fugitive slaves, and have thereby contributed much to the
discord and commotion now prevailing. This Convention,
therefore, in the present perilous juncture, does not deem
it improper, respectfully and earnestly, to recommend the
repeal of those laws to the several States which have
enacted them, or such legislative corrections or
explanations of them as may prevent their being used or
perverted to such mischievous purposes.

3. That the act of the eighteenth of September, eighteen
hundred and fifty, commonly called the fugitive slave law,
ought to be so amended as to make the fee of the
commissioner, mentioned in the eighth section of the act,
equal in amount, in the cases decided by him, whether his
decision be in favor of or against the claimant. And to
avoid misconstruction, the last clause of the fifth section
of said act, which authorizes the person holding a warrant
for the arrest or detention of a fugitive slave to summon to
his aid the _posse comitatus_, and which declares it to be
the duty of all good citizens to assist him in its
execution, ought to be so amended as to expressly limit the
authority and duty to cases in which there shall be
resistance, or danger of resistance or rescue.

4. That the laws for the suppression of the African
slave-trade, and especially those prohibiting the
importation of slaves into the United States, ought to be
made effectual, and ought to be thoroughly executed, and all
further enactments necessary to those ends ought to be
promptly made.

The substitute offered by Mr. SEDDON was rejected by the following
vote:

AYES.--Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia--4.

NOES.--Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine,
Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee,
Vermont, and Kansas--16.

Mr. DENT dissented from the vote of Maryland.

Mr. HOUSTON:--I wish to explain the vote of Delaware. She has endorsed
the CRITTENDEN resolutions. She would accept the mode of adjustment
proposed by the gentleman from Virginia. She has adhered to her
opinions as long as she thinks it fit or expedient to do so. Under
these circumstances Delaware feels it her duty to vote for the report
of the majority. As we desire to harmonize conflicting opinions, and