in the free States, if the suit were brought.

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--It was to avoid going into definitions of that sort
that this language was employed in the amendments of the Convention.
They saw and had before them the law of New Mexico, which did
acknowledge the existence of this right as fully as it is
acknowledged by the law of Virginia. However it may be disputed here,
however legal opinions may differ about it, the law of New Mexico
established property in slaves; and there the law stands; and the
Convention now comes and says that _status_ shall remain unchanged.

Mr. BRAGG:--Oh, no.

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--That is the resolution.

Mr. BRAGG:--Will the honorable Senator allow me a word, for I am very
anxious to understand it?

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--Certainly.

Mr. BRAGG:--The Senator says it provides that that law, the law of New
Mexico, whatever it may be, shall remain unchanged, if I understand
him, and that that fixes the _status_ of slavery in the Territory. I
call the attention of the Senator to the language. I think that only
fixes the _status_ of persons now in the Territory, and not those to
be carried there hereafter--not the _status_ of slavery, but the
_status_ of persons who are there now, held to service or labor, and
not the _status_ of those who are to be carried there in future. That
is provided for in the language which it follows in another part.

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--Here it is, sir:

"In all the present territory south of that line"--

Which I have explained, and which gentlemen admit to be embraced in
the Territory of New Mexico--

"the _status_ of persons held to involuntary service or
labor, as it now exists."

It is not as to such slaves as are now there, but such slavery as now
exists.

Mr. BRAGG:--If it said that, I admit that it would cover the _status_
of slavery.

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--It does say that. It seems to me that is the only
construction that can be given to the language. It could not be
intended to confine it to the twenty-six slaves that are now held
there, especially when they provided, in a subsequent article, that it
shall be lawful for any one to carry slaves there.

Mr. BRAGG:--Will the honorable Senator again allow me to interrupt
him?

Mr. CRITTENDEN:--Certainly.

Mr. BRAGG:--I have not the slightest doubt that a great many who voted
for the proposition consider it as the Senator does. I have equally as
little doubt that others intended it to mean p