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.

The Convention

The main session of the Conference.

To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.

Session 12845: 1861-02-07 10:00:00

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.

Membership (at session start):

William C. Alexander, Samuel Ames, Samuel G. Arnold, Franklin C. Backus, Roger S. Baldwin, Daniel M. Barringer, Daniel M. Bates, Robbins Battell, H. Henry Baxter, Joshua F. Bell, Augustus W. Bradford, John W. Brockenbrough, George H. Browne, William O. Butler, William Cannon, Levi Chamberlain, Salmon P. Chase, Lucius E. Chittenden, James B. Clay, Chauncey F. Cleveland, John W. Crisfield, Samuel H. Curtis, George Davis, John F. Dent, Alexander Duncan, Erastus W. H. Ellis, Thomas Ewing, Asa Fowler, Thomas E. Franklin, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, William T. Goldsborough, James W. Grimes, William S. Groesbeck, James Guthrie, Pleasant A. Hackleman, Hiland Hall, James Harlan, Broughton D. Harris, Reuben Hitchcock, William W. Hoppin, Valentine B. Horton, John W. Houston, Benjamin C. Howard, Reverdy Johnson, Augustus W. Loomis, Charles J. McCurdy, William McKennan, William M. Meredith, Charles S. Morehead, John M. Morehead, Charles S. Olden, Godlove S. Orth, James Pollock, James T. Pratt, Rodman M. Price, Joseph F. Randolph, David S. Reid, Henry Ridgely, William C. Rives, George B. Rodney, J. Dixon Roman, Thomas Ruffin, James A. Seddon, Thomas C. Slaughter, Caleb B. Smith, Robert F. Stockton, Thomas J. Stryker, George W. Summers, Amos S. Treat, Amos Tuck, John Tyler, Levi Underwood, William Vandever, Peter D. Vroom, Thomas White, Charles A. Wickliffe, Benjamin Williamson, David Wilmot, John C. Wright (79 total)

Representing 14 delegations:

Connecticut Delegation, Delaware Delegation, Indiana Delegation, Iowa Delegation, Kentucky Delegation, Maryland Delegation, New Hampshire Delegation, New Jersey Delegation, North Carolina Delegation, Ohio Delegation, Pennsylvania Delegation, Rhode Island Delegation, Vermont Delegation, Virginia Delegation


Imported Documents

Imported Amendments

Exported Documents

Exported Amendments

Resources (1):

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Summary of events in this session:

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List of proposals created

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Decisions:

List of proposals adopted

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List of proposals dropped

List of proposals referred

List of postpone debate voted on

List of other proposals voted on

Procedure:

List of procedural motion

List of motions debated

Events (57)

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Person joining a committee

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Person elected to a position

A new document introduced

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Amendment imported from another committee

Proposal Debated

Drop a proposal

Refer a proposal

Adopt a proposal

Other vote (continue debate)

Reject a proposal

Postpone debate on a proposal

Procedural motion introduced

Procedural Motion Debated

Procedural motion with sub-decisions