The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-11
The Howard amendment.

4
JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMEND
MENr TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNI
TED STATES.
Be it enacted 6y the Senote and House Of
ReDreseatutipes eJ tile United States Of Ame'i-
ca in Congress assembled (two-thirds of both
Houses concurring) That the following ar
ticle he proposed to the Legislatures OF the
several States as amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, which, when
ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures,
shall be valid as part of the Constitution,
namely:
ARTICLE NIV.-SECTIoN 1. Allpersons
born or natnralized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens
of the United States and of the State where
in they reside No State shall make or en-
force any law which shall abridge the privil-
eyes or immunities of citizens of the United
States nor shall any State deprive any per-
son OF life. liberty, or property, without due
process of law, nor deny to any person With
in its juridiction the equal protection of the
laws.
SEC. ?. Representatives shall be apportlon
ed among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State. excluding
Indians not taxed But when the right to
vote at any elections for the choice of elect
ors for President and Vice-President OF the
United States, Representatives in Congress,
the executive and judicial officers of State,
or the members of the Legislature thereof, is
denied to any OF the male inhabitants OF such
State, being twcnt y-one years Vt age and cit
liens of the United States, or in any way
abridged, except for participation IN REBEL
ion or other crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number OF such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years OF age in such State.
Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or
Representative in Congress, or elector OF
President and Vice-President. or hold any
office civil or military, under the United
States, or under any State, who having previ-
ouSly taken an oath, member OF Con-
gress, or as an officer of the United States, or
as IA member of any State Legislature, or rs
and executive or judicial officer of any State
to support the Constitution of the United
States. shall have engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the same. or given AID and
comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress
may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House,
remove such disability.
SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of
the United States, authorized by law includ-
ing debts incurred for payment OF pensions
and bounties for services in suppressing in
surrection and rebellion. shall not be ques-
toned. But neither the United States nor
any State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid Of instruction or
rebellion against the United States, or any
CLAIM for the loss or emancipation ofany
slave but ali such debts. obligations, or
claims, shall be held illegal and void.
SEC 8. The Congress shall have power to
enforce, by appropriate legislation, the pro-
visions of this article
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Speaker House of Rep.
LAFAYETTE s. FOSTER,
Pres. Senate, pro. tenn.
Attest:
EDWARD MCPHERSON.
Clerk House of Rep.
J. W. FORNEY.
Secretary of Senate.