Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-06-22
The Reconstruction Plan OF Congress.


FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1860.
The Reconstruction Plan OF Congress.
On Friday, the Sth instant, the amend
ed report Of the Reconstruction Com
mittee passed the Senate by vote o
So yeas to II nays. On Wednesday, the
18th instant, the House concurred in the
report by vote of 100 yeas to 50 nays
and the joint resolution, proposing foul
constitutional amendments, therefore
goes to the Legislatures of the States
for ratification by two-thirds of the
number to become part of the Consti-
tuition OF the United States. This mat.
ter being Of such general interest, and
grave Importance to the country, we
Print in full the resolutions and amend
ments proposed: -''
Joint resolution proposing an amendment to Tie
Consultation Of the GATED States.
Resolved, BY the senate and House Of Rep
in Congress assembled, two,thlrds OF both
OfOOOS0Q
states as an amendment to the Constitution OF
the United states, which. when ratified by
y q
naturaiized In the United States and subject
United States and Of the State wherein they
reside, No state shall make. or enforce any
laws which shall abb idge the privileges or Inn
munities OF citizens OF the United states, nor
s4,1 Of
the the equal e protection Of the laws. -
SEC. 2. Representatives shall be apportion-
ed among the several states according 70 their
her Of persons in each state. excluding Indi-
ans not taxed. But whenever the right to
and vice-Persident, or for United states Rep
resentatives In Congress, Executive or judicial
ozicer., or the ms'abers OF the LEGISLATURE
isaSsta1sfs Of such staye, being 81 years OF age
and citizens OF the United State, or In any
SeiiIon OF other crime the basis Of representa-
rion therein shall BIO reduced In the proportion
% 81
years Of age In such state. 3d.. .-..
SEC 8. No person shall be Senator or Rep.
'fesentative in Congress, or clector OfPresident
or Vice-President, or hold any offi:e, civil or
any state, who having previously taken any
oath as member of Congress, or as an Off
Ger Of the United States. or as member Of any
state Legislature, or Us an executive or judi
cial efficer Of any state, to support the Consti-
tuition OF the United States, shall have engag-
same, or given aid or comfort TO the enemies
thereof: but Congress Ray, by vote of two
thirds Of. each fAsuse remove such disability.
SEC. 4 The validity Of the public debt of the
sha 81
and bounties for service in suppressiag insur-
rection or rebellion shall not be questioned;
t1rn fAAAS fnkA
incurred in aid 81 Instruction or rebsiiion
loss e Or emancipaton Of any sisve s bns ali
such debts, obligations, and claims shall be
held illegal and void. tsa-.,r---
The above proposition was adopted
by strict party vote-all the Republic
cans voting yea, and all the Democrats
voting nay. Thus the hope Of division
in the dominant party, growing out of
the differences Of opinion on the impor-
tant problem of reconstruction, so earn
estly INDUCED in for months past by
the Democracy, is summarily disposed
of. The plan adopted, it I. understood,
meets all the demands of President
Johnson, and therefore receives his cor.
dial Endorsement. Being in the form of
q jeint-resolutisn, however, it does not
go to him for has approval, but directly
to the States far acceptance. The most
could, perhaps, have de-
sired something little mileler, as GER
tainly the most radical could have de-
sirsdsonetkiEg aiittle stronger. There
fore 1t would appear to be about the
proper thing-about what all those who
gave support to the war for the Union
could actively support. So, as during
the war, the Republicans stand in solid
front against the enemies of the Gov
eminent. Thinking men, with proper
interest in the success and perpetuity of
our form of Government, must general
~ admire the temper and moderation
oftEe majority of Congress. Who ever
lreard of victorious party in a great
and bloody and bitter war.offering suck
nagnanimous and easy terms 10 de-
Seatcd enemy? We are sure history
will afford no precedent. The kindly
exhibition Of this good spirit should
really go very far toward reconciling
the North and South, and really and
truly rcuniting the two sections. 1t
will be seen that the question of negro
suffrage, 80 much discussed of late, is
not touched upon, it having wisely been
left for the action Of the States exclu.
sively and severally. 1t required long
years to bring nsajeriSy of the people
to the belief that that i" sncieht evil"
the buying and selling of human be.
ings, shosld be rooted out. But finally
they became SO TO believe. And, in
time, we think they will demand equal
justice to all, and insist that the color
of mans skin shall not determine his
rights as . citizen. But are we not JUS
titled in our faith, that, having got rid
of the great stumbling block in the way
OF the advancement of Freedom, the
lesser obstacles will in time disappear
and the people be brought to an ulti-
mate recognition OF the pre- ciples of
the immortal Declaration of Indepen-
dence? We have the faith, at least
The amendments proposed to the Con-
stitutien, therefore, constitute the
planks of the Republican platform, and
on that platform we are to meet the 80
called Democracy. The latter have
voluntarily chosen to place themselves
in opposition to the ratification Of the
proposed amendments, and it may be
profitable to see just what they will be
obliged to contend for. /. They must
contend against protection for all the
citizens of the United States. 2. They
must oppose the equalization Of repre-
sentation; and thus insist that South
Carolina shall be entitled to twice as
many Representatives ia Congress as
Iowa, and Virginia as many again as
Massachusetts. 5. They must contend
that all the offices shall be open to the