The tri-weekly standard., 1866-06-02
Restoration-Mr. Howard's Amendment.

ReStOrat1On--hr. HOWaru>S ; <AmeHuIheHl'
1t will be recollected that the amendments
proposed to the Constitution by the COM
mittee on reconstruction passed the House
some days since. and were sent to the Senate
for its action. But consultations took place
afterwards between the majority i'll Congress,
and the result was determination to make
some changes in the report of the committee.
Accordingly Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, mov-
ed certain amendments in the Senate, which
were adopted. We give the proceedings on
the subject as follows:
After some further discussion the joint
resolution from the committee rcconstruc-
tion was taken up. the question being on the
amendment of Mr.. Johnson striking out the
third section.
The question was taken, and the amend
ment agreed to, by yeas 43, nays none.
The section struck out is as follows:
Until the 4th day of July, 1870, all per
sons who voluntarily adhered to the late in
surrecton, giving it aid and comfort. shall
br excluded frcm the right to vote for mem
bers of Congress- and for electors for Presi-
dent, and Vice President of the United
States.
ments, as follows:
Insert at the beginning of the first section
the words, " all persons born in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof
are citizens of the United States, and of the
States wherein they reside making the first
section read:
MI persons born in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citi
zens of the United States, and of the States
wherein they reside. No State shall make
or enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges OF immunities of citizens of the
United States: nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty or property, with
out due process of law. nor deny to any per-
son within its jurisdiction the equal protec
ton of the laws.
The amendment proposed to the second
section makes it read as follows:
SEC. ?. Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States which may
be included within this Union according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State. excluding
Indians not taxed. But whenever in any
State the elective franchise shall be denied
to any portion of its male inhabitants being
citizens of the United States, not less than
twenty-one years of age, or in any other way
abridged. except for participation in rebel
lion or other crime, the basis of representa-
tion in such State shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of
male citizens not less than twenty one years
of age in such State.
The following is proposed in place of the
third section, which was struck out as above
noted:
No person shall be a Senator or Represen-
tative in Congress or elector of President or
Vice President, or hold any office, civil or
military, under the United States, or under
any State, who having previously taken an
oath as a member of Congress or officer of
the United States, or as member OF any
State Legislature, or as an executive or judi
cial officer Of any Stale, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States shall have en-
gagged in insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof, but Congress may, by vote of two
thirds of each House, remove such disability.
The following is proposed as
SEC. 4. ALL obligations of the United
States incurred in suppressing insurrection,
or in defence of the Union, or for payment OF
bounties pensions incident thereto, shall
remain inviolate.
Section 4. in the original resolution, it is
proposed to make section 5, and to read as
follows Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obil-
cation incurred in aid of insurrection or re-
bellion against the United States, any
claim for compensation for emancipation of
any slaves, and such debts and obligations
void.
Sec. Congress shall have power to enforce
by appropriate legislation the provisions of
this article
1t is proposed, first, that all citizens of the
United States, without regard to color, shall
be alike protected in life, liberty, and prop
erty; secondly, that representatives shall be
based on population, but that if the right of
suffrage shall be denied to colored men they
shall not be counted; thirdly, that certain
persons shall be excluded from the right to
hold Office, unless such disability shall be
removed by two-thirds vote of Congress;
fourthly, that the public debt and bounties
and pensions shall be secured and made in
violate; filthy, that Congress shall have
power to enforce these proposed amend
ments.
The third section provides that no person