The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-23
The Fourteenth Constitutional Amend-
ment.

The following are thsNconcluding and most
important passages in the proclamation OF
Secretary Seward in regard to the adoption OF
the Howard amendment:
Whereas, It appears from official documents
on file in this department that the amendment
to the Constitution Of the United States, pro-
posed as aforesaid, has been ratified by the
Legislatures Of the States of Connecticut, New
Hampshire, Tennessee, New Jersey, Oregon,
Vermont, New York, Ohio, illinois, West Vlr-
ginia, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Missouri, Indi-
sylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Nebraska
and Iowa; and
Whereas, It further appears from documents
on file in this department that the amendment
TO the Constitution Of the United States, pro-
posed as aforesaid, has also been ratified by
newly constituted and newly established bodies
ayowirg themselves to be and acting as the
kansas, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana,
South Carolina and Alabama; and
Whereas, Itfurther appears from official doc
uments on file in this department that the Le-
gisIatures Of two OF the States first above emu
merated, to wit: Ohio and New jersey, have
since passed resolutions respectively withdraw
ing the consent Of each Of said States to the
aforesaid amendment; and
Whereas, It is deemed matter OF doubt and
uncertainty whether such resolutions are not
irregular, invalid, and therefore Intellectual for
withdrawing the consent Of the said two States,
or either Of them, TO the aforesaid amendment;
and
Whereas, The whole number Of States in the
United States is thirty-seven, to wit: New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con-
necticut, New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Vermont Kentucky,
Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Missis-
sippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Ark
ansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wis
consin, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Kan
sas, West Virginia, Nevada and Nebraska aud
Whereas, The twenty three States first herein
before named whose Legislatures have ratified
the said proposed amendment, and the Six
States next thereafter named as having ratified
the said proposed amendment by newly consti-
tuted and established legislative bodies, to-
gether constitute three-fourths Of the whole
number Of States in the United States
Now, therefore, be it known, that 1, William
H. Seward, Secretary Of State Of the United
States, by virtue and in pursuance Of the se-
cond section of the act Of Congress, approved
the twentieth Of April, eighteen hundred and
eighteen, hereinbefore cited, do hereby certify
that if the resolutions Of the Legislatures Of
Ohio and New Jersey ratifying the aforesaid
amendment are to be deemed as remaining in
full force and effect, notwithstanding the sub
sequent resolutions OF the Leg islatures Of those
States which purport to Withdraw the consent
Of said States from such ratification, then the
aforesaid amendment has been ratified in the
manner hereinbefore mentioned, and so has
become valid to all intents and purposes as o
part Of the Constitution Of the United States.
In testimony whereof have hereunto setmy
hand and caused the seal of the department OF
State to be affixed.