Year: 1865

myself on this subject You will remember
that the construction to which this proposed
amendment of the Federal Constitution was
liable, and which made it Objectionable to
South Carolina, was entirely repudiated by
the Secretary of State. l stated too, in that
message, that the President and the Attorney
General ofthe United States were understood
as concuring in the construction given to the
second section of the amendment by the See
retary of State. l. know that it will give
you the greatest pleasure imaginable to do
all that you can, consistent with your honor
and duty to the State, to restore her once
more to selfgoyernment and civil liberty,
to peace and harmony and to happiness. and
prosperity in the Union of States.


There can hardly be a doubt that this
amendment will be adopted by three-fourths
of the State, although you should refuse it,
and will become part of the Federal Con.
stitution. This consideration alone should
lessen very much your responsibility in ac-
ceding to it, on the part of South Carolina,
whilst it increases very much the evil and
danger in rejecting it to the State.


In respect to what have said in my last
message TO you, the destiny of the State is
in your hands for wo or for veal, and have
an abiding confidence in your judgment and
wisdom, and in your honor and patriot
ism.


would remind you also of all that Presi-
dent johnson has so nobly done for the
Southern States, and that it is he who ap-
peals to South Carolina in the name of God
mot to throw away all that has so far been
well done, and defeat the restoration of the
Union" but to be 'guided by love and
wisdom from on High, aud Union and peace
will once more reign through the land"


F. PERRY.


After motions to refer to committee and
the rejection of several substitutes, the reso-
lutions approving the amendment were
adopted by vote of IA yeas to 2s nays


In the meantime the Senate had been con-
sidering the resolutions, with an additional
one, and passed them without opposition.
The House first insisted on the withdrawal
ofthe additional resolution by the Senate,
but the measure was finally adopted by
both houses in the following shape:
Whereas, Tho Congress of the Union
States, by joint resolution, approved on the
first day of February, A. d. 1865, proposed
an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States for the ratification of the
Legislatures of the several States, which
amendment is in the following words, to
I witt


"Art. 13.-See. l. Neither slavery nor invol-
untary servitude, except as 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.


"Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legisla-
ton"


Approved February 3D. 1865.


Resolved, Therefore, by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the General
Assembly of the State of South Carolina, in
general assembly met, and by the authority
of the same, that the aforesaid proposed
amendment of the Constitution of the United
States be and the same is hereby accepted,
adopted and ratified by this State.


Resolved, That n certified copy of the
foregoing preamble and resolution be for
warded by his Excellency, the Provisional
Governor, to the President of the United
States, and also to the Secretary of State OF
the United States.


Resolved, That any attempt by Congress
towards legislating upon the political status
of former slaves or their civil relations, would
| he contrary IN the Constitution of the limited
States as it now is, or as it would be altered
by the proposed amendment, in conflict with
the policy of the President, declared in his
amnesty proclamation, and with the restora
ton of that harmony upon which depends
the vital interests of the American Union.