I have the honor herewith to transmit in accordance with the request of your letter of 18th Inst an authenticated copy of the Resolution passed by the General Assembly of this State ratifying the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery in the United States, as proposed by 38th Congress. I have the honor to be Your obdt Servant A W BRADFORD Maryland Sct. At a Session of the General Assembly of Maryland begun and held at the City of Annapolis on the first Wednesday of January being the fourth day of the said Month in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty five and ended on the twenty fourth day of March in the same year. His Excellency Augustus W Bradford Governor. Among other the following Resolutions were enacted to Wit, Resolutions ratifying an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the Several States. Whereas It is provided by the fifth Article of the Constitution of the United States of America, that Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to the said Constitution, or on the application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several states shall call a Convention for proposing amendments which in either case shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the Several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress. And Whereas, by the thirty eighth Congress of the United States at the Second Session thereof, begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday the fifth day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and sixty four, it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, (two thirds of both Houses concurring) that the following Article be proposed to the Legislatures of the Several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which when ratified by three fourths of said Legislatures shall be valid, to all intents and purposes as a part of said Constitution, namely, Article Thirteen. Section 1. Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a punishment for Crime whereof the party shall have been duly Convicted shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction, 4 AP14. Section 2, Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation ; Therefore, Be it resolved, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the aforesaid Amendment be and the same is hereby confirmed and ratified, By the House of Delegates. These engrossed Resolutions the original of which passed the House of Delegates by yeas and Nays February 1st 1865 was this day read and assented to. By Order, W. R. COLE, Chf Clk By the Senate, These engrossed Resolu- C HARWOOD Secretary. Maryland Sct. I, George Earle, Clerk of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, do hereby certify that the preceding is a full and true Copy of The Resolutions of the General Assembly of Maryland of which they purport to be Copies as taken from Liber G. E. No. 2 folio 415 one of the Law Records of the State of Maryland belonging to the Office of the Court of Appeals of Maryland [SEAL.] In Testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name as Clerk, and affix the seal of the said Court of Appeals this 29th day of November in the year of our Lord 1865. [Five-cent revenue stamp.] GEORGE EARLE, Clerk Maryland Sct. I, Richard J Bowie, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, do hereby certify, that George Earle is Clerk of said Court of Appeals for the State of Maryland and that the aforegoing attestation by him is in due form and by the proper Officer. Given under my hand and Seal this 29th day of November in the year of our Lord 1865. [Five-cent revenue stamp.] RICHD J BOWIE [SEAL.] Maryland Sct. I, George Earle, Clerk of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, do hereby certify that The Honorable Richard J Bowie who has signed the annexed Certificate is, and at the time of so doing was Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and that full faith and Credit are due and ought to be given to his Acts as such, as well in Courts of Justice as thereout, In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand as Clerk, and affixed the Seal of the said [SEAL.] Court of Appeals this 29th day of November A. D. 1865. [Five-cent revenue stamp.] GEORGE EARLE, Clerk Court of Appeals of Maryland State of Maryland, to wit: I, Augustus W. Bradford Governor of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify, that George Earle Esq is Clerk of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and, as such, is Keeper of the Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the said State, and that the foregoing attestation is in due form and by the proper Officer. [SEAL.] In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, this 29th day of November A. D., eighteen hundred and ["fifty" stricken out] Sixty five. By the Governor : WM B HILL Secretary of State. A W BRADFORD |