In February, 1861, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution
with but four dissenting votes wherein it was declared, "that neither
the Federal Government, nor the people, have a purpose or a
constitutional right to legislate upon or interfere with slavery in
any of the states of the Union."
"Resolved, That those persons in the North who do not subscribe to
the foregoing propositions are too insignificant in numbers and
influence to excite the serious attention or alarm of any portion of
the people of the Republic."[279]
Following these resolutions both Houses of Congress adopted by the
necessary two-thirds vote, a joint resolution proposing an amendment
to the Federal Constitution, as follows:
Article 13. "No amendment shall be made to the constitution which
shall authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish, or to
interfere within any state, with the domestic institutions thereof,
including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of
said state."
This amendment passed the House of Representatives February 28, 1861,
by a vote of one hundred and thirty-three to sixty-five, and the
Senate on the 2nd of March, 1861, by a vote of twenty-four to twelve.
Ohio and Maryland promptly ratified this proposed amendment to the
constitution, but the outbreak of the Civil War brought the movement
to a close.[280]
In his inaugural address, President Lincoln reiterated his previous
pledges and expressed his approval of the movement to adopt the
amendment to the constitution above referred to. Alluding to his oft
quoted declaration that he had neither the legal right nor the
inclination to interfere with slavery in the Southern States, he said:
"I now reiterate these sentiments, and in doing so I only press upon
the public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case
is susceptible, that the property, peace and security of no section
are to be any wise endangered by the now incoming Administration."