The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-08
nN1oN RAsIs or RECONsTRuCTION.

kTesS on MOUQayy tLo lUlIohiH5
the restoration of Tie rebeliious States.
The task of the joint committee has beer.
o most laborous one. They have patri-
Otically aud untiringly pursued their in-
yestioations as to the actual condition OF
the people of the insurgent States, and
will doubtless fortify their recommends
tions by an unauswcrable array Of ties.
timony.
The Union basis Of restoration ID thus
presented to the country, aud We submit
it to the candid judgment Of every patriot
whatever may be his political faith. Let
him who will attempt successfully to dis
pute its mingled justice and mercy but
faithful men will with one voice, give it
o hearty and Jealous support. If Con-
gress and the legislatures shall adopt
these propositions, the work of restora,
tion is effected, and who will say that still
greater concessions must be made to
traitors? We subjoin the report:
i joint resolution proposing an amen3mcnt 10
he Constitution Of the United States.
BE it resolved by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, two,
thirds of Both Houses conouring, That
the following articles be proposed to the
Legislatures Of the several States as an
amendment to the Constitution, which,
when ratified BY three fourtbs of the said
Legislatures, shall be valid as a part Of
the Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE Section /. No State shall
make or enforce any law which thall
abridge the privileges or immunites Of
citizens of the United States nor shall
any State deprive any person Of life, lib
erty, or property, without due process Of
law, nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection Of the
laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be
appointed among the several States, which
may be Included within this Union, ac
cordiug to their respective numbers,
counting tho whole number Of persons IN
each State, excluding Indtans not taxed
But, whenever iD any State the elective
franchise shall be denied to any portion
of its mae citizens not less than twenty
oue years Of age, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion or
other crime, the basis Of representation in
such State shall be reduced in the pro.
portion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number Of
such male citizens not less than twenty,one
years of age.
Section 3. Uutil the 4th day of July,
1870, all persons who voluntarily adhered
to the late insurrection, giving it aid aud
comfort, shall be excluded from the right
to vote for members Of Congress and for
electors for President and Vice President
of the United States.
Section f. Neither the United States
nor any State shall assume or pay any
debt or obligation already Incurred, or
which may hereafter be incurred, in aid
of insurrection or war against the United
States, or any claim for compensation for
loss of involuntary service or labor.
Section 5. The Congress shall have
power to enforce, by appropriate legisia-
tion, the provisions Of this article.
ii bill 10 proyids for the restoration oftIs State,
lately IN hasurrection to thartaH politcalrghts.
Whereas, Ii is expedient that the
States lately in insurrection should at the
earliest day consistent with the future
peace and safety of the Union, be restored
to full participation in all political rights {:
And whereas, The Congress did, by
joint resolution, propose for ratification to
the legislatures of the several States, as
an amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States, an article IN the following
words, to wit: The constitutional article
recited above is here inserted.
Now, therefore, be it enacted, etc, That
whenever the above Iecited amendment
shall have become a part of the Constitr.
tion, and any State lately 10 iDsurrcction
shall have ratified the same, and sLall
have modified its constitution and laws
10 conformity herewith the Senators aud
Representatives, from such State, if found
duly elected and qualified, nay, after
having taken the required oaths Of office,
be admitted into Congress as such.
And be tit further enacted, That when
any State. lately in instruction, shall
have ratified the foregoing proposed
amendment to the Constitution, any part
of the direct tax under the Act of August
5th, 1861, which may remain due aud
unpaid iu such State, may be assumed
aud paid BY such State, aud the payment
thereof, uDder proper assurances from
such State to be given to the Secretary
of the Treasury Of the United States,
may be postponed for period not ex.
ceeding ten years from and after the
passage of this Act.