Henry B. Payne letter regarding abolition of slavery   Save
Ohio History Connection Archives/Library
Description: Cleveland lawyer and politician Henry B. Payne wrote this letter in 1864, shortly after the United States House of Representatives approved the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery. Payne writes of his mixed opinions on the amendment. The Thirteenth Amendment passed the Senate on January 31, 1865, and was ratified on December 6, 1865. The three-page letter measures 5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm). Henry B. Payne (1810-1896) was born in Hamilton, New York, and studied law at Hamilton College before moving to Cleveland, Ohio. He opened a law practice and founded the Cleveland and Columbus Railroad. In 1849 he served a term in the Ohio Senate. Following unsuccessful bids for the United States Senate and governor of Ohio, Payne was elected to Congress in 1875 and again in 1885. Payne is buried in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3249_4416819_001
Subjects: Presidents and Politics; Civil Liberties; African American Ohioans; Constitutional amendments; Slavery
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)