Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-03
REPORT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION COM
MTTTEE.


after session of some four hours on Satlii-
day, at which all the members of the Com
mittee were present, agreed to report on.
Monday the following propositions
A joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
| States
BE it resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States Of
America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds
Of both Houses concurring, that the follow
ing article be proposed to the Legislatures
| of the several States as an amendment to
the Constitution OF the United States, which,
when ratified by three-feurths of said Leg
stitution, namely: .. .t .|-
SECTION /. No State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges
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 to deny any person with
in its jurisdiction the equal protection Of
the laws. ,........... ........ ..... ~. -...
| SEC. g. Representatives. shall be apppr
toned 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
the rebellion or other crime, the basis OF
representation in such State shall be re-
duced in the proportion which the number
of such male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens not less than TWEEN
ty-one years of age. ...
SEC. g. Until the 4th day of July, 1870
all persons who voluntarily adhered to the
late insurrection, 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.
SEC 4. Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obli-
cation already incurred, or which may here
after be incurred, in aid Of the insurrcction
or war against the United States, or any
claim for compensation for loss Of involun-
tary service or labor
SEC. ). The Congress shall have power to
enforce by appropriate legislation the pro
visions Of this article.
A Bill to provide for the restoration of the
States lately in rebellion to their full polti-
cal rights .., .........
! Wiereas, 1t is expedient that the States
lately in insurrection should at the earliest
day consistent with the future peace and
safety Of the Union be restored to full par
ticipation in all political rights.
Ind acbereaS, The Congress did by Joint
resolution propose for ratification to the
Legislatures Of the several States as III
amendment to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted Statesan article in the following words,
to wit "The constitutional article here in
serted ,"-now, therefore,
BE ii enacted, &c, That whenever the
above-recited amendment shall have become
part Of the Constitution, and any State late
ly in insurrection shall have ratified the
same, and shall have modified its Constitu-
tion and laws in conformity herewith, the
Senators and Representatives from such
State, if found duly elected and qualified,
may, after having taken the required oaths
Of Office, be admitted into Congress
Second-And be 1t further enacted, That
when any State lately in insurrection shall
have ratified the foregoing proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, any part of the
direct tax, under the act Of Aug. ), 1861
which may remain due and unpaid 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 pas
sage of this act
The bill declaring certain persons ineliei
bic to Office under the Government of the
United States,
Be ii enacted, &C., That no person shall
be eligible to any Office under the Govern
ment of the United States who is included
in any of the following classes, namely
FirSt-The President and Vicc-Prcsident
of the Confederate States of America $,
called, and the Heads Of Departments there
) of
SecQad-'rhose who in other countries ac
ted as agents Of the Confederate States OF
America SO called.
IhUd-Heads Of departments Of the Uni
ted States, officers Of the Army and Navy
of the United States, and all persons educa
ted in the Military or Naval Academy OF
the United States, Judges of the Courts o
the United States, and members OF either
House of the Thirty-sixth Congress- Ct the
United States, who gave aid or comfort tc
the late rebellion.
Forrh-Those who acted as officers Of
the Confederate States of America, so call
ed, above the grade of Colonel,m the army
or Master in the navy, or any one who as
Governor or either of the so-callcd Confed
crate States, gave aid or comfort to the late
: rebellion
r FYtb-Those who have treated officers
OF soldiers or sailors of the Army or Navy
of the United States, captured during the
late war, otherwise than lawfully as priso
: ners of war.
f The Committee removed the iniunctions
! Of secresy SO far as the above propositions
are concerned, and permitted copies to be
, furnished to the press.
1t is understood that the vote upon them
was II against s.
AS it is known that Senator johnson and
Representatives Grider and Rogers only
voted in the negative the alternatives must
be Senators Fessenden, Grimes, Harris
Howard and Williams, and Representatives.
, Stevens, Washburne, of Illinois, Morrill,
Bingham, Conklin, Boutwell, and Blow.