The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-14
Reconstruction.

lSsSHdtlfeS dupptcu the report OF lue
Congressional RECONSTRUCTION Com
NIT zee, on Thursday last, indicates
conclusively that the Union Party has
: determined TO go before the peop'e
ON that issue We think the princi-
PIES laid down in the report of the
Committee are, in the main, just and
commendable. We copy them as we
} find them epatomized by the Chicago
Republican,:
/. \ joint resolution, proposing to the
Legislatures of the States an amendmentto
the Federal Constitution, to the effect that
NO State shall malSe or enforce law
abridging the privileges of citizens of the
United States; nor deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due pro-
cess OF the law; nor deny the equal protec-
ton OF the laws to its inhabitants. That
Representatives in Congress shall be APP
portioned among the States according to
the whole populations excluding Indians
| not taxed; but wherever in any State, the
elective franchise shall be denied to any
male adults. except for participation in
| rebellion or other crime, the basis of rep
| resentation shall be reduced in the pro-
| portion that such class of excepted persons
bear to the whole number of male adults.
! That until July 4, 1870, all persons who
voluntarily adhered to the late insurrec-
ton shall he excluded from voting for
Presidential Electors and Representatives
in Congress. Neither the United States
nor any State shall assume or pay any
debt incurred in aid of the rebellion. That
Congress have power 10 enforce these pro-
visions by appropriate legislation.
2. An act of Congress, declaring all per-
Esons ineligible to Office under the United
States who may have been President or
Vice-President, oraheads of departments,
or agents in foreign countries, of the So
called Confederate States; or heads of de-
partments, or officers of the army and navy
of the United States, or persons educated
at the Military or Naval Academy of the
United States, or Judges of Federal Courts,
or members of the S6th Congress of the
United States, and who may have given |
aid and comfort to the rebellion; also, all !
persons who acted as officers of the Con- |
federate army or navy above the grade of /
Colonel or Master, or as Governor of either /
of the Confederate States during the rebel I
lion; and those who have treated officers |
or soldiers or sailors of the United States,
while prisoners, otherwise than lawfully.
g. An act of Congress, providing that
when any of the late insurrectionary
States shall have ratified the said Constitu-
tional Amendment, the Senators and Rep
resentatiyes of said State may be admitted /
TO Congress. Also when any Of the said
States shall have ratified said amendment,
the payment by said State of the direct
tax imposed by act of August, 1851, may be
postponed for the period of ten years.
We think the clause excluding all
persons who voluntarily adhered to
the late instruction, from the right
of voting for Presidential Electors and
Representatives in Congress until the
fourth day of July, 1870, ought to
have been modified in some way. 1t
will be found impractical in its work
ings. While it prevents them from
voting for Congressman or Presiden4, I
it permits them to vote for members
of the-Legislature, who have the elect
ing of the United States Senators. 1t
may be said that members of the Leg
islature who have adhered to2the in
surrection will not be allowed to vote
for Senator'S, but if rebels are. permit,
ted to vote for members of the Legis1
ture, and thus indirectly for members
Of the United States Senate, we see
no reason why they should not be al
lowed to vote directly for Congress !
men and President. Besides, we think
the practical working of law which
classifies the voters Of State into two
or three distinct bodies, will be very
fruitful Of trouble if it does not
ultimately become a dead letter. II IL 8,
will be difficult to 50 arrange the cleo
ton as to have some men vote only 4
for State and County officers, and be H
excluded from the polls where Others
are designating who they will have for
their national officials The plan will /
be prolific also of frauds on the ballot I
box. While conservative and law :
abiding citizens, who are deprived of !
the privilege Of voting, may obey the
law, others, with no characters to sus-
tain aud no reputation to lose--law
less in person and purse-such as are
found in all our large cities, will vote I
for national officers in defiance Of the u
law. Where party lines are closely j
drawn, and the result of Congressional I
contests depends upon,a few votes,
parties will not hesitate to avail them
Sc yes of this element Z,