the two sections,
and by a recognition that _ours_ is a Union of freedom and
consent, not constraint and force, he respectfully submits,
for consideration by members of the Convention, the plan
hereto appended, marked No. 2.

Whether he shall feel bound to invoke the action of the
Convention upon it, may depend on the future manifestations
of sentiment in this body.

All which is respectfully submitted,

JAMES A. SEDDON.
_Commissioner from Virginia._

_February 15th, 1861._

No. 1.

_Joint Resolutions proposing certain amendments to the
Constitution of the United States._

_Whereas_, serious and alarming dissensions have arisen
between the Northern and Southern States, concerning the
rights and security of the rights of the slaveholding
States, and especially their rights in the common territory
of the United States; and _whereas_, it is eminently
desirable and proper that those dissensions, which now
threaten the very existence of this Union, should be
permanently quieted and settled by constitutional
provisions, which shall do equal justice to all sections,
and thereby restore to the people that peace and good will
which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the
United States: Therefore,

_Resolved_, by this Convention, that the following articles
are hereby approved and submitted to the Congress of the
United States, with the request that they may, by the
requisite constitutional majority of two-thirds, be
recommended to the respective States of the Union, to be,
when ratified by Conventions of three-fourths of the States,
valid and operative as amendments of the Constitution of the
Union.

ARTICLE 1. In all the territory of the United States, now
held or hereafter acquired, situate north of latitude
thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, slavery or
involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, is
prohibited, while such territory shall remain under
territorial government. In all the territory south of said
line of latitude, slavery of the African race is hereby
recognized as existing, and shall not be interfered with by
Congress, but shall be protected as property by all the
departments of the territorial government during its
continuance; and, when any territ