Andrew Johnson

Executive Order 6—Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

July 20, 1868


BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas by an act of Congress entitled "An act to admit the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida to representation in Congress," passed the 25th day of June, 1868, it is declared that it is made the duty of the President, within ten days after receiving official information of the ratification by the legislature of either of said States of a proposed amendment to the Constitution known as article fourteen, to issue a proclamation announcing that fact; and

Whereas a letter was received this day by the President, which letter, being addressed to the President, bears date of July 16, 1868, and was transmitted by and under the name of William H. Smith, who therein writes himself governor of Alabama, in which letter was inclosed and received at the same time by the President a paper purporting to be a resolution of the senate and house of representatives of the general assembly of the State of Alabama ratifying the said proposed amendment, which paper is attested by the signature of Charles A. Miller, as secretary of state, under a seal purporting to be the seal of the State of Alabama, and bears the date of approval of July 13, 1868, by William H. Smith, as governor of said State:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America, in compliance with and execution of the act of Congress before mentioned, do issue this my proclamation, announcing the fact of the ratification of the said amendment by the legislature of the State of Alabama in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed these presents with my hand and have caused the seal of the United States to be hereto affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of July, A D. 1868, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninety-third.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State.

APP Note: Although this document obviously takes the form of a proclamation, including the heading, "By the President of the United States of America a Proclamation," it was classified as Executive Order #6 as listed in Clifford L. Lord. ed., 1981. "Presidential Executive Orders: Numbered Series (1862-1938)." vol. 1 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc.)

Andrew Johnson, Executive Order 6—Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/202918

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