Other available views:
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.
Readers' View
View the committees of the convention
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Committees
Created on: 1861-02-04 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The main session of the Conference.
0 keyword tagged
3, 134, 63,
1
53, 151, 20,
143,
211, 70, 4,
46, 8, 13
251, 37
Created on: 1861-02-04 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Rules and Organization was created to report on the rules for the Conference. We do not have the records of this committee.
Created on: 1861-02-05 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Credentials was created to examine and report on the credentials of those elected to the Conference. We do not have the records of this committee.
Created on: 1861-02-06 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: 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.
Created on: 1861-02-07 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Resolutions was created to examine the different proposals of amendment to the Constitution or resolutions to introduce alternative options, and then to make a report to the Conference recommending a course of action for their consideration. On 11 February 1861, the Conference voted to allow resolutions to be submitted directly to the committee. Unfortunately, we do not have the records of this committee.
Created on: 1861-02-22 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Expenses was created to defray the expenses of the Conference and the cost of printing the Journal. We do not have the records of this committee.
Created on: 1861-02-23 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Introductions with the President-Elect was created to make arrangements for the introduction of the members of the Conference to the President-Elect. We do not have the records of this committee.
Created on: 1861-02-25 00:00:00
Dissolved on: 1861-02-27 00:00:00
Description: The Committee on Printing the Journal was created to make arrangements for the printing of the journal. We do not have the records of this committee.