Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-10-19

u
ness to suffer the work of the Executive I
remain undlsturbed, so far as it could d
50 with due respect to the dignity and safet
of the republic and with proper regard t
the security and protection Of the property
liberty and lives Of all the people Of tn
United States.
After labOriOus and extended session an
a patient comparison of views. both House
Of Congress agreed, by the necessary two
thirds vote, to propose to the legislatures 0
the several States the following amendmen
to the federal Constitution
AMENDMENT.
ARTICLE NV.
Sac. !. All persons born or naturalzed il
the United States and subject TO the jurisdiction
thereof, are citizens Of the United States and G
the State wherein they reside No State shal
make or Ell force any law which shall abridge tn,
privileges or immunties Of citizens Of the Uni
tedSiates; nor shall any state deprive any persor
Of life, liberty or property without due proces.
Of law, nor deny to any person within its juris-
/ diction the equal protection Of the laws.
SIC. , Representatives shall be appOrtonej
amqag the several States according to their res
/ pec,iye numbers, counting the whole number
Of persons IN each State, excluding Indians mol
L tAANA- bNt NhtA Tue ElHut 10 Note AT any cleC-
ton for the choice Of electors for President, and
Vice President Of the United States, Represen-
I tatiVes in Congress, the executive and judicial
officers Of State, or the members Of the legis-
lature thereof, is denied to any Of the male in
habi,ants Of such state being twenty-one years
Of age and citizens Of the United States or in any
way abridged, except for participation in rebel
/ lion or 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.
SEC. 3. No person shall be Senator or Re-
preventative in Congress, or elector Of President
AMI 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 as officer Of the
United States, or a member of any state leg
stature, or as an executive or judicial officer Of
any state, to support the Constitution Of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrec
ton or rebellion against the same, or given aid
or comfort to the enemies thereof But Congress
may, by a vote Of twO-thiris Of each house, re-
move such disability.
SIC. (. The validity of the public debt of
the United States, authorized by law, including
debts incurred for payment Of pensions and
boanties for services in suppressing ipsurrection
or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But Meth
er the United States nor any other state shall as
sumo OF pay any debt or obligation incurred in
aid Of instruction or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim for the loss or emsn-
eipaiIon Of any slave; but all such debts, obi
cations. and claims shall be held Illegal and void.
SIC. .. The Congress shall have power 10
enforce. by appropriate legislation, the provis-
ions Of this article
Soon after this proposed amendment was
adopted. it was ratified by the legislature Of
Tennessee, and Immediately thereupOn the
Senator'S an Representatives previously
chosen by that state, upon taking the oaths
prescribed by law, were admitted to seats IN
tir respective Houses Of Congress.
ICZ's is the only other state confcderatcd
in the 3, I"ll.0n, that has acted upon this
amendnr.-. There it was rejected, the le-
gislaturc directing the committee having it
IN charge to return 1t to the Secretary Of
State.
Every other state-exeept Oregon, whose
legislature first ratified and then rejected 1t
which stood b7 the Government during
the rebellion, whose legislature has been in
session since the amendment was proposed,
has ratified it; and there Is good resson 10
confidently anticipate that it will be ratified
by the number Of states necessary TO make il
part Of tie ledcrai Constitution.
While this amendment docs not contain
single proposition which the Execut tive has
not, either in bis speeches or official cOmmun-
ieations, approved, It's only danger of defeat
"a danger now happily small-arises from
his hostility to Its ratification.
The issue presented to the people this fall
has been and will be this Volicy Of Congress,
as contrestcd with that of the Executive
Department Of the Government The form
er puts such safe guards about the Testora-
tion Of the states lately c0nfedeTattd in re-
bellion TO an equal participation in the Gov
ernmcnt with tie states which always re-
manned true 10 the lag, as shall secure t. the
original Union men oi the South equal rights
and impartial liberty. while il STAMPS upon
treason the indclihle mark OF the peoples
condemnation. The latter restores to civil
and political power the men who plotted the
rebellion and fought it through to Its bitter
end, leaving 10 their unappeased and unre-
lenting hate Il minority Of whites SO small as
to be helpless, and the entire oolored race,
TO whom liberty has been given, and its
peaceable and full enjoyment guaranteed.
The elections already held have resulted
III AAI LAAuAl IAtslst q IlAoFaA VI NuI OouHIGS-
si0nal policy and there is no reasonable
doubt that tie elections yet to be held will
pronounce as unmistakablY in favor Of the
constitutional amendment.
Vermont, as Is her wont when called to
any good work. led the way with a grand
emphasis IN the popular approval Of Con-
gress. Yet, decisive as her declaration was
at the polls, the State would have welcomed,
with skill greater enthusiasm and with a
more triumphant majority, such reorgani-
ZatiOn Of the rebelliUus communities, as
would have given to the people, white and
black, the equal evil and political rights
secured to the people Of this State by our
Bill Of Rights and Constitution, and under
which peace. order, civilization, education,
c0ntentment, Christi-nity ard liberty have
shed their benign and blessed influence alike
upon every home and household in our be-
loved Commonwealth.
invoke upon you. and your labOrs. the
blessing Of that God who has hitherto 50
graeiously led and upheld US as a State and
people. PAUL DILLINGHAM;.
EXECUTvE CHAMBER,
Montpelier, Oct. l., lS66.
FRE-Aa alarm Of fire was given about
half past seven O'Clock Wednesday, occa-
stoned by the breaking Of lighted kerosene