Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-04
Report OF the Reconstruction Committee.


The Committee on Reconstruction agreed
upon the following resolution and bills, at
their meeting on Saturday, and reported
them to Congress on Monday
A JOINT REVOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT
To THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives OF the United States OF AmerI-
ca in Congress assembled. two-thir1s Of both
Houses concurring, That the following article
be proposed TO the Legislatures Of the several
States AS 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, Section /. No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privil-
eyes or immunities of citizens OF the United
States. nor shall any State deprive any person
Of life, liberty and property without due
process of law, nor deny to any person with
in its jurisdiction the equal protection Of the
laws.
Sec. . Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included
within this Union according to their respective
numbers, 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 citi-
Iens not less than twenty-one years Of age, or IN
any way abridged, except for participation in
the rebellion or other crime, the basis Of rep
resentation in such State shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number OF such male cit
liens shall bear TO the whole number of male
citizens not less than twenty-one years Of
age.
Sec. 8. Until the 4th day Of July. 1870. all
persons who voluntarily adhered TO the late III
surrection, giving it aid and comfort, shall be
excluded from the right 10 vote for members Of
Congress, and for electors for President and
Vice Presidentsof the United States.
Sec. 4. Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation
slready incurred or which may hereafter be in
CURED in aid Of the instruction or war against
the United States, or any claim for compensa-
ton for loss Of involuntary service or
labor.
Sec. 8. That Congress shsll have power to en-
force. by appropriate legislation. the provisions
Of this article.
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTORATION OF
THE STATES LATELY IN REBELLION TO THEIR
FULL POLITICAL RIGHTS.
Whereas, it is eIpe1ient that the States lately
in instruction should at the earliest daY con
sistent 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 resolution, propose for ratification TO
the Legislatures 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 mere inserted now
therefore,
Be it enacted, SC, That whenever the above
recited amendment shall have become part Of the
constitution, and any State lately in insurreo-
ton shall have ratified the same. and shall have
modified its constitution and laws in conformity
Herewith, the Senators and Representatives
from ruch State, if found duly elected and quail
fled, may, after having taken the required
oaths Of Office, be admitted into Congress.
Second, And be il further enacted, that
when any State lately in insurrection shall have
ratified the foregoing proposed amendment to
the constitution, any part Of the direct tax, IN
der the act Of August 5, 1861, which may re-
main due and unpaid in such State, may be as
sumed 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
no, exceeding ten wears from and after the pas
sage Of this set.
A BILL DECLARING CERTAIN PERSONS INELIGIBLE
To oEPIcE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Be it enacted, &c. That no person shall be e.
igible to any Office under the government Of the
United States who is included in any Of the fol-
lowing classes, namely:
First-The President and Vice President Of
the Confederate States Of America. so called, and
the heads Of departments thereof
Second-Those who in other countries acted
IS agents Of the Confederate States Of America.
30 called.
Third-Heads Of Departments OF the United
States, officers Of the Army and Navy Of the
United States. and all persons educated in the
Military or Naval Academies 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, 50 called, above
the grade Of colonel in the army or master in
the navy. or any one who, as Governor Of either
Of the 20 called Confederate States. gave aid an
comfort to the late rebellion.
Fifth-Those who have treated officer. or sol
diers or sailors Of the Army or Navy of the
United States, captured during the late war.
otherwise than lawfully as prisoners Of war.