Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-05-09
'RECoNSTRUCTIoN."
Report of the Joint Committee of Congress.


The Joint Committee on Reconstruction.
have reported the following proposition for
the consideration of Congress
A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMEND
MENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE u
NITED STATES.
BE ii resOlced by the Senate and House of
Represeatdtjres Of the United States Of a
0ieilcd IN Congress assembled, t,oo- thirds Of
60th Houses concHrriag; That the following
article be proposed to the Legislatures Of
the several States as an amendment to the
Constitution. which, when ratified by three
fourths of the said Legislatures, shall be
valid as part OF the Constitution, namely:
ATIcLE-SECTIoN. |. No State shall make
or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or 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 It's jurisdiction the equal protec-
ton of the laws.
SEC. ,. Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States which NAV
be included within this Union. according to
their respective numbers counting the whole
number of persons in each tate, excluding
Indians not taxed. But whenever in anv
State, the elective franchise shall be denied
to any portion of its male citizens not less
than twentyon years of age, or in any way
abridged, excep5 for participation in rebel
lion or other crime, the basis of representa-
ton IN sucn 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
SEC. 3. Until the 4th day of July, 1870,
all persons who voluntarily adhered to the
late insurrection, giving it aid and comfort,
shall be excluded from the right to vote for
members of Congress and for electors for
President end Vice President of the United
States
SEC. 4. 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 the insurrec-
tion or war against the United States, or
any claim for compensation for loss of invol-
untary service of labor
See .. The Congress shall have power to
enforce by appropriate legislation the pro-
visions of this article.
a BILL TO PROVIDE FOR TIE RESTORATION
OF THE STATES LATELY IN INSURRECTIoN
TO TIL .IR FULL POLITICAL RIGHTS.
Wereos, 1t is expedient that the States
lately in insurrection should, at the earliest
safety of the Union, be restored to full par
ticipation in all political rights; and
WhereaS, The Congress did, by joint res
olution, propo.e for ratification to the Leg
islatures OF the several States as an amend
ment To the Constitution of the United
States an article in the following words. to
wit The constitutional article recited
above is here inserted
Nor, therefore, be a. d.enocted, etc. That
whenever the above recited amendment
shall have become part of the Constitution
any State lately in insurrection shall have
ratified the same, and shall have modified
its constitution aud laws in conformity there
with. the Senators and Representatives from
such State, if found duly elected an quail
fed. may, after having taken the required
oaths of Office, be admitted into Congress
as such
And be 1t further enacted, That when any
State lately in insurrection shall have rati-
fed the foregoing proposed amendment to
the Constitution, any part OF the direct tax
under the act Of August ). 1861, which
many remain due and unpaid in such State,
may be assumed and paid by such State,
and the payment thereof, upon proper as
surances from such State to be given 10 the
Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States, may be postponed for period not
exceeding ten years from and after the pas
sage of this act.
BILL DECLARING CERTAIN PERSONS NELL
GIBLETeoFFI UNDERTHE GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
BE It enacted, ETC., That no person shall
be eligible to any office under the Govern
ment of the United States who is included
in any Of the following classes, namely:
First The President and Vice President
OF the Confederate States OF America, So
called, and heads Of departments thereof
Second. Those who in other countries
acted as agents of the Confederate States of
America, 50 called.
Third Heads of departments of the T.
nited States, officers of the army and navy
of the United States, and ali ersons educa-
ted at the Military or Naval Academy of
the United States, Judges of Courts of the
United States, and members of either House
of the Thirty-sixth Congress of the United
States who gave aid or comfort to the late
rebellion.
Fourth. Those who acted as officers of
the Confederate States Army, social
ed, above the grade of colonel in the army
or master in the navy; and one who as
Governor of either of the so-called Confed-
crate States gave aid or comfort to the late
rebellion
Fifth. Those who have treated officers or
soldiers or sailors of the army or navy of the
United States, captured during the late war.
otherwise than as prisoners of war.
No man is born into the world whose
lyroDp Is not born with hin, T'hara ,s al