On April 8th, 1864 he Senate by a vote of 38 to 6 passed the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery, but just two months later the House failed to muster the two-thirds votes needed for passage. The vote was split largely along party lines with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. Abraham Lincoln used his latest re-election victory in 1864 to promote the amendment stating that "the voice of the people [were] now for the first time heard upon the question. He used all of the powers of his office including patronage to push the thirteenth amendment through the House. The amendment was adopted on January 31, 1865. Slavery was officially abolished.
Here is an excerpt from Lincoln's last annual address to congress:
"At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States passed the Senate, but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress and nearly the same members, and without questioning the wisdom or patriotism of those who stood in opposition, I venture to recommend the reconsideration and passage of the measure at the present session. Of course the abstract question is not changed; but in intervening election shows almost certainly that the next Congress will pass the measure if this does not. Hence there is only a question of time as to when the proposed amendment will go to the States for their action. And as it is to so go at all events, may we not agree that the sooner the better? It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on members to change their views or their votes any further than, as an additional element to be considered, their judgment may be affected by it. It is the voice of the people now for the first time heard upon the question."
http://millercenter.org/
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Thirteenth_Amendment_1940_U.S._stamp.1.jpg
Would it be relevant to mention that Congress ended in “ sine die” = no day set to reconvene. Effectively ending the voluntary contract between the state's?
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