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State of Maine Executive Department Augusta February 6th, 1865

To the Senate and House of Representatives

I have the honor to lay before you an official copy of "A Resolution submitting to the Legislatures of the several States a proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States," adopted by Congress.

By the proposed amendment, slavery or involuntary servitude, except as the punishment for crime, is forever prohibited in the United States or in places subject to their jurisdiction. Your ratification thereof is invoked.

I congratulate the people of this State that the time has arrived, when, in a legitimate and constitutional method, a subject, which has so long been the exciting cause of angry discussions, and at last was made the pretext for plunging the