Smyrna times., 1866-10-17
PRoPosED AMENDMENT To THE CONSTITUTION
The UNION REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

"Resoyed, By the Senate and House of Represen-
tatves of the United States of America, two thirds
Of both Houses concurrlng, That the following Ar
tce be proposed TO the Legislatures of the several
States as an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States which, when ratified by threef fOurths
of said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of the
Constitution, viz:
"Art. Ia, Sec. l. All persons born or naturalized
IN the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof citizens Of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any laws which shall ubridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United States nor
snail any State deprive any person Of life, liberty,
property, without due process of law, nor deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protec.
ton of the laws"
This section makes citizenship uniform in all the
States, and protects citizens both North and South
for example, South Carolina must treat PennsyIya.
mans with the respect that she treats her own
citizens.
"Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their respect
I've numbers, counting the whole number of persons
in each State, excluding Indians not taxed; but
whenever the right to vote at any election for elec.
sors Of President Vice President and for the Uni.
ted States representatives n Congress- executive and
Judicial officers, or the members Of the legislatures
thereof, is denied to any male inhabitant of such
ted States, or in any way abridged except for par.
nclpatIon IN rebellion other crime the basis Of
representation therein shall be reduced in the pro-
portion which the number of male citizens shall bear
20 the whole number of male citizens 81 years of age
In such State"
This section fixes the basis of representation in
Congress upon the population of the several States
with this prOriso that where State denies the cleo
i've franchise To any of IFS qualified male citizens of
II years of age. (Which any State is allowed to do
under this sectlon that then its representation in
congress shall be prOportionably reduced thus repu
atng The representation in Congress by the number
OF voters in each State Under the old Constitution.
the South had threefths of all her slaves added TO
her free population TO x her representation in Con-
gress: now that slavery is abolished she will have
t"o-htths more added thereto, and thus come back
unoer the old Constitution with increased power,
and would thus make the vote of one white man in
The South nearly equal to two in the North. This is
me reason why the rebels rOD opposing this part
Of the amendment.
Sec. s. No person shall be Senat,r or Repre-.
sentative IN Congress- eector Of President or Vice
Cfesldent or hold any office, civil or military under
sns united States or under any State, who having
previously taken an oath as member of Congress,
OF as an offcer Of the United States or as member
Of any State Legislature or as an executive or civil
ome3r OF any State, to support the Constitution of
the United States, shall have engaged in insnrrec.
tion or rebellion against the same or giving ,;d =,
eomt0rt TO the enemies thereof; but Compress NAV
BY vote Of two.thirds in each House, remove such
disability"
The intention Of this section is to give the oH;cs,
ts the Union OF the South so that we shall have
perpetual peace, and that jefferson Davis and
other traitors like him shall never again control th;
Government. and thus endanger its liberties. n
thes tldng rebels shall continue 10 hold the Office,
IN .12th we shall have no peace, but, on IN,
contrary. perpetual strife. They have done enough
already. They should have no further say. Thei,
shIldren will SUCCEED to the rights which they will
lose By their treason this is enough, in all con
science This section. you will observe, applies Z,
those rebels only who have perjursd Themselves B,
taking The oath TO support the Constitution Of III
CnHsd States; who have heretofore held office ant
f0ksn on oath to support the Constitution of the Uni
Ted States; should any hardship arise thereby, Con
gfsss may grant relief by two.thirds vote.
"See. 4. The validity Of the public debt of th,
United States authorised By law, including that in
eqrred IN payment Of bounties and pensions for ser
vices in suppressng nsurrection or rebellion, shal
not Be questlouedi and neither the United States no
sdy State, shall assume pay any debt or obligation
Incurred in aid OF insurrecton or rebellion a1ains
The United States. or any claim for loss or enamel
patton Of any slave; but all such debts, obgation
and claims shall be held illegal and void"
This SECTION will cut off all future hone on IN
part Of the rebels Of securing payment for thei
saves or Of the rebel debt and thus relieve our conn
wy irofn tuture sectional strife.