The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-06-19
THE PLAN SETTLED.

Both Houses of Congress have at last adopted
and agreed that the following amendments shall
be made to. the Constitution of the United States
before admitting the Southern States to equal
rights in the Union. These amendments are to
be submitted to the several States and must be
adopted by three fourhs of the State Legisla-
lures before becoming part of The Constitution.
1t will be seen that the third section proscrbes
tlarge number of Southern men:
Joint resolution proposing an amendment to
| the Constitution Of the United States
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Con-
| rress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses con-
curing, That the following article be proposed
to the Legislatures ofdhe several States as
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States which when ratified by three fourths Of
said Legislatures shall be valid as part Of the
Constitution, namely:
ARr1CLE.-Section 1.-Al+ persons born or
naturazed in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, citizens of tue United
States and Of the State wherein they reside. No
State shall make enforce any laws hich shall!
abridge the privileges or immunities Of citizens of
the United States nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty or property without
in its jurisdiction the equal protection. of the
laws.
Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their re-
specIive 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 President and Vice Pre>i-
dent, for United States Representatives in
Congress, executive or judicial officers, or the
members of the Legislatures thereof, is denied to
the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty
one years of age and citizens of the United
States, III any way abridged except for participa-
ton in rebellion or other crime, the basis Of re-
presentation therein shall be reduced ia the pro-
portion which the number of such male citizens
shall bear 70 the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years of age in such State.
Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress, electOr of President and
Vice President or hold any office civil or militia
ry under the United States, or under any State,
who, having previously taken an oath as a men,
Der of Congress, us an officer of the United
States, or as a member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive judicial officer of any State
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 Congress may, by vote of
two-thlrds OF each House, remove such disability.
Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the
United States, authorized by law, including debts
incurred for the payment Of pensions and lvuu-
ties for services in euppressing instruction or re-
beIlion, shall not be questioned; but neither
the Unlted States, nor any State shall assume or
pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid Of in
surrectiOn or rebellion against the United States
or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any
slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held illegal and void