Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-05-04
The Reconstruction Report.

! Wlicn was adopted IN committee by
vote of IL TO 3, being party vote, the
Union members being unanimous for it.
The committee were in session four hours
on Saturday, and on Monday reported the
following proposition:
Be it Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America, in Congress assem-
bled, two-thirds of both houses concur
ring, that the following article be proposed
to the legislatures of the several States
as an amendment 10 the Constitution of
the United States, which, when ratified
by three fourths of said legislatures, shall
be valid as part of the Constitution, name
ly:
article. Section l. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immnnities OF
the United States; nor shall any State
deprive any person of life, liberty or
property, without due process of law, nor
deny to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws. ....
Section 2. 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 citizens not less than twenty
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 pro-
portion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of
male citizens not less than 81 years of age.
Section 8. Until the 4th of July, 1870,
all persons who voluntarily adhered to
the late insmrection, giving it aid and
comfort, shall be excluded from the right
to vote for members of Congress and for
electors for President and Vice President
of the United States.
Section 4. Neither the United States
nor any State shall assume or pay any
debt or obligation already incurred, or
which may hereafter be incurred in aid
of insurrection or of war against the
United States, or any claim for compen-
sation for loss of involuntary service or
labor.
Section S. The Congress shall have
power to enforce by appropriate legisla-
ton the provisions of this article.
The second part is entitled ga bill to
provide for the restoration of the States
lately in insurrection to their full politi-
cal rights" and is as follows:
Whereas, it is expedient that the States
lately in insurrection should, at the ear
Hest 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
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 -
ESae articl. nc ahova I
Now therefore, be 1t enacted, &C., That
whenever the above recited amendment
shall have become part of the Constitu-
ton, and any State lately in Instruction
shall have ratified the same and shall
have modified its Constitution and laws in
conformity Herewith, Senators and Rep
resentatives from such State, if found du-
ly elected and qualified, may, after having
taken the requisite oath of office, be adj
miited to Congress as such.
Section 2. Ind be IL further enacted,
that when any State lately in insurrec-
ton shall have ratified the foregoing
amendment to the Constitution, any part
of the direct tax under the act of August
D, 1861, which may remain due and un-
paid 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 passage of this
act.
The third and concluding part is en-
titled " A bill declaring certain persons
ineligible to office under the government
Of the United States" and is as follows:
BE Il enacted, &c., That no person shall
be eligible to any office under the Gov
ernmenrof the United States who is in