The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-09
Greuiug Telesraph
SATURDAY, JUNE ., 1866.
Passage of the Constitutional Amendment
bv the Senate.


The Constitutional amendment, as proposed by
the Reconstruction Committee, and as modified
by the Senate, passed that body yesterday by
the unexpectedly large vote of thirty-three to
eleven-the affirmative vote being Just three
fouUhs of the whole vote cast 1t is generally
understood that the House will promptly concur
in the Senate's amendments, so that we may pro-
badly consider the measure as in its inal shape.
1t will then go to the Legislatures of the Teral
States for their approval or rejection. The cor
respondent of morning contemporary predicts
that the President will veto the measure. This
assertion is based upon misconceptioA. 1t is
not all certain that the President would veto the
amendment as 1t now stands, even if 1t were pre-
sented to him for his approval. But proposed
Constitutional amendments do not need the Pre-
sidents signature. The language Of the Consti-
tuition upon this point is as follows:-"The Con-
gress, whenever two-hirds of both Houses shall
deem ii necessary, shall propose amendments. to
this Constitution, or on the application OF the
Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States,
shall call a convention for proposing amend
ments which, in either case, shall be valid to
all intents and purposes, as part of this Consti-
tuition when ratified by the Legislatures OF three
Iourths of the several States, or by conventions
in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the
Congress"
1t will be seen from the above that the pro.
posed amendment does not 60 TO the President.
1t is true, Congress sent the Anti-Slavery amend
ment to President LINCOLN, and he signed II, but
he explicitly affirmed that there was no neces-
sity for his signature to secure its validity.
1t is fortunate that this great measure, in its
final form, goes to the people with what may
fairly be claimed as the unanimous approval of
the Union party. 1t has been thoroughly dis
cussed, and all its provisions well weighed. 1t
carries with it the moral power of the endorse
ment of three fourths of the Senate, and more
than two-thirds of the House OF Representatives
II embodies the matured judgment of The repre-.
sentatives of the loyal masses of the people. As
such, we have no manner Of doubt it will be
Overwhelmingly endorsed by the people them
selves.
The main modification of the amendment
made in the Senate was in the third section. As
that section stood in the amendment as it cane
from the House of Representatives, it disfran-
chised, for ten years, all persons who had taken
part in the Rebellion. The Senate has substi-
tuted for this provision excluding perpetualty
from all offices, civil or military, under the
United States, or under any State, ali such per-
sons engae ed in the late Rebellion as had pre-
viously, either as members OF Congress, officers
of the United States, Legislative, Executive, or
Judicial officers in any State, taken an oath 10
support the Constitution of the United States.
This will loIever exclude from ofice all the in
telligent leading traitors, while it extends Gle
mency to the humble and seduced masses.