Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-06-08
Thirry.Ninih Coneress.--First Session.
WASHINGTON, May %.

nAshlNOiONs eAay
SEsArE-The reconstruction resolution was
taken up.
The question was taken upon Mr.. Johnson's
amendment to strike out the third section which
disfranchises the late rebels till 1870
Mr.. johnson (Dem. Md demanded the yeas
and nays, and the third section was stricken out
by a unanimous vote. Yeas 46; absent 6.
Mr.. Howard rose to offer several amend
men,s to the pending reconstruction resolu-
tons.
They are as follows:
Insert ut the beginning Of the first section the |
words s-An persons born in the United States I
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. are cti-
zens of The United States and Of the State where
in they reside"
If thus amended, the first section would
read
Section |. All persons born in the United
States and subject to the jurs liction thereof are
citizens Of the United States and of the States
wherein they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privil-
eyes or immunities Of citizens Of the United
Sta;cs. nor shall any State deprive any person OF
life. liberty, or property, without due process Of
law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdic-
ton the equal protection Of the laws.
Sec. . Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included
within tls lulOu tCCOIulnS " lutlI ltSAift
rrumhers counting the whole number Of persons
in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But
whenever in any State the elective franchise
shall be denied to any portion Of its male inhab-
itants being ctizens Of the United States not less
than twenty-one years Of age, or in any way
abridged except for participation in rebellion or
other crimes, the basis Of representation 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 in such State.
Sec. being stricken out, the following is pro-
posed in lieu Of il
No person shall be a Senator or Representa-
tive 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 oath a member OF
Congress or officer Of the United States, or as a
member Of any State Legislature. or an ex-
ecutive judicial officer of any State, to support
tie Constitution Of the United States, shall hav.
engaged in instruction or rebellion against the
same, or given aid and comfort to its enemie,
thereof: but Congress may, by vote of two
thirds Of each House, remove such dsa
bility.
Sec T. All obligations of the United States in
CURED in suppressiDg Instruction, or in de
fence of the Union. or 70 payment of bounfie
or pensions incident thereto, shall remain inyio
late.
Section in the original will be changed t
section FIVE, and it is proposed TO amend tina
eestion 90 as to make it read:
Sec g. Neither the United States nor any Stat
shall assume or pay any debt or obligation in
CURED in aid Of instruction or rebellion agains
the United States, or any claim for compensatio
for emancipation Of any slave, and such debt
and obligations and claims shall be forever hel
illegal and void.
Sec. 6. Congress shall have power to enforce
by appropriate legislation, the provisions Of tn
article.
Mr. Salisbury (dem. Del said this was Ii
first notice the minority had received of the II
suit Of the caucuses held by the majority. Il
therefore moved that the amendment be printet
aud the subject postponed till tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.. Fessenden this order vi
entered and ordered 10 be printed
Mr.. Sumner of Mass. submitted h
following amendment, intended to be propose
as a substitute for the bill
ITO provide for restoring TO the States late
in instruction to their political rights. tn
when any State lately in rebellion shall ha'
ratified the foregoing amendment. and sha
have modified its constitution and laws in col
formity Herewith, and shall have further pr
vided that there shall be no denial of the ee
tive franchise to citizens of the United State
because Of race or color, and that all persO
shall be equal before the law, the Senators al
Representatives from such State, if found du
elected and qualified, may, after having taxi
the required oaths Of Office, be admitted in
Congress as such, provided, that nothing in tn
section shall be so construed as to require Il
disfranchisement of any loyal person who is no
allowed to vote''
Mr.. Sumner also introduced bill to enfor
the amendment to the Constitution abolishir
slavery, by securing thu elective franchise
colored citizens.