The U.S. Constitution and the End of American Slavery
John Malveaux of
writes:
Exhibit At The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
The Huntington
Jan. 24-April 20, 2015 Library, West Hall
Just after 3 p.m. on Jan. 31, 1865, Schulyer Colfax,
the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, called for the vote on
a joint resolution that would amend the Constitution to abolish slavery
in the United States. After the roll call was finished, Colfax asked
the clerk to add his name to the roll, so that he too could cast his
vote for “that great measure, which hereafter will illuminate the
highest place in our History.” The tally was announced: 119 ayes to 56
nays, with 8 abstaining. After a moment of stunned silence, the chamber
erupted in wild jubilation. Timed to commemorate the sesquicentennial of
the Thirteenth Amendment, this exhibition explores the long, tortuous,
and bloody road that led to that fateful vote. With more than 80 items,
drawn entirely from The Huntington’s rich collection of historical
materials, it features rare manuscripts, books, and prints, including
letters by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
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