- Event type: CREATE_FROM
United States Thirteenth Amendment 1863-65
An amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery introduced during the American Civil War.
The Senate
The Senate of the Thirty-Eighth Session of Congress
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Session 8299: 1864-03-22 12:00:00
S. 188 is reported by the Committee on Slavery and Freedmen and passes to a second reading.
Document View:
S. 188
A BILL
To prohibit commerce in slaves among the several States, and the holding or transportation of human beings as property in any vessel within the jurisdiction of the national government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be no commerce in slaves among the several States, by land or by water; and any person attempting or aiding to transport slaves, as an article of commerce, from one State to another State, or any person who shall take part in such commerce, either as seller, buyer, or agent, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof before any court having competent jurisdiction, shall suffer imprisonment for not more than five years, and be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars, one-half of such fine to go to the informer; and every slave so treated as an article of commerce among States shall be free.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That no human being shall be held or transported as property in any vessel on the high seas, or sailing coastwise, or on any navigable waters within in the jurisdiction of the United States; and every vessel violating the provisions of this act shall be forfeited to the United States; and every master of such vessel consenting to such violation shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof subject to the penalties hereinbefore provided, one-half of the fine to go to the informer; and every human being so held or transported as property shall be free.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all acts of parts of acts inconsistent herewith, including especially so much of an act approved March second, one thousand eight hundred and seven, as regulates the coastwise slave trade, are hereby repealed.
Decisions yet to be taken
- S. 188 (introduced on 1864-03-22 12:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e744275) [This document]
Document Timeline
- S. 188 (introduced on 1864-03-22 12:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e744275) [This document]
[view current proposal at this moment]
- None (introduced on 1864-03-22 12:00:00 - OTHER - e870251) [view current proposal at this moment]