Maryland free press., 1866-06-21
Amendment to the Constitution.

Ey"thc following is the Amendment to
tic Constitution which has just passed
both Houses of Congress and will be pre-
scnted to the Legislatures Of the several
States for Ratification
PcSOtccd by tie Senate and House of
Representatives. Of tie United States of
.imcrica, IN Congress assembled, (two-
thirds of both houses concurring,) 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
thrcc-fourths Of said Legislatures, shall b.,
vailed as part OF the Constitution, namely:
Act.-Sec. l. All persons born Or natu-
ralizcd in the United States, and suffice,
to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens OF
the United States and of the State wherein
they reside. No State shall make or en-
force any law which shall abriIgc the
privileges Or immunitics 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
person within its jurisdiction of the laws.
Section =. Representatives shall be APP
portioned among the several States accord
ing to their respective numbers, counting
the whole number Of persons, excluding
Indians not taxed. Dnt whenever the
fright to vote at any election for the choice
Of electors for President and Vice Prcsi-
dent, Representatives i'll Congress, cxecu-
tive and judicial officers, or members of the
Legislature thereof is denied to any of the
male inhabitants Of such State being twen-
ty-one years of age and citizens of the
United States, or i'll any way abridged, eX-
cept for participation in rebellion OF other
crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which
the number of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years Of age in such State.
Section 3. That no person shall be q
Senator or Representative in Congress, OIL
clcctor of President and Vice President
or hold any Office, civil or military, under
the United States, or under any other
State, who, having previously taken an
Oh h as q member of Congress, or as an
officer of the United States, or as member
of any State Legislature, or as an exccu.
i've or judicial officer Of any State to sup
port the Constitution of the United States
shall have engaged in insurrcctian or re.
bcllion against the same, or given aid and
comfort to the enemies thereof. But Con.
gress may, by vote oftwo thirds of each
house, remove such disability. 49,.
Section f. The validity of the public
debt of the United States authorized b.
law, including debts incurred for pay.
ment of pensions and bounties for services
in suppressing insurrection or rebellion
shall not be questioned. But neither the
United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt of obligation incurred it
aid of insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim for the loss ol
emancipation of any slave, but all sucl
debts, obligations and claims shall hold il.
legal and void. -''. .a ..o .o.
Section. The Congress shall have power
to enforce, bya appropriate legislation
! the provisions Of this article.