The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-16
THE RECONSTRUCTED AMEND
MENT.

THE RECONsTRUCTION AMEND.
MENT.
The House Of Representatives have passe,
the joint resolution proposing an amendmen
TO the Constitution. 1t is as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMESDMEN.
TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THa UNITED STATES
Resolred, By the Senate and House O
Representatives of the United States O
Amertca in Congress assembled (tro thirds o
both houses concurringl, That the following
article be proposed to the Legislatures Of The
several States as an amendment to the Con.
sdtution Of the United States, which, wher
ratified by three fourths of said Legislatures
shall be valid as part of the Constitution
namely:
Article -. SECTION l. All persons born
or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizen.
of the United States and Of the State wherein
they reside no State shall make or enforce
any laws which shall abridge the privileges OF
immunities of citizens of the United States,
nor shall any State deprive any person of life
or property without due process of law, MOI
deny to any person within it's jurisdiction the
equal protection OF the laws.
SEC. =. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their
respective number, counting the whole num-
Der Of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed but whenever the right to
vote at any election for electors of Presiden.
and Vice President, or for United States
Representatives in Congress. executive and
judicial officers, or the members of the
Legislatures thereof. is denied to any of the
male inhabitants OF such State, being twenty
one years of age, and citizens of the United
States, 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 such male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens twenty one years of
age in such State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be Senator or
Representative in Congress. or elector of
President and Vice President, or hold any
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 member of any State Legislature, or
rs an executive or judicial officer Of any
State. to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insur.
rection or rebellion against the same, or give
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; but
Congress may, by vote of two thirds Of
each House, remove such disability.
See. 4. The validity of the public debt of
Tue 1nlleu CldteS. autuOFlZIu pN law. lUCluu
ing debts incurred for the payment of pen
sions and bounties for services in suppressing
insnrrection or rebellion. shall not be ques-
toned but neither the United States nor
any State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for the loss emancipation OF any
slave but all such debts. obligations. and
claims shall be held illegal and void.
In both Houses Of Congress the Union men.
representing the loyal sentiment of the Ma
ton voted unanimously for these resolutions,
structon. giving thereby to the great Repub-
liean Union party that saved this Government,
from Democratic treason, broad, just, com
prehensive and liberal platform, upon which
every member can stand. Upon this plat
form tits the duty Of every Union man to stand
They will do it. Since the first guns of re
belion quickened the latent fires of patriot
ism throughout the North into a glow thai
burned down party lines and melted the loyal
sentime of the country into unity, will We
have not seen such popular unanimity as We
shall see upon this subject.
The provisions of this joint resolution art
just, proper, expcdent and necessary. Take
them Seriatim.
The first wipes out the infamy Of the Dret
Scott dogma that made men aliens in th'
and lives apd service, aud which dogma 81
fes,ered in the popular heart and conscience
1t provides that Americans born shall be cit
izens 1t demands that the State shall Civ
impartial justice and protection to its citizens
Should any State in this Democratic Repub
lie desire or be permitted to do less? Is NO
that provision Just, proper, expedient, neces
sary?
The second section provides that while III
States be left to control suffrage within thei
own State sovereignty they shall not disfrar
chise citizens Of the United States withot
losing proportionatey In representation
Isn't that the very least measure of justice
can give to loyal men whom pardoned bu
unrepentant traitors would prohibit fror
voting, yet count in their enumeration fe
representation, in order to increase thel
strength for purposes dangerous to liberty
We appeal to every loyal man in the North
to every man in whose soul there does not lur
the baseness Of sympathy with treason an
rebellion; 10 every soldier who fought an
campaigned to put down rebellion. to ever
man. woman and child who gave those dea
to them to the country and mayhap to deatf
we appeal to these if that measure be nc
just. proper, expedient necessary? Is it nc
enough for late rebel and traitor to vot
and lecislate for himself? Should he vot
instead of and legislate for loyal man whol
be will not permit to vote.
Section third keeps JEFF. Davis out OF tn
United States Senate or out ofthe Presidency
Who will object to that? But it doesn't d
that II makes his non exclusion possible b
atwothirds vote Of Congress. Il this to
severe punishment for the BRscKrYRIDGE
WIsEs, DAvlsEs Of Secession? Can the natio
be Just to itself and just to the loyal men vi
have done so much for its preservation,
just to posterity, without making ita deere
unalterable a. those Of the Medes and Pa
siaas, tAas whsa. . swsn ei6ses sf the &C.