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 politin whical relations with th ofUnited States untiloyal citizensSly, and ee authority of stablished, repusblica4n in form, forever prohibitingth involuntary servitude wi Constitutio4thin such State$1,500, and guaranteeing t5persons freedomequa rightn a5has befolaw.2. And be it further enacted, That the State of Louisiana is herebyen overthrown, shall not be perlmitted to resulme itstheir political relations with the government of the United States6 6under the constitutil, by action adopted byof the convenrtionloyalrr7citizens which rassembled on fthe sixth da7of Aps ofState, who areannall who have been honorably discharged therefrom, together with all loyal citizens enrolled as aforesaid, o Dom such States, prescribiJuly 2, 1862, shall be electors, and may vote for delegates to the convention hereinbefore authorized, in the county, parish, or district in which they reside,four, at New Orleans.
Sec. –8. And be it further enacted, That irespectively, a State constitution shall that portion of the Unitebe o8rdained and States heretofore declared to be in rebellion against the United States, and enumerated in the President's proclamation of January 1, 1863, slavery andrepublican in form, forever prohib9iting involuntary serv9it8ude, otherwise than in punishment of crime whereof the accus8ed shall have been duly yconvicted, shsuch State, and guarantying to all pcivil all be, and the same heLrebGy is, aboliishersonsLG freedom and prohibe1r, and the rening, equality of rights befor attempting to hold, in slavery or in involuntary servitude any person within saidhe lawi.
Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That the StateLouana is made fheree bSRy this ac2t, or declarpermitted to be fresume by theits proliticarelamation ofés with the Presidgovernment SRof the United States, 2undated January 1, 1863, or of any of their descendants, otherwise than in constitution adopteéd by the punishment of crime whereof the accused shall have been duly convicted, is and shall be forever prohibitedconvention which assembled on the sixth day of April, any law or regulation of either of said States to the contrary notwithstandingno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-four, at New Orleans.Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That is the persons exercising the functions of Governor and Legislature under the rebel usurpation in any State heretofore declared to be in rebellion shall, before armed resistance to the national government is suppressed in such State, submit to the authority of the United States, and take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and adopt by law the third provision prescribed in the eighth section of this act, and ratify the amendment to the Constitution of the United States proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States on the 31st day of January, A. D. 1865, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to recognize the said Governor and Legislature as the lawful State government of such State, and to certify the fact to Congress for its recognition: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall operate to disturb the boundary lines of any State heretofore recognized by and now represented in the Congress of the United States.