It seems fitting that Illinois would be the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since Illinois' adopted son, Abraham Lincoln, would become known as the Great Emancipator on January 1, 1863, by the executive order known as the Emancipation Proclamation.
[caption id="attachment_1164" align="alignleft" width="240"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated before he could see the 13th Amendment ratified.[/caption]
The 13th Amendment states:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Upon ratification in the Illinois Legislature, Governor Oglesby sent a dispatch to President Lincoln which read:
[caption id="attachment_1165" align="alignright" width="220"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Illinois Governor Richard James Oglesby sent a dispatch to Abraham Lincoln.[/caption]
Springfield, Feb. 1st, 1865
To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
"The Legislature of Illinois has, by a large majority, ratified the amendment to the Constitution. We suppose you have signed the joint resolutions of Congress. Great enthusiasm prevails."
Richard J. Oglesby, Governor.
"Probably Illinois will prove to be the first State to ratify this second Magna Carta of human liberty. Glory be to God."
[caption id="attachment_1166" align="alignleft" width="300"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Governor Oglesby's dispatch was printed in the February 2, 1865, Chicago Daily Tribune.[/caption]
Not only was Illinois the first state to ratify the 13th amendment followed closely by Maryland but one of its U.S. Senators, Lyman Trumbull, who was a close friend of Lincoln's, was the co-author of the 13th Amendment itself.
[caption id="attachment_1167" align="alignright" width="149"]Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Illinois U.S. Senator Lyman Trumbull was a co-author of the amendment and a friend of Lincoln's.[/caption]
While Abraham Lincoln effectively freed the slaves during the Civil War by Executive Order he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, before he could see it officially ratified by the needed number of states on December 6, 1865.
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Clik here to view.
Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated before he could see the 13th Amendment ratified.[/caption]
The 13th Amendment states:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Upon ratification in the Illinois Legislature, Governor Oglesby sent a dispatch to President Lincoln which read:
[caption id="attachment_1165" align="alignright" width="220"]Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Illinois Governor Richard James Oglesby sent a dispatch to Abraham Lincoln.[/caption]
Springfield, Feb. 1st, 1865
To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
"The Legislature of Illinois has, by a large majority, ratified the amendment to the Constitution. We suppose you have signed the joint resolutions of Congress. Great enthusiasm prevails."
Richard J. Oglesby, Governor.
"Probably Illinois will prove to be the first State to ratify this second Magna Carta of human liberty. Glory be to God."
[caption id="attachment_1166" align="alignleft" width="300"]Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Governor Oglesby's dispatch was printed in the February 2, 1865, Chicago Daily Tribune.[/caption]
Not only was Illinois the first state to ratify the 13th amendment followed closely by Maryland but one of its U.S. Senators, Lyman Trumbull, who was a close friend of Lincoln's, was the co-author of the 13th Amendment itself.
[caption id="attachment_1167" align="alignright" width="149"]Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Illinois U.S. Senator Lyman Trumbull was a co-author of the amendment and a friend of Lincoln's.[/caption]
While Abraham Lincoln effectively freed the slaves during the Civil War by Executive Order he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, before he could see it officially ratified by the needed number of states on December 6, 1865.
Find Chicago History The Stranger Side on FACEBOOK
Find Ray Johnson on Twitter and Google+
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