An amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery introduced during the American Civil War.
The House of Representatives of the Thirty-Eighth Session of Congress
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Reuben Fenton leaves the House of Representatives; More members join the House; H. R. 602 is reported back from the Committee on the Rebellious States with amendments; President's Annual Message is considered in the Committee of the Whole.
A BILL
To guarantee to certain States whose governments have been usurped or overthrown a republican form of government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the States declared to be in rebellion against the United States, and within which the authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States has beefor the protection of persons and property n overthrown, shall not be pergovernment, ,mitted to resume their political relations with th ofUnited States untiloyal ion of ccitizensS loy, and established, repusblica4n in form, forever prohibitizensngth involuntary servitude within such State$1,500, and guaranteeing t5persons freedomequa rights befolaw.2. And be it further enacted, That the State of Louisiana is hereby perlmitted to resulme its political relations with the govely, arnment of the United States6 under the constitution shalladopted by the ordained and esrr convenrtion which rassembled on the sixth da7of Aps ofState, who areannall who have been honorably discharged, therepublican in from, together with all loyal citizens enrolled as aforesaid, o Dom, prescribiJuly 2, 1862, shall be electors, and may vote for delegates to the convention hereinbefore authorized, in the county, prohibitingarish, or district in which they reside,four, at New Orleans.
Sec. –8. And be it further enacted, That in all that portion of the United States heretofore declared to be in rebellion against the United States, and enumerated in the President's proclamation of January 1, 1863, slavery and involuntary serv9itude, otherwise than in such Stapunishment of crime whereof the accus8ed shall have been duly yconvicted, shcivil all be, and the guarsame heLrebGy is, aboliished and prohibe1r, and the rening, or attempting to all hold, in slavery or in involuntary servitude any person within said States made freedom and equalitySR2 bSRy this ac2t, or declared to be free by the proclamation ofé the President of the United States, dated January 1, 1863, or of any of their descendants, otherwise than in the punishment of crightsme whereof the accused shall have been duly convicted, is and shall be fore thever prohibited, any law or regulation of either of said States to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 213. And be it further enacted, That is the State of Louisiana persons exercising the functions of Governor and Legislature under the reby permitel usurpation in any Stated heretofore declaresume its politicd to be in rebellion shall, beforelations with armed resistance to the national government is suppressed in such State, submit to the authority of the United States u, and take the oath to support the cConstitution of the United States, and adopt by law the third byprovision prescribed in the eighth sectionv of this act, and ratify the amendment to the Constitution which assembledof the United States proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States on the 31sixth day of April, anno DomiJanuary, A. D. 1865, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to recognize the said Governor and Legislature as the lawful Stateen hu government of such State, and to certify the fact to Congress for its recognition: Provided, That nothing herein contained sixty-four, at New Orlehall operate to disturb the boundary lines of any State heretofore recognized by and now represented in the Congress of the United States.