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Sale 2
Lot 112
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States." An extremely rare Congressional manuscript copy of the Thirty-Eighth Congress Joint Resolution submitting the proposed Amendment to the United States Constitution to Abolish Slavery in America signed by over 150 members of Congress. President Lincoln believed adamantly that the United States had to completely abolish slavery and that the Constitution had to be amended accordingly. However, the Constitution gave the President no role in the process of constitutional amendments and so a motion was passed on Feb 7, 1865, condemning him for having signed some of the official copies of the Resolution. The official Congressional copies were to have been signed only by the Congressmen. Approximately one dozen of these documents exist, most of which are in institutional collections and rarely appear on the market. This particular document contains more signatures than any other known - a total of 152 signers. Many of whom were important and powerful politicians during the Civil War. The Thirteenth Amendments to Abolish Slavery in America is an important cornerstone to any collection. Beautifully framed and matted with original large albumen photograph of President Lincoln taken by photographer C.S. German in Springfield, January 13, 1861, being one of the earliest known photographs of Lincoln with a beard. Matted with a typeset transcript of the Thirteenth Amendment. Overall size 47 1/2 x 31 1/2". Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution One page, Elephant Folio, on vellum, with double ruled dark blue borders, Washington DC., December 5, 1864. Signed by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, Speaker of the House, Schuyler Colfax, and Secretary of the Senate, John W. Forney, as well as 150 members of the 38th Congress. Being the congressional engrossed copy signed by 150 members of both the House and the Senate, including future President James Garfield, as well as Lyman Trumbull, Thaddeus Stevens, and many others as follows:
"Thirty-eighth Congress of the United States of America, at the Second Session, begun and held at the City of Washington, on Monday, the 5th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. A Resolution submitting to the legislatures of several states a proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States. Be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America and Congress assembled (two-thirds of both Houses 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 as a part of the said Constitution, namely: Article XIII, Section 1 - neither slavery nor involuntary 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 jurisdiction. Section 2 - Congress shall have the power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation. I certify that the Resolution originated in the Senate. - John W. Forney
Schulyler Colfax, Speaker of the House of Representatives, - Hannibal Hamlin, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate."
Estimated Value $60,000-UP.
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