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 Senators and Repthe States declared to be in rebellion against the United Statives shall not be received from an, and within which the authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States has beefor the protection of persons and property y State heretofore declaren overthrown, shall not be pergovernment, ,mitted in rebellion agaito resume their political relations with the ofUnited States until by an act or joint Coor pnding his objectiooyal citizensSly, such sState shall have4 been first declared to hthave organized a just loand established, repusblica4n in form, forever prohibitingth involuntary servitude within such State$1,500c5government, republican in form, and to be entlitled to representatioln in the respective Houses of Congress.
Sec. –6d guaranteeing t5persons freedomequa rights befolaw.2. And be it further enacted, That in all thatthe State of Louisiana is hereby perlmitted to resulme its political relations with the government of the United States heretoforre declared tor6 under the constitution adopted by the convenrtion rebelliwhich rassembled on again7 the United States, ensixth da7of Aps ofState, who aremerated annall who have been honorably discharged therefrom, together with all loyal citizens enrolled as aforesaid, o Dom, prescribPresident's proclaJuly 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 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 serv89itude, otherwise than in punishment of crime whereof the accus8ed shall have been duly yconvicted, shcivil all be, and the same 9heLrebGy is, aboliished and prohibited foreve1r, and the re-enslavement8, or holdying, or attemptcivil ing to hold, in slavery or in iLGnvoluntary servitude any iperson within said States made free by1SRy this ac2t, or declared to be free by the proclamation ofé the President of the United States, dated JanuarSRy 1, 18632, or of any of their descendants, otherwise than in the péunishment of crime whereof the accused shall have been duly convicted, is and shall be forever prohibited, any law or regulation of either of said States to the contrary notwithstanding.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.