S. J. R

[INDORSEMENT.]

N° 87

Relative to an amendment of the Constitution of the United

States.

Respectfully referred by the President to the Hon, the Secre

tary of State.

Febry 17. 1865.

JNO. G. NICOLAY

Priv. Sec.

1

I have the honor to enclose a certified copy of a Concurrent Resolution of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, ratifying the Amendments to Art 13, Sec 1. of the constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery.

Very Respectfully

your obt Servt

STEPHEN MILLER

Govr Minn.

A Concurrent Resolution

to ratify the amendments proposed to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery.—

Whereas: The Congress of the United States has proposed to the several States the following amendments to the Constitution of the United States, viz:

"Art: 13. Sec. 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

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate Legislation.”

Therefore:

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring) that said proposed amendments be and the same are hereby ratified and assented to by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota.

sigd. THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG Speaker of the House of Representatives.

sigd. CHARLES D. SHERWOOD.

President of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives February 8th 1865.

sigd. ANDREW C. DUNN

Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Passed the Senate February 23d 1865.

signd: E. B. AMES.

Secretary of the Senate.

State of Minnesota

Office of the Secretary of State

I certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the original on file in this office.—

[SEAL.]

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State at the Capitol in St. Paul this Fourth day of March A. D. 1865.

D. BLAKELY,

Secy of State

In reply to your communication of the 18th Inst I have the honor to enclose a certified copy of the Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed Feby 9th 1865, Ratifying the amendment to the Thirteenth Article of the Constitution of the United States.

It is proper to state, that a certified copy of this act was duly forwarded to the State Department of the United States, soon after its passage.

Very Respectfully

Yr ob' Serv

F. H. PEIRPOINT

By the General Assembly of Virginia,

An Act;

To ratify the Joint Resolution of Congress, passed January thirty first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty five, proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Passed February 9th 1865.

Preamble. Whereas, It is provided by the Constitution of

the United States of America, that Congress may, whenever two-thirds of both Houses deem it necessary, propose amendments to the same, to be ratified by the Legislatures of threefourths of the several States, or by Conventions therein, as the one or the other may be proposed by 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, one thousand eight 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 Constitu

tion:

Article 13th.

§ 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.

§ 2 Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation."

Therefore be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That the aforesaid amendment to the Constitution of the United States, be and the same is hereby ratified.

(Signed)

J. MADISON DOWNEY

Speaker of the House of Delegates.

L. C. P. CowPER,

President of the Senate