When the constitutional amendment was reached, Mr.Corwin substituted for that which was originally draughted by Mr.Adams, an amendment declaring that "no amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish, or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State." This was adopted by a vote of 133 to 65.

It was numbered as the thirteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution, and would have made slavery perpetual in the United States, so far as any influence or power of the National Government could affect it.

It intrenched slavery securely in the organic law of the land, and elevated the privilege of the slave-holder beyond that of the owner of any other species of property.

It received the votes of a large number of Republicans who were then and afterwards prominent in the councils of the party.
Among the most distinguished were Mr.Sherman of Ohio, Mr.Colfax, Mr.C.F.Adams, Mr.Howard of Michigan, Mr.Windom of Minnesota, and Messrs.

Moorhead and McPherson of Pennsylvania.