their jurisdiction, proposed by the thirty-eighth Congress of the United States, at the second session of that body, begun and holden at the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia, on the first Monday of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, and approved February first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty five, in the words following, viz:

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representa"tives of the United States of America in Congress as"sembled, (two-thirds of both houses concurring,) That "the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of "the several States as an amendment to the Constitu"tion 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 the said Constitution, "namely:

"Article XIII."

"Section I. 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 jurisdic"tion.

"Section II. Congress shall have power to enforce this "article by appropriate legislation."

Be, and the same is hereby ratified.

Section 2. This Act shall take effect from its passage.

Approved, March 9th 1865.

State of Vermont,

Secretary of State's Office.

I hereby certify that the foregoing Act is a true Copy of an Act, passed by the General Assembly of this State, at the

special session, holden March A. D. 1865, and approved on the ninth day of said month, as appears by the files and records of this office.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and [SEAL.] affix the Seal of this office, at Montpelier, this twenty-Eighth day of November A. D. 1865.

GEORGE NICHOLS,

Secretary of State.

Office of Sec'y of State Arkansas.

Little Rock Ark. May 1, 1865,

Hon Wm H. Seward.

Sec'y of State. Washington D. C.

Sir.

I transmit herewith a certified copy of the Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, ratifying the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly Convicted.

The action of the Legislature was unanimous, and the attendance large under the peculiar circumstances of our present condition-There were 54 votes cast in the House of Representatives and Seventeen in the Senate.

With the most Earnest wishes for your restoration to complete health, in which all of the officers of the State organization join.

I remain Very Respectfully

Your Ob't. Sv't.

ALBERT W. BISHOP.

Dep. Sec'y of State.

Office of Secretary of State Arkansas

Little Rock Arks. April 29. 1865

I certify that annexed is a true copy of a Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas approved April the 20th A. D. 1865, the original of which is on file in this Office.

In testimony whereof I have hereun- subscribed [SEAL.] my name and affixed the seal of the state this 29th

day of April A. D. 1865.

ROBERT D. WHITE-Secretary of State

Arkansas

Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, ratifying the proposed Amendment to the Federal Constitution, abolishing Slavery in all Cases within their jurisdiction.

Whereas, the Congress of the United States has submitted to the several States for their Action thereon by an Act approved February the First One thousand eight hundred and sixty five, the following Article Thirteenth [13] as an Amendment to Constitution of the United States, namely:

the

A

"Article 13th. Section 1st: Neither Slavery nor invol"untary 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 2nd. Congress shall have power to enforce "this Article by appropriate legislation."

Therefore. Be it Resolved, by the General Assembly of the

recited

State of Arkansas, that the foregoing Article Thirteen [13]

fully

be and the same is hereby approved and ratified, as a part of the Constitution of the United States.

(Signed) C. C. BLISS

L' Governor & President of Senate

(Signed) W. J. PATTON

Speaker of House

Approved this 20th April 1865.

(Signed) ISAAC MURPHY. GOV: Ark:

Office of Secretary of State,

Hon. William H. Seward

Sir:

Hartford, Conn. May 8th 1865.

Secretary of State

I have the honor to transmit herewith a certified copy of a Resolution of the General Assembly of this State ratifying the proposed Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obed Serv',

J HAMMOND TRUMBULL
Secretary of State

of Connecticut

At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, in said State, on the first Wednesday of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.

Whereas, the Congress of the United States has proposed

to the Legislatures of the several States, as An Amendment to the Constitution of the United States an Article designated as Article XIII. in the words following, to wit:

"Section. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall