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.
The Committee on Clergy was created to choose clergymen to open the sessions of the Conference with prayer. We do not have the records of this committee.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
The list of documents under consideration by committee: Committee on Clergy at the end of its timeline.