 |
| Senator John Crittenden |
The
Crittenden Compromise was proposed on December 18th 1860 by Kentucky
United States Senator John J Crittenden as a way to resolve the growing
secession crisis.
The
Crittenden Compromise was introduced to the United States Congress by Kentucky
Senator John J Crittenden on December 18th 1860. It was supposed to address the grievances of
the slave states and resolve the growing secession crisis. The Compromise suggested six constitutional
amendments and four Congressional resolutions.
It promised permanents of slavery in the slave states, and suggested
extending the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific, guaranteeing slavery
south of the 36° 30′ parallel.
The
Compromise was praised by the Southern member of the United States Senate, but
was opposed by the Republicans. The
Compromise would be tabled by both Houses of Congress on December 31st
1860.
The proposed
Crittenden Compromise that would have affected the constitution read:
“Slavery
would be prohibited in any territory of the United States "now held, or
hereafter acquired," north of latitude 36 degrees, 30 minutes line. In
territories south of this line, slavery of the African race was "hereby
recognized" and could not be interfered with by Congress. Furthermore,
property in African slaves was to be "protected by all the departments of
the territorial government during its continuance." States would be
admitted to the Union from any territory with or without slavery as their
constitutions provided.
Congress was
forbidden to abolish slavery in places under its jurisdiction within a slave
state such as a military post.
Congress
could not abolish slavery in the District of Columbia so long as it existed in
the adjoining states of Virginia and Maryland and without the consent of the
District's inhabitants. Compensation would be given to owners who refused
consent to abolition.
Congress
could not prohibit or interfere with the interstate slave trade.
Congress
would provide full compensation to owners of rescued fugitive slaves. Congress
was empowered to sue the county in which obstruction to the fugitive slave laws
took place to recover payment; the county, in turn, could sue "the wrong
doers or rescuers" who prevented the return of the fugitive.
No future
amendment of the Constitution could change these amendments or authorize or
empower Congress to interfere with slavery within any slave state.
Congressional
resolutions:
That
fugitive slave laws were constitutional and should be faithfully observed and
executed.
That all
state laws which impeded the operation of fugitive slave laws, the so-called
"Personal liberty laws," were unconstitutional and should be
repealed.
That the
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 should be amended (and rendered less objectionable
to the North) by equalizing the fee schedule for returning or releasing alleged
fugitives and limiting the powers of marshals to summon citizens to aid in
their capture.
That laws
for the suppression of the African slave trade should be effectively and
thoroughly executed.
