A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention / For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861

by L. E. Chittenden

The question upon the adoption of Mr. Fowler's amendment resulted as follows:

Ayes.—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa—10.

Noes.—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio—10.

So the amendment was rejected.

Mr. GROESBECK:—I move to amend the substitute offered by Mr. Franklin, by inserting after the words "nor shall any law be passed," the words "by Congress or the Territorial Legislature." I think this is necessary to make our intention plain. Otherwise it might be said that the prohibition did not apply to Congress.

Mr. FRANKLIN:—I think the suggestion a very proper one. I will accept the amendment.

Mr. WILMOT:—I only wish to understand where we are. Have we disposed of the word "facilitate"?

The PRESIDENT:—That amendment was not adopted.

Mr. WILMOT:—Then I move to insert before the word "status," the word "legal."

Mr. RUFFIN:—That raises again every question we have been discussing. The word, as used in the substitute, only refers to the status in fact.