While the headline might look like it belongs in a newspaper from the 19th century, it’s quite current. A long overdue ratification of the abolishment of slavery was just approved in Mississippi. While lawmakers in the Southern state have done what’s right, many are questioning why it took so long.
Reports indicate that in 1865, Mississippi was the only state that did not ratify the 13th Amendment along with the other states in the Union. In 1995, state legislators in the House and Senate voted to approve the ban. However, the paperwork was never sent to the Office of the Federal Register, keeping slavery on the books.
The Oscar-nominated film “Lincoln” is said to have inspired University of Mississippi Medical Center professor Dr. Ranjan Batra to look into the matter. After careful research, the blemish was found. Mississippi was one of the states that rejected the slavery ban.
Batra told his colleague Ken Sullivan, who reportedly got in contact with Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, who agreed to fix the issue. On Feb. 7 of this year, Mississippi officially ratified the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery. Mississippi is the final state to do so.
“It was unanimous,” said state Sen. Hillman Frazier, who introduced the resolution in 1995. “Some didn’t vote, but we didn’t receive a ‘nay’ vote.”
Dick Molpus, who served as secretary of state at the time, said there was an error filing in 1995 and that such an important piece of legislation should not have been lost.
“With this action, the state of Mississippi has ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” wrote Federal Register Director Charley Barth.
History dictates that by 1820, nearly 460 slaves were first freed in Mississippi. In 1822, Mississippi passed a state law forbidding slaves to be freed because of the mingling of slaves with emancipated Blacks.