Alfred H. Stone Collection
Volume: 29

13. Massachusetts, Senate, Committee of Federal Relations Report on the Joint Resolution to Amend the Constitution of the United States, Senate no. 161 (N.p., [1861]). (10 p.)

Report of a committee charged with recommending whether the Massachusetts legislature should vote to ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution that would prohibit Congress from abolishing or interfering with slavery “within any State.” The committee recommends that ratification of the amendment should be accomplished via a state-wide referendum rather than decided upon by the legislature. A minority report argues that the amendment should be rejected by the legislature without further consideration.