The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-06
SaSllrilIe @EInioil.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 6. 1865.
The Caucus ConstitutionaI Amend


would, on the 4th inst, resume the con
sideration of the constitutional amend
ment, agreed upon by the radical
caucus. That it is the intention of the
majority to adopt it without alteration,
has already been apparent on the re-
lection last week of the amendments
proposed by Mr.. Doolittle. There is.
therefore, no necessity for delaying 8
vote upon the main question, since
nothing can be effected by deliberation
or debate If the Senate is to be a
mere register of the DEGREES of King
Caucus, it is but an insult to the coun-
try to make show of investigation
in the chamber once devoted to legis-
lation. Let the decree of radical des-
potism be carried into effect at once.
The caucus amendment is consid-
cradle modification of that which was
adopted by the House. 1t is in these
words
sRCTIOE l. All persons born in the United
States, and subject 10 the jurisdiction there
OF, are citizens Of the United States and Of
the States wherein they reside. No state
shall make or enforce sny law which shall
abridge the privileges CT Immunities Of cit
liens OF the United States, nor shall any
State deprive any person Of life, liberty or
propsrty. without due process Of law, nor
deny TO any person within its jurisdiction
Of l.,
SIC. 2. Representatives shall be appor-
toned 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, ex-
GLIDING Indians not taxed. But whenever
in any State the elective franchise shall be
denied TO any portion Of its male inhabit-
ants, being citizens of the United States,
not less than twenty-One years Of ge, nor
in any way abridged, except for pariicipa
tion in rebellion or other crimes, the basis
OF representation in such State shall be re
duced in the proportion which the number
Of such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number Of male citizens not less
than twenty-on years Of age in such State
SIC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or
Representative in Congress, or elector of
President or 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 officer Of the United States, or
as q member of any State Legislature, or as
an executive judicial officer of any State, to
support the Constitution OF the United
States, shall have engaged in instruction
or rebellion against the same, or given aid
and comfort to the enemies thereof; but
Congress may, by q vote Of twO-thirds of
each House, remove such disability.
SEC. 4. All obligations Of the United
States incurred ia suppressing instruction,
or in defense Of the Union, or for payment
of bouulies or pensions incident thereto,
shall remain inviOlate.
SIC. 5. Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or OBJ
legation incurred in aid Of instruction OF
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for compensation for emancipation of
any slave, and such debts and obligations
and claims shall be forever held illegal and
void.
SIC. 9. Congress shall have power to en-
force, by appropriate legislation, the pro-
visions Of this article.
The change from the House amend
ment consists of the addition of the
first sentence of the first section, the
substitution of the above section three
in place of that which passed the
House, and which DISTINGUISHED all
rebels till after 1870; and the introduc-
ton of what appear above as the fourth
section.
The first section proposes to make
citizens of negroes. The second section
excludes all blacks, males and females,
as a class, from enumeration for appor-
tionment of representatives in every
State which does not allow negro sutf-
rage The third section excludes GER
tain rebels from holding Office. The
fourth section declares that the country
will not repudiate its debt The fifth
section prohibits the payment Of the
rebel debt The sixth section gives
power to Congress to enforce these
provisions
The whole reconstruction scheme Of
the revolutjonists has dwindled down
to this; lst, that the negro shall have
the unmeaning prefix of "citizen" to
his cognomen; ID, that the entire black
population, as a class, shall be excluded
from the basis Of representation in any
State where the male negroes OF
twenty one years of age and upwards,
are not permitted to vote.
The point in this scheme of greatest
interest is that which relates to the
basis of representation. And that is
not offered in good faith; but with the
expectation that it will be refuted by
the Southern States The States are
all equal and entitled to the same
rights and privileges. Congress has no
authority TO propose to any of them an
amendment with the condition that
they shall not be represented
in that body unless they ratify it.
All il can do is 10 submit an amend
ment, and then it lies with this sover.
eign Senate TO ratify it or not as it may
deem proper and expedient The
Government of the United States
would beVery oppressive and tyrannical
IL majority of the States could over
ride the constitution and impose condi-
tons upon the minority subVersive of
their rights. We are certain that nc
Southern State, properly represented,
will submit to such degradation. They
fully recognize the power of Congress
TO adopt by twothirds vote, amend
ments TO the Constitution, and Of the
validity of such amendments when rat.
flied by threefourths Of the States ;
but they cannot be forced by any con-
ditions, outside Of the Constitution, to
vote the Acknowledgement of their PEG
pie.
The proposed changes in the basis
Of representation is either proper or
judicious, or improper and injudicious
Let it go before the States upon its own
merits, and a verdict be had according
ly. If they choose to ratify it, well and
good if they do not, no one will have
a right TO complain But is the pro-
posed change proper and judicious &?
We think not If the present system
is unequal, this would net Ice less So
On the contrary, it would be. more IN
equal The Southern States would be
deprived of representation upon a very