States, and also to the Secretary of State of the United States. In General Assembly, Read three times and ratified this 4th day of December 1865. S. F. PHILLIPS S. H. C. THOMAS SETTLE S. S. I R. W. Best Secretary of State in and for the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the original resolutions on file in this office. Given under my hand the 5th day of December A. D. 1865. R. W. BEST Sec of State, Executive Department of North Carolina Raleigh N. C. December 6th 1865 It is hereby certified that R. W. Best whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate, is Secretary of State for the State of North Carolina [SEAL.] Given under my hand and the great Seal of the W. W. HOLDEN, Prov. Gov By the Governor. W. R. RICHARDSON Private Secretary Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama ratifying an amendment to the Constitution of the United States: Whereas the Congress of the United States on the 1st day of February 1865 adopted a Joint Resolution. submitting to the several States a proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States as follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, (two thirds of each House 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: Article XIII. Sec 1st 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; and the said foregoing proposed amendment, having been laid before this General Assembly, by the Provisional Governor of this State, for consideration and action: Now, therefore resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama in General Assembly Convened: 1st That the foregoing amendment to the Constitution of the United States, be and the same is hereby ratified to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution of the United States. 2d Be it further Resolved, That this amendment to the constitution of the United States, is adopted by the Legislature of Alabama with the understanding that it does not confer upon Congress the power to Legislate upon the political status of Freedmen in this State. 3d Resolved by the authority aforesaid that the Governor of the State, and he is hereby requested to forward to the President of the United States, an authenticated copy of the foregoing preamble and Resolutions THO B COOPER, Speaker of the House of Representatives President of Senate Approved Dec 2d 1865. LEWIS E PARSONS Prov' Gov of Ala. Secretary of States Office Montgomery Alabama I, Albert Elmore, Secretary of State of the State of Alabama, hereby certify that the above is a true, & correct copy of the "Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama, ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States," as taken from the original Roll filed in this Office. [SEAL.] Given under my hand, & the Great Seal of the State affixed this the 9th day of Decr A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States the ninetieth year ALBERT ELMORE Secty of State [INDORSEMENT.] Copy Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama ratifying an amendment of the Constitution of the United States EXECUTIVE OFFICE. Provisional Government of Georgia. Milledgeville, December 19th 1865. His Excellency, Andrew Johnson: Sir: President of the United States Washington, D. C. I am directed by His Excellency the Provisional Gover nor, (too much indisposed to be in Office,) to forward you a certified copy of the joint Resolution of the State Legislature, ratifying the Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery. Pursuant to the direction of the Resolution, a similar copy was sent to your Excellency, and the Secretary of State of the United States, immediately on its adoption, the delay in the transmission of which, or their miscarriage, is regretted by the Governor one to I have the honor to be, Most Respectfully, Your Obt. Svt. L. H. BRISCOE. Secretary Whereas, the Congress of the United States has, under the 5th Article of the Constitution of the United States, proposed an amendment to said Constitution, in the words following to wit; "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" |