations between that State and the Federal Union: "We, the people of the State of Georgia, in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance adopted by the people of the State of Georgia, in Convention, on the 2d day of January, in the year of our Lord 1788, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America, was assented to, ratified and adopted; and also, all acts and parts of acts, of the General Assembly of this State, ratifying and adopting amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed, rescinded and abrogated. We do further declare and ordain, that the Union now subsisting between the State of Georgia and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved; and that the State of Georgia is in the full possession and exercise of all those rights of sovereignty which belong and appertain to a free and independent State." February 1. To the Legislature: "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, } "I submit herewith, a copy of resolves of the Legislature of Massachusetts, tendering the aid of that Commonwealth to the President of the United States, in enforcing the laws and preserving the Union; also, a copy of the joint resolutions adopted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, relative to the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union; and also, the joint resolutions of the Legislature of Wisconsin, which passed both Houses by a unanimous vote, pledging the co-operation of Wisconsin in the defence and preservation of the Union. E. D. MORGAN." WISCONSIN RESOLUTIONS, ADOPTED JANUARY 21, 1861. "Resolved, by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the people of Wisconsin are ready to co-operate with the friends of the Union everywhere for its preservation; to yield a cheerful obedience to its requirements, and demand a like obedience from all others; and therefore adopt, as the sentiments of this Legislature, the preamble and resolutions of the State of New York, as follows: Whereas, The insurgent State of South Carolina, after seizing the postoffice, custom house, moneys and fortifications of the Federal Government, has, by firing into a vessel ordered by the Government to carry troops and provisions to Fort Sumter, virtually declared war; and whereas the forts and property of the United States Government in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, have been unlawfully seized with hostile intentions; and whereas treason, as defined by the Constitution of the United States, exists in one or more of the States of the Union; and whereas, further, Senators and Congressmen avow and maintain these treasonable acts; therefore Resolved, by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the Legislature of Wisconsin, profoundly impressed with the value of the Union, and determined to preserve it unimpaired, hail with joy the recent firm, dignified, and patriotic special message of the President of the United States; that we tender to him, through the Chief Magistrate of our own State, whatever aid in men and money may be required to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority of the Federal Government, and in defence of the more perfect Union, which has conferred prosperity and happiness on the American people. Renewing the pledge given and redeemed by our fathers, we are ready to devote our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors, in upholding the Union and the Constitution. Resolved, by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the Union-loving citizens of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, who labor with devoted courage and patriotism to withhold their States from the vortex of secession, are entitled to the gratitude and admiration of the whole people." MASSACHUSETTS RESOLUTION, ADOPTED JANUARY 23, 1861. 66 Whereas, Several States of the Union have, through the action of their people and authorities, assumed the attitude of rebellion against the National Government; and Whereas, Treason is still more extensively diffused; and Whereas, The State of South Carolina, having first seized the post office, custom house, moneys, arms, munitions of war, and fortifications of the Federal Government, has, by firing upon a vessel of the United States, committed an act of war; and Whereas, The forts and property of the United States, in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, have been seized with hostile and treasonable intentions; and Whereas, Senators and Representatives in Congress avow and sanction these acts of treason and rebellion; therefore, Resolved, That the Legislature of Massachusetts, now, as always, convinced of the inestimable value of the Union, and the necessity of preserving its blessings to ourselves and our posterity, regard with unmingled satisfaction the determination evinced in the recent firm and patriotic special message of the President of the United States, to amply and faithfully discharge his constitutional duty, of enforcing the laws and preserving the integrity of the Union; and we proffer to him, through the Governor of the Commonwealth, such aid in men and money, as he may require, to maintain the authority of the National Government. Resolved, That the Union-loving and patriotic authorities, representatives, and citizens of those States, whose loyalty is endangered or assailed by internal or external treason, who labor in behalf of the Federal Union, with unflinching courage, and patriotic devotion, will receive the enduring gratitude of the American people." PENNSYLVANIA RESOLUTIONS, ADOPTED JANUARY 24, 1861. "Whereas, A convention of delegates assembled in the city of Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, did on the 20th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty, adopt an ordinance, entitled An ordinance to dissolve the union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her, under the compact, entitled the "Constitution of the United States of America," whereby it is declared the said Union is dissolved; and Whereas, It becomes the duty of the people of Pennsylvania, through their representatives in this General Assembly, to make known what they consider to be the object sought, and the obligations and duties imposed by the Constitution; be it therefore 1. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby resolved, that the Constitution of the United States of America was ordained and established, as set forth in its 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 enjoyment of all the benefits intended to be m U. S. Const. preamble. VOL. V.-21. |