Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-09-28
oUR PLArFoR1E

The Constitutional Amendment IS sub
stantially the platform upon which the
Union party now stands. The changes
wrought by the war IN the social condi-
ton of the South, the prevalence of dis
loyal sentiments among the Southern
people, and the wiekedness, eauselessness
and persisteney of their treason against
our liberties, make 1t just and necessary
that these guarantees at least should be
exacted from the insurgent States before
they be permitted to resume all the rights
and immunies of loyal people in the
Union. Were we to exact less We would
but endanger our national safety and set
bounty upon the worst Of crimes. We're
there provisions made mere laws of Con-
gress the rebels, as soon as admitted to
Legislative power, would, BY the aid of
their Democratic confederates in the
North. Immediately repeal them. To
give them permanent force it Is therefore
necessary to make them part of the
Constitution
The following is the Amendment in
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of
America In Congress assembled, two
thirds of both Houses eoncurrlng.) That
the following article be proposed to the
Legislatures of the several States as an
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States, which when ratified by
three -fourths of said Legislatures shall
be 7alid as part Of the Constitution, name
ly: Ha
ARTICLE -
SEC l. All persons born or naturliz-
ed In the United States, and subject to
the Jurisdiction thereof. are citizens ofthe
United States and of the States wherein
they reside. No State shall make or en-
force any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities Of GitiZens of the
United States :; nor shall any State de-
prlve any person of life, liberty, or prop
erty, without due process of laWB nor
deny to any person within Its Jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws.
SEC 2. Representatives shall be ap-
pOrtIoned among the several States ac-
cordiBg to their respective numb bers,
counting tht whole number of persons,
excluding Indians not taxed. But when
ever the right to vote at any election for
the choice of electors for President and
Vice President, Representatives IN Con-
gress Executive and Judicial officers. OF
members of the Legislature thereof is
denied to any of the male inhabitants of
such State, being twenty one years of age,
and citizens of the URited States, or IN
any way abriged, except for participation
in rebellion or other crime, the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced
IN the proportion which the number of
male citizens shall bear to the whole num-
Der of male citizen tWenty-one years of
age in such State.
SEC. 3. Thatno person shall be a Sen
atOr or Representative in Congress, or
eleetOr of President and 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 mem
ber OF Congress, or as an officer of the
United States, or as a member of any
State Legislature, or as judicial officer
of any State. to support the Constitution
Of the United States, shall have engaged
IN insUrrectiOn or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the en-
emies thereof. But Congress may, by a
vote of tWo-thirds of each House remove
such disability.
SEC. 4. Thevalidity ofthe public debt
OF the United States authorized by law,
including debts Incurred for payment of
pensions and bOunties for services in sup /
pressing insurrection or rebellion, shall
not be questioned. But neither the Uni
ted States nor any State shall assume or
pay any debt or obligation incurred in
aid of insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim for the !
loss or emancipation of any slave, but all
such debts, Obligations, and claims shall |
be held illegal and void.
Sec. 5. The Congress shall have pow
er to enforce BY appropriate legislation, |
the provisions of this section