Honest Abe and The Thirteenth Amendment
On February 1, 1865 (146 years ago today) President Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and signed by Lincoln the following day.
Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, on September 22, 1862 and it went into effect on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. Once the abolition of slavery in the rebel states became a military objective, as Union armies advanced south, more slaves were freed until there were over three million freed slaves in Confederate territory. Lincoln said "I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper." A few days after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced, 13 Republican governors met at the War Governors' Conference; and announced their supported the president's Proclamation.
For some time, Lincoln continued earlier plans to set up colonies for the newly freed slaves. He commented favorably on colonization in the Emancipation Proclamation, but all attempts at such a massive undertaking failed. The idea lacked support from African American like Frederick Douglass. Lincoln decided to incorporate the policy of the proclamation into the Constitution through passage of the 13th Amendment, permanently abolishing slavery throughout the nation.He personally lobbied individual Congressmen for the amendment, which was passed by Congress and which he was able to sign a couple of months before his death.
The Thirteenth Amendment reads as follows:
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.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, on September 22, 1862 and it went into effect on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. Once the abolition of slavery in the rebel states became a military objective, as Union armies advanced south, more slaves were freed until there were over three million freed slaves in Confederate territory. Lincoln said "I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper." A few days after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced, 13 Republican governors met at the War Governors' Conference; and announced their supported the president's Proclamation.
For some time, Lincoln continued earlier plans to set up colonies for the newly freed slaves. He commented favorably on colonization in the Emancipation Proclamation, but all attempts at such a massive undertaking failed. The idea lacked support from African American like Frederick Douglass. Lincoln decided to incorporate the policy of the proclamation into the Constitution through passage of the 13th Amendment, permanently abolishing slavery throughout the nation.He personally lobbied individual Congressmen for the amendment, which was passed by Congress and which he was able to sign a couple of months before his death.
The Thirteenth Amendment reads as follows:
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.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.