Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-01
RUTIANl HER Id.
FRIDAY JANUARY IS, 1855
MISREPRESENTATION Amendment.

The Representation hoh""e"s'
The Joint Committee on Rocoustruc-
ton have reported 20 both houses of
Congress joint resolution proposing
an amendment to the Constitution so AS
70 apportion representatives and direct
t,Ses according to population (exclud-
;rc indians not taxed)-but making the
exception that wherever the elective
franchise shall he denied or abridged in
any State. on account Of race or color
all of sach race or color shall be eXclu-
ded from the basis of representation
The resolution was introduced into
the Senate by MIR, Fessenden, and into
the House by Mr., Stevens-hut the idea
originated with Mr., Blaine, represent
alive from Maine,
There is a diversity of opinion as to
the merits of the amendment among
Union men, some taking ground that it
ia merely temporary expedient, and If
a GOOD one, should not be Incorporated
into the organic law of the country
that il is an evasion OF the equal sui
fraee question, its object being to induce
tbe Southern States TO give suffrage to
eolored citizeus-that there is no GER
tainty that it will produce the desired
esect-that falling Of its object, and be-
ing designed as punishment to those
States that refuse the negroes suffrage,
Its effect will be anything but favorable.
m is Furthermore commended that the
measure is proposed with no expecta-
ton that three lourths o. the States will
sccept it, and is therefore mere dodge
10 get rid of the suffrage problem.
Another objection which has been
urged in recent Congressional debate, Is
that the Southern States might, uLder
II, adopt measures that would deprive
The masses OF colored people OF the
gouth of the right OF suffrage. and yet
have them counted in representation,
FOR instance a property qualification of
considerable amount. or ownership of
che soil, might be adopted so as to prac-
tically distrauchise the blacks, while
they would still be Included IN the rep
resentative count
After all. the amendment might afford
the colored people an opportunity to
work into possession OF the right, as
they have no chance for doing so now,
and thus point be gained for Justice
ana equal ri ghts. II we are not to have
the voting amendment, or intelligence
as a condition Of suffrage, which we re-
gard as the best Of all, let us at least
have so much as this to secure some
show of equality in representation.
The following is the form OF the
amendment as introduced into the
House
n Resolved By NE Senate ond HOss Of
Representatives. of the United States of Aae,-
Ca ~ Congress assembled, (two-thirds OF
both Houses concurring) That the fol-
lowing article be proposed to the legis-
latures OF the several States as an
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
Representation and direct taxes 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, provided that whenever the
elective franchise shall be denied or
abridged in any State, on account OF
race or color, all persons of such race OF
color shall be excluded from the basis
os representation.