Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-15
CONSTITUTIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
AMENDMENTS

The Senate on the sth inst passed by
vote of SO to II, and the House of Repre-
sentatives on the 18th inst. by vote of 12O
to 80, the subjoined resolution proposing
amendments to the Constitution, precedent
to the re-admission of the eleven seeding
States. Article ID, Sec 9TH, clause Sd, of
the Constitution, says:
Every order, resolution, or vote, to which
the concurrence of the Senate and House
Of Representatives may be necessary, ex-
cept on question Of adjournment shall be
presented TO the President of the United
States; and before the same shall take effect,
shall be approved by him, or being dis
approved by him shall be repassed by
two-thirds of the Senate and House of
Representatives, according to the rules and
limitations prescribed in the case of bill.
There is a question whether joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment 10 the Con-
stitution, which requires a two-thirds ma
jority on its original passage, is to receive
the approval of the President before it is
transmitted TO the several States. A literal
construction of the above clause would seem
to require such course.
Before the Constitution is declared amend
ed, however, whether it goes before the
President or moi, the proposition requires the
ratification Of the Legislatures, or of con-
ventions called for the purpose, in three
fourths of the States-Congress having the
power to prescribe which of these two modes
shall be used. In the present instance it is
submitted to the Legislatures. The prece-
dent set by the Government in 1865, in the
case Of the anti-slavery amendment requires
the consent of three-fourths of all the States,
adhering and mountaineering, to perfect ratif-
cation.
The following are the amendments
Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States:
Resolved, BY the Senate and House of Re-
representatives. Of the United States of Amer
lea in Congress Assembled, two-thirds of
both Houses concurring. That the follow
ing article be proposed to the Legislatures
of the several States as an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States, which,
when ratified by three-fourths of said Legis-
latures, shall be valid as part of the Consti-
tuition, viz:
ART-SEc. l. All persons born or ma
turalized in the United States, and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the
United States and of the States wherein they
reside. No State shall make or enforce any
laws which shall abridge the privileges or
in,n,11nitiao af c:t:zauS of tho TTpitaJ Stotoe.
nor shall any State deprive any person of
life, liberty and property without due pro-
cess Of law, nor deny TO any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according
TO their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each State, ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed but whenever
the right to vote at any election for electors
of President or Vice President, and for
United States Representatives in Congress,
executive and judicial officers, or the mem
bers of the Legislature thereof is denied to
any of the male inhabitants of such State,
being twenty-one years of age, and citizens
Of the United States, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion, or
other crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number of male citizens, shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens,
twenty-one years of age, insuch State.
Sec. 3. No person shall be Senator or
Representative in Congress, or elector of
Office, civil or military, under the United
States or under any State, who, having pre-
viously taken an oath as a member of Con-
gress or as an officer of the United States,
or as a member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive or civil officer of any
State, to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insur-
rection or rebellion against the same, or
giving aid or comfort to the enemies thereof
but Congress may, by vote of two-thirds
OF each House, remove such disability.
Sec 4. The validity of the public debt of
the United States, authorized by law, inclu-
ding that incurred in payment of bounties
and pensions for services in suppressing
insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques-
toned; and neither the United States, nor
any State, shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid of instruction or
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for loss or emancipation of any slave;
but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held illegal and void.