- The Convention
The Convention
The main session of the Conference.
The Peace Conference of 1861
In February 1861, following the inauguration of Lincoln and the secession of seven states from the Union, a convention of 131 politicians from the remaining states met in Washington, D. C., at the Willard Hotel. They aimed to prevent civil war, and the secession of further states, by proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would protect the existence and practice of slavery, within certain parameters, by enshrining them in constitutional law. An amendment was eventually agreed and recommended to Congress, where it was not passed.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Membership (133 members):
- Roger S. Baldwin ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Robbins Battell ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Chauncey F. Cleveland ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles J. McCurdy ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- James T. Pratt ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Amos S. Treat ( Connecticut Delegation ) Visualize
- Daniel M. Bates ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- William Cannon ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- John W. Houston ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- Henry Ridgely ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- George B. Rodney ( Delaware Delegation ) Visualize
- Burton C. Cook ( Illinois Delegation ) Visualize
- Stephen T. Logan ( Illinois Delegation ) Visualize
- John M. Palmer ( Illinois Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas J. Turner ( Illinois Delegation ) Visualize
- John Wood ( Illinois Delegation ) Visualize
- Erastus W. H. Ellis ( Indiana Delegation ) Visualize
- Pleasant A. Hackleman ( Indiana Delegation ) Visualize
- Godlove S. Orth ( Indiana Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas C. Slaughter ( Indiana Delegation ) Visualize
- Caleb B. Smith ( Indiana Delegation ) Visualize
- Samuel H. Curtis ( Iowa Delegation ) Visualize
- James W. Grimes ( Iowa Delegation ) Visualize
- James Harlan ( Iowa Delegation ) Visualize
- William Vandever ( Iowa Delegation ) Visualize
- H. J. Adams ( Kansas Delegation ) Visualize
- Martin F. Conway ( Kansas Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Ewing, jr. ( Kansas Delegation ) Visualize
- J. C. Stone ( Kansas Delegation ) Visualize
- Joshua F. Bell ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- William O. Butler ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- James B. Clay ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- James Guthrie ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles S. Morehead ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles A. Wickliffe ( Kentucky Delegation ) Visualize
- Stephen Coburn ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- William P. Fessenden ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Stephen C. Foster ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Ezra B. French ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Lot M. Morrill ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Freeman H. Morse ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- John J. Perry ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Daniel E. Somes ( Maine Delegation ) Visualize
- Augustus W. Bradford ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- John W. Crisfield ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- John F. Dent ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- William T. Goldsborough ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Benjamin C. Howard ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Reverdy Johnson ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- J. Dixon Roman ( Maryland Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles Allen ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- George S. Boutwell ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Theophilus P. Chandler ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Francis B. Crowninshield ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- John M. Forbes ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- John Z. Goodrich ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Richard P. Waters ( Massachusetts Delegation ) Visualize
- Aylett H. Buckner ( Missouri Delegation ) Visualize
- John D. Coalter ( Missouri Delegation ) Visualize
- Alexander W. Doniphan ( Missouri Delegation ) Visualize
- Harrison Hough ( Missouri Delegation ) Visualize
- Waldo P. Johnson ( Missouri Delegation ) Visualize
- Levi Chamberlain ( New Hampshire Delegation ) Visualize
- Asa Fowler ( New Hampshire Delegation ) Visualize
- Amos Tuck ( New Hampshire Delegation ) Visualize
- William C. Alexander ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Frederick T. Frelinghuysen ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Charles S. Olden ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Rodman M. Price ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Joseph F. Randolph ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Robert F. Stockton ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas J. Stryker ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Peter D. Vroom ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Benjamin Williamson ( New Jersey Delegation ) Visualize
- Greene C. Bronson ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Erastus Corning ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- William E. Dodge ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- David Dudley Field ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Addison Gardner ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Francis Granger ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Amaziah B. James ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- John A. King ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- William Curtis Noyes ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- James C. Smith ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- James S. Wadsworth ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- John E. Wool ( New York Delegation ) Visualize
- Daniel M. Barringer ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- George Davis ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- John M. Morehead ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- David S. Reid ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Ruffin ( North Carolina Delegation ) Visualize
- Franklin C. Backus ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- Salmon P. Chase ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Ewing ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- William S. Groesbeck ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- Reuben Hitchcock ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- Valentine B. Horton ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- C. P. Wolcott ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- John C. Wright ( Ohio Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas E. Franklin ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Augustus W. Loomis ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- William McKennan ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- William M. Meredith ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- James Pollock ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas White ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- David Wilmot ( Pennsylvania Delegation ) Visualize
- Samuel Ames ( Rhode Island Delegation ) Visualize
- Samuel G. Arnold ( Rhode Island Delegation ) Visualize
- George H. Browne ( Rhode Island Delegation ) Visualize
- Alexander Duncan ( Rhode Island Delegation ) Visualize
- William W. Hoppin ( Rhode Island Delegation ) Visualize
- Josiah M. Anderson ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- Robert L. Carruthers ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- Alvin Cullom ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- Isaac R. Hawkins ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- William P. Hickerson ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- George W. Jones ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- Thomas Martin ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- R. J. McKinney ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- Samuel Milligan ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- William H. Stephens ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- A. W. O. Totten ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- F. K. Zollicoffer ( Tennessee Delegation ) Visualize
- H. Henry Baxter ( Vermont Delegation ) Visualize
- Lucius E. Chittenden ( Vermont Delegation ) Visualize
- Hiland Hall ( Vermont Delegation ) Visualize
- Broughton D. Harris ( Vermont Delegation ) Visualize
- Levi Underwood ( Vermont Delegation ) Visualize
- John W. Brockenbrough ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- William C. Rives ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- James A. Seddon ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- George W. Summers ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
- John Tyler ( Virginia Delegation ) Visualize
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Resource Collections (0):
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Sessions (24)
The Conference elected a temporary Chairman and Secretary, organized itself, decided not to admit reporters, and appointed a committee on rules and organization to report rules for the governance of the Conference. Delegates appeared from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.
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79, 13,
1
1,
4, 1,
6, 2
The Committee on Rules and Organization made a report. The first section recommended the election of John Tyler as President and Crafts J. Wright as Secretary of the Conference, which was duly adopted. The second section, recommending rules for the governance of the Conference, was postponed until the following day. It was resolved to open meetings of the Conference with prayer.
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7,
5, 2, 1,
9, 1,
11, 1
The Committee on Credentials made a report. The Conference resolved that the Secretary be authorized to appoint assistants. The remaining section of the report of the Committee on Rules and Organization was considered. The majority of the rules were adopted, but those concerning secrecy and alternative proposals were recommitted to the Committee. A committee of one from each State was appointed to consider the resolutions of all the States and make a report recommending action for the Conference.
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3,
3, 21, 1,
2,
27, 1,
1, 1
8,
Four assistant secretaries were appointed. A message from the President asked the members of the Convention to call on him at 11.00, which was agreed. The Committee on Credentials made a second report. The Committee on Rules and Organization reported a resolution to provide for financing the printing which had been ordered, which was agreed by the Convention. The members of the Committee on Resolutions were announced. The Committee on Rules and Organization reported a new secrecy rule, which was adopted.
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18, 19,
1, 1, 3,
1,
6,
1
5,
The Committee on Credentials made a third report. Three delegates were added to the Committee on Resolutions. Mr. Guthrie requested that the time allowed for the report of the Committee on Resolutions be extended until Monday, which was granted. The President was requested to issue cards of admission to members and officers of the Convention. The secrecy rule was clarified.
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22, 3,
1,
1,
7, 1,
1
10, 1
The Committee on Credentials made a fourth report. Mr. Tuck submitted resolutions, which were read and referred to the Committee on Resolutions.
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8, 2,
2, 1,
4, 2,
1
5,
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1, 1, 3,
5, 12, 1,
18,
11, 9,
3, 3
19, 5