Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-10
PUBLIC LEDGER.
Office. No. I3 Madison stree
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION.
M II M II II L .:
"Wednesday Evening. Oct. 10. 1866
THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

II is announced that the New Orleans
P;coyune has taken ground in favor OF
! the Constitutional amendment, and that
the Times is to follow in the same di-
rection. The motive for this course is
not apparent. If wisely taken, it
must be predicated upon some possible
rood, What is it? Will ratification by
the South secure representation in Con
gress? The high priests of radicalsm
answer us that it will not What else ?
Do these papers approve the amend
ment on its merits? Possibly. If so,
they differ from the Southern people,
and are no longer to be recognised as
opponents of their opinions. What is
this amendment? We republish it that
the reader may determine for himself;
JoIyr RESOLUTION prescribing an amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United
States
BE il resolred by the Senate and
House of Representatives. Of the United
States of America, an Congress assem-
bLed. (two-thirds of both Houses con
curring.) That the following 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
Legislatures, shall be valid as part of
The Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE l4-SEcTIoN |. All persons
born or naturalized in the United States
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and OF
the State wherein they reside. No State
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immuni-
ties of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any person
of life, liberty or properly, without due
process of law, nor deny to any person
within its Jurisdiction the equal pro-
lection of the laws.
SEC 9 Representatives shall be APP
portioned among the several States ac-
cording to their respective numbers,
counting the whole number Of persons
in each State, excluding Indians not
taxed. But when the right to vote at any
election for the choice Of electors for
President and Vice-President of the
United States, representatives in Con-
gress, the executive and judicial officers
of State, or the members of the Legis
lature thereof, is denied to any Of the
male inhabitants of such State, being Il
years Of age, and citizens of the United
States, or in any way abridge the right
of suffrage 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 81 years of age
in such State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be Senator
or Representative in Congress or elector
of President and ce-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 as an officer OF
the United States, or as a member OF
any State Legislature, or as an execu-
live or judicial officer of any State, shall
have engaged in instruction or rebel
lion against the same, or given aid or
comfort TO the enemies thereof But
Congress may, by a 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, including debts incurred for pay
ment Of pensions and bounties for ser
vices in suppressing instruction and
rebellion, shall not be questioned. But
neither the United States nor any State
shall assume or pay any debt or obliga
ton incurred in aid Of insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation
of any slave but all such debt, obliga-
ton or claims shall be held illegal and
void
SEc. 5. The Congress shall have pow
err TO enforce, by appropriate legislation,
the provision of this article.