When the New Jersey State Legislature passed early 1861 resolutions in support of the Crittenden Compromise, Ten Eyck complied with the legislature's instructions to transmit them to the Senate, but made clear that he believed they were unconstitutional. Ten Eyck voted to end slavery in Washington, D.C., and voted in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.
In early 1861, when the New Jersey State Legislature approved resolutions supporting the Crittenden Compromise, Ten Eyck transmitted them to the Senate as instructed. However, he believed these resolutions were unconstitutional. Ten Eyck voted for the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C., and supported the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States.