The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-06-16
The Constitutional al Amendment.

House of Represcntatives-one that will
hereafter he referred to as marking an epoch
in the history of the country. We congratu
late our readers upon the passage of the
Constitutional Amendment as it came from
the Senate by the decisive vote of ONE HUN
DRED AND TWENTY YEAS to THIRTY NATs-a
nearly three. fourths majority. Every Re.
preventative present in the House elected
as unionist or Republican voted for the
resolutions. Among those whose votes are
recorded with the majority are Representa-
tives Raymond, of New York; Green CLAY
Smith, of Kentucky; Phelps, of MARYLAND.
and Whallcy, of West Virginia, who have not
heretofore acted with the majority in the
House. Mr.. Mccullough was not present.
The following are the resolutions as passed
by both Houses by the constitutional major.
ity, and which will now be submitted to the
States for their ratification or rejection:
Joint resolution proposing an amendment to
the Constitution Of the United States.
Resolred by the Senate and House of Re.
prescntatires Of the United States of America,
IN Congress assembled (twp.thirds of both
Gle be proposed to the Legislatures of the
several States as an amendment to the Con.
stitntion of the United States, which, when
ratified by three fourths of said Legislatures,
shall be valid as part of the Constitution, viz
ARTICLE -.
Section ]. All persons born or naturalized
in the United States, and subject tothe iuris-
dictiUh thereof, are citizens of the United
states ana Of the State wherein they reside
No State shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or mmnnities of
citizens 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 its laws
Section 2. Representatives shall be appor.
toned among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed but whenever the right
to vote at any election for electors of Presi.
dent and Vice President, or for United States
Representatives in Congress, executive and
judicial officers, or the members of the LIE.
gislatures thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such State, being twenty
one years of age, and citizens of the United
States, or in any way abridged. except for
participation in rebellion or other crimes.
the basis of representation therein shall be
reduced in the proportion which the number
OF such male citizens shall bear to the whole
mum Der OF male citizens twcnty-onc years of
age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be Senator
or Repre- sentative in Congress. or clector of
President or Vice President. or hold any
office, civil or military, under the United
states, or under any State. who, having pre-
viously taken an oath as a member of Con
gress, or an officer of the United States. or
as a member of any State Legislature. or MS
q a ar I'M nj oil, &c
to support the Constitution of the United
States. shall have engaged in instruction or
rebellion against the same, or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof but Corr
gress may, by vote Of two.thirds Of each
House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt
OF the United States, authorized by law, in.
Guiding debts incurred for the payment of
pensions and bounties for services in sup
pressing instruction or rebellion. shall not
be questioned; 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 Toss Or emancipation ofany
slave, but all such debts shall be held illegal
and void.
Congress has thus consummatci it's plan
of reconstruction. We do not doubt that it
will be accepted by the country. Before its
wise and consistent. firm, yet mild PROPOSE
tons, opposition will be futile. They will
heal all dissensions in the Union ranks, and
bring the party that sustained the Govern
ment during the war, and the States that
fought that war to its glorious conclusion,
together in a SOLD ard Irresistible pha1ahx.
AS there will be but oneissue, SO there can be
but two parties. The Constitutional Amend.
ments are no longer the Congressional plan
they have become the plan of the Union
party. Those who oppose the plan must 90
to the Democratic Conservative party, which
will be its only Opponent. The line will now
be drawn so clearly as to admit of no sub
terfuge or evasion.
Fhe scene in the House during the passage
of the resolutions was exceedingly imnrcs
sive. Mr. Thaddeus Stevens closed the
debate with what IS to- have been his best
and many fear will be his last speech in
Congress. Though exceeding weak and
suffering severely, he would not forego the
duty of pressing the important measure
through and of recording his own vote in its
favor. The announcement of the vote was
received with applause both from the floor
and the spectators and by general inter
change of congratulations among the mem.
bers. -Baltin1ore american.
Richmond papers say that the news
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