A BILL

To aid the President of the United States in carrying into more immediate execution the proclamation of emancipation issued by him on the first day of January, anno domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, prohibiting the holding of certain persons as slaves in all that portion of the United States designated therein.

Whereas the President of the United States, by his proclamation issued on the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, as commander-in-chief of the army thereof, did, as a fit and lawful means of suppressing the rebellion, in accordance with the laws of war and with the dictates of justice and humanity, order, proclaim, and declare that all persons held as slaves within the limits of certain States and parts of States therein designated, were, and should thereafter and forever be, free, and that the executive, military, and naval authorities would and should thenceforward recognize and maintain the freedom of all such persons; and whereas, by said proclamation and order, the President has guaranteed to all such persons their freedom, and has pledged the faith and honor of the county that their freedom shall be recognized and forever maintained; and whereas it is the right and the duty of Congress to make all laws which may be necessary and proper for carrying into execution all the powers, whether civil or military, vested by the Constitution in the President as commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and among such military powers is that of making and executing the proclamation aforesaid; and whereas all persons heretofore held as slaves as aforesaid, within said designated States or parts of States, are now of right free, and ought to be hereafter forever unmolested in the enjoyment of that freedom, which the Government of the United States is bound to "recognize and maintain:" Now, therefore, for the purpose of carrying into more complete and immediate execution the aforesaid proclamation, and to secure forever the recognition and maintenance of the freedom of all persons designated therein, and thereby to provide more effectually for the suppression of the rebellion, the securing of domestic tranquillity, the maintaining of the common defence, and the preservation of the liberties of the people––

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all States and parts of States designated in said proclamation as in rebellion, the re-enslaving or holding or attempting to hold in slavery or in involuntary servitude of any person who shall have been made or declared to be free by said proclamation, or any of their descendants, from and after the date of said proclamation, otherwise than in punishment of crime, whereof the accused shall have been duly convicted, is and shall be forever prohibited, any law or regulation of either of such States to the contrary notwithstanding.

• H. R. 24 (introduced on 1863-12-14 12:00:00 - CREATE - e730468) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • Motion to Read H. R. 24 (introduced on 1863-12-14 12:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e730469) [view current proposal at this moment]
    • None (introduced on 1863-12-14 12:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e730470) [view current proposal at this moment]
  • Motion to Refer H. R. 24 to the Committee on the Judiciary (introduced on 1863-12-14 12:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e730471) [view current proposal at this moment]
    • None (introduced on 1863-12-14 12:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e730472) [view current proposal at this moment]