Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-13
Senator Wilson's Reconstruction Resolves

The following are the joint resolutions submit
ted to the U. ). Senate last Monday by Hon
Henry Wilson, by which he would reduce the
process of reconstruction to some systematic
plan
- Resolved by the Senate ard House of Rep
resen tatIves OF the United States of America
in Congress assembled, That either of the States
of Virginia, North Carolina. South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida. Alabama, Louisiana, Mlssis-
sIppi, Arkansas or Texas, shall be entitled TO
representation In congress, and To resume COM
plete practical relations with the United States
whenever the said State, 10y It's Legislature,
shall formally adopt the following irrepealable
fundamental conditions, namely That all laws
statutes, ordinances rules and regulations, here
tofore in force, held valid in the said States
whereby wherein are lneq quality of civil rights
or ImmunItles among the inhabitants of the
said States ls recognized, authorised or estab-
lished, or maintained by reason Of or founded
upon any distinctions or differences of color,
race or descent, or upon previous condition,
or status of slavery or involuntary servitude, be
declared absolutely null and void, and that it
shall be forever unlawful TO institute, make, or
dain or establish, In the said State, any law
statute, act, ordinance, rule or regulation,
tc enforce OF TO attempt TO enforce the same
that there shall be discrimination whatever
In civil rights Immunities among the Inhabi
tants OF the said State on account of color, race
or descent or previous condition of slavery or
involuntary servItude, shall have the same right
to make and entorce contracts, 10 sue, be parties
ann give evidence III all courts and causes, to IN
herlt, purchase, lease, sell and convey real and
personal property, ana to have the full and equal
benefit OF ali laws and proceedings for the pro-
lection OF person and property, and shall be
subject to the same punlshments and penalties,
and none other
fho ~ II 70 ~
ident and Wee President of the United States,
for Representatives to Congress, and for the
members Of the State Legislature shall be granted
by the said State to the following classes of per-
sons of African descent. viz All males of the
age OF II years and upward who have been duly
enrolled and mustered into service III the Army
or Navy of the United States, who pay tax on
real or personal property, and ali ma les OF like
age who are able to read the Constitution OF the
L nted States, and possess the qualifications re-
CURED by the constitution of the said Sta.e not
moons Istent herewith.
That no payment shall ever be demanded by
the said State of the United State, nor be made
by said State, by the United States for, on
account OF the emancipation of any slave, or
slaves. or for, on account OF, any debt con-
tracted incurred in aid of the Rebellion
against the United States.
And be it further,
Resolved, That the provisions of this joint reso-
luton shall take effect SO soon as either of the
States. for and by It's Legislature, shall, by a
solemn Act, declare the ass snt OF the said State
to the fundamental conditions herein prescribed,
which conditions shall be in said Act declared
forever irrepeala BILE under any clrcu instances
whatsoever.
President johnson formerly pretended to be
in favor of all the guarantees specified 10 these
resolutions, and We should be glad see them
now passed by both Houses and submitted to
him for his approval, that the people may know
what reasons he has to give for turning his back
upon his former declarations.