What piece of legislation dealt with the status of slaves and slavery during the Civil War?

helpWhat piece of legislation dealt with the status of slaves and slavery during the Civil War?Seems to be some confusion here. The Emancipation Proclamation was NOT a "piece of legislation" (by Congress), but a Presidential order (not subject to a vote of Congress).



In fact, though Congress DID pass acts authorizing the taking of "contraband" (slaves the South was using to fight against the North), they didn't do much that handled the "status of slaves" question per se.



Actually, Constitutionally they COULD not change the status of MOST slaves, except by Constitutional amendment, which they finally did at the END of the war, passing the 13th amendment in January 1865. To be exact, though, a Constitutional amendment is NOT your ordinary "legislation", in that it requires a 2/3 vote of Congress, does not require the President's signature, and must be ratified by majority vote in 3/4 of the state legislatures.



There was, however, one clear, explicit Constitutional exception to the limits above -- Congress could legislate concerning slavery for the 'federal district' where the national capitol was located (Washington D.C.) They had done so in September 1850 when they banned the local slave trade/auctions in the city (part of the "Compromise of 1850"). AND they did so again in the "District of Columbia Emancipation Act" signed by Lincoln on April 16,1862. This instituted a program advocated by Lincoln of "compensated emancipation" of the district's slaves (months before his Emancipation Proclamation).What piece of legislation dealt with the status of slaves and slavery during the Civil War?The Emancipation Proclamation.