Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-05-04
Report OF the Joint Committee on
Reconstruction.

Report OF the Joint Committee on
Reconstruction.
The Joint Committee on Reconstruction, on
the 29th ult., held a session of some four
hours, at which all the members of the COM
mittee were present, and agreed to report on
Monday last the following propositions:
A JOINT RESOLUTION PnoPosIEG an AMENDMENT
TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
BE it resolved By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentdtives of the United States Of America in
Congress assembled, two-thirds Of both Houses
concurring, That the following article be pro-
posed to the Legislatures Of the several States
as an amendment to the Constitution, which,
when ratified by three-fourtbs of the said Lee
gislatures, shall be valid as part of the Con:
s:itution, namely:
Article. Section l. No State shall make
or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or mmunities of citizens of the Uni
ted States; nor shall any State deprive any
person of life liberty or property without due
process of law, nor deny to any person with
in its jurisdiction the equal protection of the.
laws
Sec Q. Representatives shall be apportion-
ed among the several States which may be in
cluded within this Union, according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole num-
Der of rpersons in each State, excluding In
dams not taxed. But whenever, in any State,
the elective franchise shall be denied to any
portion of its male citizens no less than TWEEN
ty-one years Of age, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion or other
crime, 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.
Sec. 3. Until the 4th day of July. 1870 all
persons who voluntarily adhered to the late
Instruction, giving it aid and comfort, shall
be excluded from the right to vote for mem
bers OF Congress and for electors for President
and Vice President Of the United States.
Sec A. Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obli-
cation already incurred or which may here
after be incurred in aid of the instruction or
war against the United States, or any claim
for compensation for loss of involuntary SER
vice or labor.
Sec. g. The Congress shall have power to
enforce by appropriate legislation the provi-
sons of this article.
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE
STATES LATELY IN ISsURREcTIoN TO THEIR FULL
POLITICAL RIGHTS.
Whereas 1t is expedient thatthe States late
ly in insurrection should, at the earliest day
consistent with the future peace and safety OF
the Union, be restored to full participation in
all political rights and
Whereas, The Congress, did, by joint reso-
luton, propose for ratification TO the Legisla-
lures OF the several States, as an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States, an
article in the following words, to-wit: THE
Constitutional article recited above is here in-
serted.
No,O therefore be IL enacted, ETC., That when
ever the above recited amendment shall have
become part of the Constitution, and any
State lately in instruction shall have ratified
the same and shall have modified its Consti-
tuition and laws in conformity Herewith, the
Senators and Representatives from such State,
If found duly elected and qualified, may, .af-
ter taking the required oaths of Office, be adj
mitted into Congress as such.
And be IL further enacted, That when any
State lately in instruction shall have ratified
the foregoing proposed amendment to the Con-
stituton, any part Of the direct tax under the
act Of August 5, 1861, which may remain due
and unpaid in such State, may be assumed and
paid by such State, and the payment thereof
upon proper assurances from such State to be
given to the Secretary of the Treasury of the
United States, may be postponed for period
not exceeding ten years from and after the pas
sage Of this act.
A BILL DECLARING CERTAIN PERSONS INELIGIBLE TO
OFFICE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THR UNITED
STATES.
BE IL enacted, ETC., That no person shall be ell
igible to any office under the Government OF
the United States who is included in any OF
the following classes, namely
First. The President and Vice President of
the Confederate State of America, so-called,
and theAheads Of department thereof.
Second. Those who in other countries acted
IS agents of the Confederate States of Ameri-
"a, so-called.
Third. Heads of departments of the United
States, officers of the army and navy of the
United States, and all persons educated Mt the
Military or Naval Academy of the United
States, Judges of the Courts of the United
States, and members of either House of the
Thirty sixth Congress Of the United States who
gave aid or comfort TO the late rebellion.
Fourth. Those who acted as officers of the
Confederate States Of America so-called, above
The head Of Colonel in the army or Master in
the navy and any one who as Governor Ell
Their of the so-called Confederate States gave
aid or comfort to the late rebellion.
Fifth. Those who have treated officers or
soldiers or sailors of the army or navy of the
United States captured during the late war,
than as prisoners of war.
The committee removed the injunction Of
secrecy so far as the above propositions are
and permitted copies to be furnish
ed to the press.
It is understood that the vote upon them
was IL against 3. AS it Is known that Sena-
tor johnson and Representatives Order and
Rogers only voted in the negative, the affirm
alive must be Senators Fessenden. Grimes,
Harris, Howard, and Williams, and Represen-
tatives Stevens, Weshburne of Illinois Morrill,,
Bingham, Conkling, Boutwell, and Blow.