Amendment XIII, Section 1
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.
Debates in Congress
- quoted bySuggestedHouse, June 14, 1864 (2), ¶ 41
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.
The paragraph gives section 1 of the article proposed by the resolution; these words appear in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment, which has no comma after "crime".
- quoted bySuggestedHouse, May 31, 1864, ¶ 6
iWlther laveiy noi nivoluntaryservitiule, except a« a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within tin* United States, or any place subject 10 their jurisdiction.
The paragraph gives section 1 of the article proposed by the joint resolution (S. No. 16); these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedHouse, January 31, 1865, ¶ 10
Neithei slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a puni hmciit for crime, whereof the party shall' have been duly convicted, h ill exist within the United States, or any place ^abject to their jurisdiction.
The paragraph gives section 1 of the article the joint resolution proposes; these words appear in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment (the scan has a stray mark after "shall").
- quoted bySuggestedHouse, January 6, 1865, ¶ 70
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except a* a puni hmeut for eutne wheieof tiie pain shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United {^latesoi iun place subject to then jiuisdiction,
The paragraph gives section 1 of the amendment the bill proposes to submit to the States; these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, June 13, 1866 (2), ¶ 55
Speaker, I shall ever consider it the crowning honor of my life that I was permitted, as a humble member of the Thirty Eighth Congress, to record my vote in favor of that amendment to the Constitution of the United States which has made our whole country, the United States of America, emphatically "the land of the free" as it is confessedly "the home of the brave." And I hope that I may be permitted this day to give one other vote which shall be among ihc richest…
The speaker names the amendment to the Constitution he voted for in the Thirty-Eighth Congress, which "made our whole country ... the land of the free"; only the Thirteenth Amendment fits.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, May 10, 1866, ¶ 7
…gentleman must fly directly in the face of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States; he has to put at naught the precedent established in reference to the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery; he has to overcome what is clearly the common sense judgment of the people of this country upon this point.
The paragraph names "the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, May 10, 1866, ¶ 62
Those of us who were members of the last Congress heard the same cry while the amendment was under consideration abolishing slavery, but we heeded J* not.
The speaker names the amendment "abolishing slavery" considered by the last Congress and since ratified, which is the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, May 8, 1866 (2), ¶ 42
To show that these people are in earnest, and acting in good faith, I need only refer to tie fact that they have ratified the amendment abolishing slavery, abandoned the pretended claim to the right of secession, and elected members of Congress.
The paragraph names "the amendment abolishing slavery", which the southern States are said to have ratified.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, May 8, 1866 (3), ¶ 81
They adopted the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery. To an ordinary observer not versed in the intricacies of party politics it must have appeared as if all the sacrifices of the war were about to be atoned by…
The paragraph names "the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery", which the southern States are said to have adopted.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, May 9, 1866 (3), ¶ 134
Stephens denies the constitutional efficacy of our amendment abolishing slavery.
The paragraph names "our amendment abolishing slavery," the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, February 15, 1869, ¶ 40
I say that since the adoption of the thirteenth and fourteenth articles of amendment to the Constitution those who were once slaves—citizens, in the language of Kent, under disability—are as much free citizens without disability as any other citizens in the Republic and under the equal protection of the law.
The paragraph names "the thirteenth ... articles of amendment to the Constitution", since whose adoption those once slaves are free.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, January 27, 1869 (4), ¶ 11
The thirteenth amendment had made all persons of color citizens of the United States, it they were not hitherto.# Then J dy of citizens is no way materially changed by this amendment.
The paragraph names "the thirteenth amendment"; its first section is the substance of that amendment.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, January 28, 1869 (3), ¶ 24
X submit that this is the textof the Constitution.' except as to thenewamendmentprohibiting slavery, and providing for legislation to prevent it exceptas punishment for crime, ltstands as therulingof the Supreme Court of the United States in the great case of McCullough vn.
The paragraph, part of a quotation from Mr. Bingham's speech of 1866, names "the new amendment prohibiting slavery" (run together by OCR).
- cited bySuggestedHouse, January 28, 1869 (3), ¶ 75
It was to give to the negro race, nine tenths of which had been held in slavery until the adoption of the thirteenth constitutional amendment, the benefit of the protection which citif zenship confers that the fourteenth amendment was adopted, if it be adopted, which, for the purposes of this argument only, I propose…
The paragraph names "the thirteenth constitutional amendment", by which the race "had been held in slavery until" its adoption.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, January 29, 1869, ¶ 38
The Congress while providing by the thirteenth and fourteenth articles of amendment to make all men free avoided any proposition by way of amendment to deny the ballot to any citizen.
The paragraph names "the thirteenth ... articles of amendment" as provisions "to make all men free".
- cited bySuggestedHouse, January 29, 1869, ¶ 95
Lincoln s proclamation, thenin Missouri, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee, and finally, by the thirteenth amendment of the Constitution, the institution itself, with all its cruelties, crimes, and blood, was buried out of sight of the Christian world forever.
The paragraph names "the thirteenth amendment of the Constitution", by which the institution of slavery was ended.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, July 12, 1909, ¶ 329
Early in 1865 the thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery, was proposed to the States by Congress, but not until after a heated struggle extending over many months.
The speaker names "the thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery".
- cited bySuggestedHouse, July 12, 1909, ¶ 404
The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery, which was the result of the civil war, and the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were likewise the result of the civil war, growing out of the new relations which…
The speaker names "The thirteenth amendment" as the amendment that abolished slavery.
- cited bySuggestedHouse, February 6, 1947 (2), ¶ 116
For instance, when slavery was abolished, such action strengthened a link in our chain of government.
In a list of amendments to the Constitution, the paragraph names the abolition of slavery, which is the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 6, 1864, ¶ 226
Neither fdaveiy nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been dnl\ convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to then jinn diction v2.
The paragraph gives section 1 of the article reported by the Committee on the Judiciary as the Senate agreed to it; these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 177
Slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for enure, shall not exist in the United States.
The speaker reads Mr. Henderson's proposition; its words appear in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment ("enure" is a word marked uncertain, which the other scan reads "crime"). Medium: the run of eight words counts a word the main scan misread (marked uncertain), as another scan reads it; unbroken in the stored text the run is shorter.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 183
It will be observed that it is in two sections— Neither slavery norinvoiuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof tiie party shall have been duly convicted—
The speaker reads section 1 of the proposition of the committee; these words appear in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment, which has no comma after "crime".
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 184
-There is no need of having it in a constitutional proposition— shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The speaker reads the rest of section 1 of the proposition of the committee; these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 195
Neither sla eir nor involuntary servitude, except as a pHrtiatomem for whereof ihe Tr y s b UI have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The speaker reads "the language of the committee"; these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 198
…the outset— neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereofthe party shall have been duly convicted;" whereas the committee say, "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."
The speaker quotes what "the committee say"; the whole sentence appears in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment, which has no comma after "crime".
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 199
I refer to the ■words "except as a punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." I have already said thatfor myself I should prefer the form which I have sent to the Chair, and on which the question is now to he taken; but…
The speaker quotes words of the committee's proposition, "except as a punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted"; the last eight appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, April 8, 1864, ¶ 203
…seems that the Senator from Massachusetts when he introduced his proposition used in it the very words of which he now makes such complaint," otherwise than in the punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."
The speaker quotes words of the proposition offered by the Senator from Massachusetts, "otherwise than in the punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted"; the last nine appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, March 31, 1864, ¶ 3
Slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall not exist in tlie United States.
The paragraph gives the first article of the joint resolution as Mr. Henderson introduced it; the words "involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime" appear in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, March 31, 1864, ¶ 7
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for ciime, whereof the patty shall have been duly convicted, shall exist withm the United States, or any place subject to then jimsdiction.
The paragraph gives section 1 of the article reported by the Committee on the Judiciary; its opening ten words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- quoted bySuggestedSenate, March 31, 1864, ¶ 11
…before the Senate, reported by the Committee on the Judiciary, proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide that'' neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for ciime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." I engage in the discussion of this proposed amendment to the Constitution, not from any desire to treat of a subject not only distasteful to myself, but which I…
The speaker quotes the amendment proposed by the joint resolution reported by the Committee on the Judiciary; these words appear unchanged in Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 4, 1866, ¶ 20
Perhaps a sufficient answer is found in the fact that the slaves were not made free by the voice of the South, but by the constitutional amendment which was demanded by the North; and that the North cannot well complain of a consequence of her own act.
The paragraph names the constitutional amendment by which the slaves were made free, which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 4, 1866, ¶ 21
…Union according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed, and excluding, also, two fifths of such persons as have been discharged from involuntary service by any proclamation of the President of the United Statesor by the amendment of the Constitution of the United States since the year 1861, and to whom the elective franchise may be denied.
The proposed text names the amendment of the Constitution since 1861 by which persons were discharged from involuntary service, which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 4, 1866, ¶ 77
And excluding also two fifths of such persons as have been discharged from involuntary servitude by any proclamation of the President of the United Statcsorbytho amendmenttothcConstitution of the United States since the year 18bl, and to whom the elective franchise may be denied.
The proposed words name the amendment to the Constitution since 1861 by which persons were discharged from involuntary servitude, which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment; the year is misread by OCR as "18bl".
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 4, 1866, ¶ 79
I do not myself believe that the proclamation of the President had the effect in law of emancipating the slaves I believe that that work was done by the constitutional amendment; but as other Senators hold that the proclamation had the effect to make the slaves free, out of deference to their views I have used that expression.
The paragraph names the constitutional amendment that emancipated the slaves, which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 5, 1866, ¶ 6
The great social and political change in the southern States wrought by the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery and by the overthrow of the late rebellion render it eminently proper and necessary that Congress should be invested with the power to enforce this provision throughout the country and…
The paragraph names the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 5, 1866, ¶ 24
By the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery, which was really one of the results of the war, this entire mass of slave population, counting by millions, were made free, and as the Constitution stands the States…
The paragraph names the amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 5, 1866, ¶ 55
Did these States accept the amendment abolishing slavery willingly much more important matter to them than anything contained in these propositions?
The paragraph names the amendment abolishing slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 8, 1866, ¶ 158
…abridge or ill anywise affect the rights, franchises, or privileges of any inhabitant of the United States, or of any State or Territory of the United Sta es guarantied bv the constitutional amendment abo is hins slavery within the United States, in force on the 18th day of December, 1865.
The proposed section names "the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery within the United States, in force on the 18th day of December, 1865". The OCR reads "abo is hins".
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 8, 1866, ¶ 159
…in the United States, without regard to color or caste of any kind, was a citizen, and 1 offered a resolution to that effect, based upon the l act that by the constitutional amendment we had abolished slavery within the United States and in all the Territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and required Congress, by appropriate legislation, to enforce llial provision of the amendment.
The speaker names the constitutional amendment by which slavery was abolished "within the United States and in all the Territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States".
- cited bySuggestedSenate, June 8, 1866, ¶ 163
believingin my heart that under the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery within the United States every inhabitant of the United States (excepting unnaturalized foreigners whose case is regulated by the Constitution) is as free a« I am, and entitled to the same rights and privileges…
The speaker names "the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery within the United States".
- cited bySuggestedSenate, May 24, 1866, ¶ 36
Finally, when you have announced to the world that the constitutional amendment was adopted, that already there was no single slave upon the soil of the Union, we have heard within expressible emotion this glorious progress, this greatest event of our Tt is this sentiment which we would manifest today as a duty.
The paragraph, part of the Swiss address read by the Secretary, names "the constitutional amendment" whose adoption meant "no single slave upon the soil of the Union," which only the Thirteenth Amendment fits.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, May 24, 1866, ¶ 45
…one condition necessary to future pcaceshould be imposed on the rebel States, the sense, namely, of the above, we doubtnotyouunderstand for youhuve already imposed upon them an affirmative vote upon the amendment abolishing slavery.
The paragraph, part of the Swiss address read by the Secretary, names "the amendment abolishing slavery."
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 17, 1869 (2), ¶ 712
This question of suffrage has been agitated as much as the question of the amendment abolishing slavery throughout the States; it has been agitated as much as was the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
The paragraph names "the amendment abolishing slavery throughout the States", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 17, 1869 (2), ¶ 735
…made are only the first eleven, which were submitted all at one time; afterward the twelfth, with regard to the choice of electors for President and Vice President; and then the thirteenth article, which related to slavery; and the fourteenth, wnich related to the question "of reconstruction.
The paragraph names "the thirteenth article, which related to slavery".
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 4, 1869, ¶ 16
It is in this respect similar to the amendment, for which my colleague voted, abolishing slavery in the States.
The paragraph names "the amendment ... abolishing slavery in the States", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 4, 1869, ¶ 180
to the honorable Senator from Indiana that "slavery" is the second word in the thirteenth amendment.
The speaker points to the word "slavery" as "the second word in the thirteenth amendment", which is in its first section.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 5, 1869 (2), ¶ 62
If in the original text of the Constitution there could be any doubt, it was all relieved by the amendment abolishing Slavery and empowering Congress to enforce this provision.
The paragraph names "the amendment abolishing Slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 294
I believe that I made the first speech in this body iu favor of the amendment abolishing slavery.
The paragraph names "the amendment abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 423
What more violent disruption of the various relations which existed between the classes of people who inhabited the State of Kentucky could occur than was made to occur by the passage of the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution?
The paragraph names "the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution" and the change it made in Kentucky.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 504
We had the article abolishing slavery. What, then, did we lack?
The paragraph names "the article abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 599
I assumed that by the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, the slaves being made free became citizens entitled to all the rights, civil and political, of other American citizens.
The paragraph names "the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 625
Did he consider the amendment abolishing slavery as a violation ,of the pledge of.
The speaker names "the amendment abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 629
Did you regard the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery as oneof the acts of the Republican party which you say violated faith?
The speaker names "the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, February 8, 1869 (2), ¶ 633
Do you consider that the amendment abolishing slavery, which was a measure of the Republican party, was one of the breaches of faith on the part of the Republican party.
The speaker names "the amendment abolishing slavery", which can only be the Thirteenth Amendment.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, January 28, 1869, ¶ 116
The crowning act of emancipation, the great constitutional amendment, was sternly resisted.
The paragraph names "the crowning act of emancipation, the great constitutional amendment"; only the Thirteenth Amendment fits.
- cited bySuggestedSenate, July 5, 1909 (2), ¶ 239
The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery; the fourteenth amendundertook to secure to the lately enfranchised race the protection of the Federal Government.
The speaker names "The thirteenth amendment" as the amendment that abolished slavery.
The Supreme Court
Cases whose essays in the Constitution Annotated cite them under this clause, oldest first. Each link names the pages it comes from.
- interpreted bySuggestedSlaughter-House Cases (1873)83 U.S. 36, decided April 14, 1873
The Constitution Annotated's essays on this provision cite the case on 2 pages.
Source: Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (2022 ed.), essays Amdt13.S1.1, Amdt13.S1.2, Amdt13.S1.3, Amdt13.S1.3.1, pp. 2033, 2035.
- interpreted bySuggestedThe Civil Rights Cases (1883)109 U.S. 3, decided October 15, 1883
The Constitution Annotated's essays on this provision cite the case on 3 pages.
Source: Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (2022 ed.), essays Amdt13.S1.1, Amdt13.S1.2, Amdt13.S1.4, pp. 2033, 2034, 2038.
On Amendment XIII as a whole
- interpreted bySuggestedThe Civil Rights Cases (1883)109 U.S. 3, decided October 15, 1883
Source: Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (2022 ed.), essays Amdt13.1, pp. 2027, 2028.
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