YACHTS, Sail or Steam, kept for pleasure or racing, of 10 tons measurement, or less, annual tax,.

Over 10 tons to 20 tons,.

$5

$10

EXECUTIVE MESSAGE.

SUBMITTING TO THE LEGISLATURE OF 1865, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

STATE OF WISCONSIN,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Madison, Feb. 7, 1865.

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin :

Article V of the constitution of the United States, provides that "The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution; or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States shall call a convention for proposing amendments which, in either case shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article: and that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."

I have the honor herewith to lay before you a copy of a joint resolution of congress, approved Feb. 1, 1865, passed pursuant to said Article V, proposing to the legislatures of the several States, an amendment to the constitution of the United States, to be designated as Article thirteen of said constitution, and to request your decision on said proposed amendment.

Seldom has there been presented to any legislative body a more important question, or one in which the people of the United States feel a deeper interest than is presented by this resolution. Though the last few months have been crowded with important events, im. portant victories causing the people to shout for joy, yet the announcement of no event has sent a deeper thrill of joy to loyal hearts than will the announcement of the adoption of this amendment. Upon its adoption hangs the destiny of nearly four millions of human beings, and it may be the destiny of the nation. I trust, and I doubt not, the Legislature of Wisconsin will record its decision firmly, and I hope unanimously, in favor of the amendment. Let us wipe from our escutcheon the foul blot of human slavery, and show by our action that we are worthy the name of freemen.

May God in his providence grant that this contemplated amendment of the fundamental law of our land may be adopted by every State in our Union; that it may nerve the arm of our patriotic soldiers to strike still harder blows for liberty, and that it may redound to the glory of our beloved country.

JAMES T. LEWIS,

Governor of Wisconsin.

A resolution submitting to the Legislatures of the several States a proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States;

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of both houses concurring,) That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, as a part of the said Constitution, namely:

ARTICLE 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.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Approved February 1, 1865.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

To all whom these presents shall come, Greeting:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

I certify, that annexed is a true copy of a Joint Resolution of Congress, entitled "A Resolution submitting to the Legislatures of the several States a proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States," the original of which is on file in this Department.

In testimony whereof, I, William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of the Department of State to be [SEAL.] affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this second day of February, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the 89th.

(Signed)

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

JOINT RESOLUTION

RATIFYING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

J. Res. No. 17 S.,

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has, pursuant to Article five (5) of the Constitution, proposed to the Legislature of the several States, the following Article as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, namely:

ARTICLE XIII.

Sec. 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 in any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin in Legislature assembled, That the said Article as such proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States be and the same is hereby ratified.

Adopted by the Senate February 21st, 1865.

Senators Barnum, Bentley, Blair, Bowman, Case, W. H. Chandler, J. A. Chandler, Cole, Elwood, Harris, Hood, Ketchum, Lawrence, Lincoln, Littlejohn, Pope, Reed, Sessions, Smith, Van Wyck, Webb, Wescott, Wheeler, Wilkinson, Wilson, A. H. Young and M. K. Young-27, voted in the affirmative.

Senators Budlong, Clark, Ellis, Morgan, Reynolds and Thorpe-6, voted in the negative.

Concurred in by the Assembly February 24th, 1865.

Mes rs. Abrams, Babcock, Barden, Berry, Bonniwell, Boyce, Brandon, Brayton, Brinkerhoff, Burgess, Cadby, Carr, Cassoday, Church, Cobb, Colladay, De Witt Davis, T. Davis, Dewhurst, Doud, Dunwiddie, Eaton, Emmons, Fay, Forsyth, Fowler, Frary, Fulton, Gilbert, Glenn, Groesbeck, Hadley, Hand, Horton, Johnson, Judd, King, Knapp, Little, Lowth, McLaughlin, McRaith, Miner, Monteith, Mowe, Oberman, Officer, Osborn, Owen, Palmer, Pike, Reed, Rogers, Ross, Ryan, Salisbury, Sawyer, Wm. Simmons, Z. G. Simmons, Slade, Spoor, Starks, Stuntz, Tarr, Taylor, Tilton, Thomas, Thompson, Utt, Van Ostrand, Vaughan, Weage, Whipple, Williams, Winsor, Wooster and Mr. Speaker Field-77, voted in the affirmative.

Messrs. Boyd, Daggett, Delaney, Ford, Franckenburg, Gnewuch, Goodsell Jones, Knab, Large, McLean, Mulholland, Murphy, Pease, Peters, Piper, Walker, Weaver, Wedig, Weiler and White-21, voted in the negative.

Messrs. Harker and McGrath were absent and did not vote.