The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-05-04
The Reconstruction Report.

Reconstruction have agreed on n I
proposition which was submitted to
the two houses Of Congress on Mon
day. The proposed amendment to
the Constitution is as follows:
A JOINT resolution proposing an amend
mem to The Constitution Of He United
States.
Be it resolved by the Senate and
ifouse of Representatives of the Unit
ed States of America in Congress as
sembled. two-tbirds of both Houses !
concurriug, that the following article
be proposed TO the Legislatures of the (
United States as an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States.
which, when ratified by three-iourths
of said Legislatures, shall be valid rs
part of the constitution, namely:
Article. Section l. No State /
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immu-
mites of citizens of the United States,
nor shall any State deprive any per-
son of life, liberty or property without
due process of law, nor deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws
Sec 2 Representative shall be APP
portioned among the several States
which may be included within this
Union, according to their respective
numbers, counting the whole number
of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed. But whenever il
any State the elective franchise shall
citizens not less than twenty-one years
of age, or in any way abridged, except
for participation in the rebellion or
other crime, the basis of representa-
ton in such 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. B. Until the 4th day OF July,
1870, all persons who voluntarily adj
hered to the late instruction, giving
it aid and comfort, shall be excluded
from the right to vote for members of
Congress and for Electors for Presi-
dent Of the United States.
Sec. 4. Neither the United States
nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation already in
Cured or which may hereafter be in
Cured in aid Of the instruction OF
war against the United States, or any
claim for compensation for loss of in
voluntary service or labor
Sec 5. That Congress shall have
power to enforce by appropriate legis
lation the provisions of this article
Accompanying the foregoing ar,
two bills; one providing for the res
toration of the States lately in rebel
non 10 their full political rights; th
other declaring certain persons ineli
gible to Office under the Government
of the United States. The forme
bill declares that whenever the amend
ment shall have become part of tn
constitution, any State lately in insur
rection shall have ratified the same
and shall have modified its constitu
ton and laws in conformity therewit
the Senators and Representative
from such State, if found duly electe
and qualified, may, after having take
the required oath of Office, be ADM
ted to Congress. The second hi
makes ineligible to Office the Pres
dent and Vice President of the reb
States, and the heads of department
thereof; confederate agents in 9th,
countries; heads of departments
the United States, officers of the U.
army and navy and all persons edl
Gated in our military and naval AGA,
emies, judges of the U. S. courts, an
members of entire house of the thirt
sixth Congress, who gave aid or cor
fort to she late rebellion; Confedera
officers above the rank of Colonel,
any Governor of the Confedera
States who aided the rebellion; al
those who have treated our officers
soldiers or jailors, captured duril
the war, otherwise than lawfully
prisoners of war.
The report seems to be very gene
ally acceptable to the Republican
and will not, it is thought, be We
materially amended. We do not s
how President johnson can cons
tently refuse to sign the two bills;
as has been stated, "nearly eve
proposition laid down, or protect,
demanded, in the sections of 4
amendment, or in the bills, receiy
the approval Of the President. indie
some of the conditions are his own
stated in repeated speeches and lette
either before or since he became Pr,
ident;' still, judging from his pt
conduct, We should not be surpris
If he did veto them. We, howev
hope not. We hope that he has
ready become convinced of the err
of his way and is now disposed to
what justice and right and the full
safety and welfare of the country
Ill l.