Joint Resolutions declaratory of the opinion of Congress in regard to certain questions now agitating the Country, and of measures calculated to reconcile existing differences.

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this committee, the existing discontents among the southern people, and the grow-ing hostility among them to the federal government, are greatly to be regretted; and that whether such discontents and hostility are without just cause or not, any reasonable, proper, and constitutional remedies, and additional and more specific and effectual guarantees of their peculiar rights and interests and recognized by the Constitution, necessary to pre-serve the peace of the country and the perpetuity of the Union, should be promptly and cheerfully granted. [Struck out]

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That all attempts of [on] the part[s] of the legislatures of any of the States to obstruct or hinder the recovery and surrender of fugitive from service or labor are in derogation of the Con-stitution of the United States, inconsistent with the comity and good neighborhood that should prevail among the several States, and dangerous to the peace of the Union.

Resolved, That the several States be respectfully requested to cause their statutes to be revised, with a view to ascertain if any of them are in conflict with or tend to embarrass or hinder the execution of the laws of the United States, made in pursuance of the second section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States for the delivery up of per-sons held to labor of the laws of any State and escaping therefrom; and the Senate and House of Representatives earnestly request that all enactments having such tendency be forthwith repealed, as required by a just sense of constitutional obligations, and by a due regard to the peace of the republic; and the President of the United States is requested to com-municate these resolutions to the governors of the several States, with a request that they will lay the same before the legislatures thereof respectively.

Resolved, That we recognize slavery as now existing in fifteen of the United States by the usages and laws of those States; and we recognize no authority, legally or otherwise, outside of a State where it so exists, to interfere with slaves or slavery in such States, in disregard of the rights of their owners or the peace of society.

Resolved, That we recognize the justice and propriety of a faithful execution of the Constitution, and laws made in pur-suance thereof, on the subject of fugitive slaves, or fugitives from service or labor, and discountenance all mobs or hin-drances to the execution of such laws, and that citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.

Resolved, That we recognize no such conflicting elements in its composition, or sufficient cause from any source, for a dissolution of this government; that we were not sent here to destroy, but to sustain and harmonize the institutions of the country, and to see that equal justice is done to all parts of the same; and finally, to perpetuate its existence on terms of equality and justice to all the States.

Resolved, That the faithful observance, on the part of all the States, of all their constitutional obligations to each other and to the federal government is essential to the peace of the country.

Resolved, That each State be requested to revise its statutes, and, if necessary, so to amend the same as to secure, without legislation by congress, to citizens of other States traveling therein the same protection as citizens of such State enjoy; and also to protect the citizens of other States travel-ing or sojourning therein against the popular violence or ille-gal summary punishment, without trial in due form of law for imputed crimes.

Resolved, That each State be also respectfully requested to enact such laws as will prevent and punish any attempt whatever in such State to recognize [arrange] or set on foot the lawless invasion of any other State or Territory.

Resolved, That the President be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing resolutions to the governors of the several States, with a request that they be communicated to their respective legislatures.

Resolved, That as there are no propositions from any quarter to interfere with slavery in the District of Columbia, or in places under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, and situate within the limits of States that permit the holding of slaves, or to interfere with the inter-State slave trade, this committee does not deem it necessary to take any action on those subjects.

• H. Res. 64 (introduced on 1861-01-12 12:00:00 - CREATE - e842763) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1861-01-12 12:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e842767) [view current proposal at this moment]