Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-05-05
PROPOSITIONS AGREED UPON By
THE RECONSTRUCTION
COMMITTEE. ~


members of the committee were present. |
agreed to report on Monday next the follow
ing proposition - ---i4.- - ~, !
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 Anne
RIGA In Congress assembled twothirds of
both Houses concurring. That the follow
| ing article be proposed to the Legislatures
Of the several States as an amendment TO the
/ Constitution, which, when ratified by three
| four,hs of the said Legislatures, shall oe
! valid as part of the Constitution, nancy
Article Section /. No State shall make
/ or enforce any law which shall abridge tue
privileges or immunities of citizens OF tue
/ United States nor shall any State oepriVe
apy person of life, liberty or property WIN
out due process of law, nor deny any person
I within its jurisdiction the equal protection
( of the laws.
section Q. Representatives shall be appor-
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
tHhn "a years III dgc, VI III any way dUIluSeu,
except for participation in rebellion or other
crime, the basis of representation in such
State shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number OF such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens
not less than twenty one years of age.
Section 8. Until the 4th day of July, 1870,
all persons who voluntary adhered to the
late insurrection, giving it aid and comfort,
shall he excluded from the right to vote for
| electors for President and Vice President of
the United States. ... ... ..
! Section 4. Neither the United States nor
| any State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation already incurred or which may
| hereafter De incurred in aid of insurrection
or war against the United States. or any
claim for compensation for loss of involun-
| tary service or labor. .. .... .
Section g. The Congress shall lave power
to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
a bill to provide for the restoration of the
States lately in insurrection to their full
| political rights.
| Whereas, 1t is expedient that the States
lately in insurrection should, at the earliest
dav consistent with the future peace and
safety of the Union, be restored to full par
ticipation in all political rights;
And whereas, The Congress did by joint
resolution propose for ratification to the
| Legislatures of the several States, as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States an article in the following words, to
Wit: The constitutional article reclt,d
above is here inserted. .a .....
Now, therefore, be it enacted, That when
ever the above recited amendment shall have
become part of the Constitution, and any
State lately in insurrection shall have ratified
the same, and shall have modified its consti-
tuition 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 rs such.
And be it further enacted, That when any
State lately in insurrection shall have ratified
the foregoing proposed amendment to the
! Constitution any part of the direct tax under
the act of August 5th, 1861, which may re-
main 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 Je
postponed for period not exceeding ten
years from and after the passage of this act.
A bill; declaring certain persons ineligible to
| Office under the government of the United
States.
| 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 Vice President
of the confederate States of America $50 call
! ed and the heads of departments thereof
Second. Those who into her countries
| acted as agents of the confederate States of
! America so called. .. ...a a,.
Third. Heads cf Departments OF the
| United States, officers of the army and navy
of the United States, and all persons educa-
ted at the military or naval academy of the
United States, Judges of the Courts of the
United States and members of either house
of the Thirty sixth Congress Of the United
States, who gave aid or comfor. to the late
rebellion. .. .... .r ...
Fourth. Those who acted as officers of the
confederated States of America, so called,
above the grade of colonel in army or mas
ter in the navy, and any one who, as Govern
or of either of the so called confederate
States, gave aid or comfort to the late rebel.
lion. .r .... ...
Fifth. Those who have treated officers or
soldiers or sailors of the army of the United
States. captured during the late war, other
wise than as prisoners of war.
The Committee removed the Injunction of
secrecy SO far as the above propositions are
concerned, and permitted copies to be furn-
ished to the press. .....
1t is understood that the vote upon them
was l2 against 8 AS it is known that Sen
ator johnson and representatives Grider and
Rogers only voted in the negative, the at
frmativc must be Senators Fessenden, Harris
Grimes, Howard and Williams, and Repre-.
sentatives Stevens, Washburne of Illinois,
Morrill,, Bingham, Conkling. Boutwell, aud
Blow.
| HEAVX EsAssKREatV