Smyrna times., 1866-10-24
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
The USIoN REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Resolved BY the Senate and House of Represen-
tatves of the United States of America, two-thirds
of both Houses concurrlng, That the following Ar
tice be proposed TO the Legislatures of the several
States amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, which, when ratified by threefourths
of said Legislatures, shall be valid part Of the
Constitution, viz:
Art IA, Sec. |. All persons born or naturalizcd
in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any laws which shall abrdge the privileges
or immunltieS of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any State deprive any person Of life, liberty,
property, without due process of law, deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protec
tion of the laws"
This section makes citizenship uniform in all the
States and protects citizens both North and South;
for example. South Carolina must treat Pennsylva-
mans with the respect that she treats her own
citizens.
"Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according TO their respect
i've numbers, counting the whole number of persons
In each State, excluding Indians not taxed; but
whenever the right TO vote at any election for elec-
tors of President Vice President and for the Uni.
ted States representatives. in Congress- executive and
Judicial officers, o. the members of the legislatures
thereof Is denied to any male lnhahitant of such
State being u years OF age and citizens of the Uni
leu Olduest UT IN any way aOroRec except IOr par
nclP1tIon IN rebellion other crime, the basis OF
representation therein shall be reduced in the pro-
portion which the number of male citizens shall bear
TO the Whole number of male citizens 2l years Of age
in such State.'
This section fixes tie basis of representation in
Congress upon the population of the several States,
with this PTOUISO, that where State denies the eec-
tive franchise to any Of its qualified male citizens of
Il years of age, (Which any State is allowed to do
under this section that then its representation in
Congress shall be proportonaby reduced thus regu.
latng the representation in Congress by the number
of voters in each State Under the old Constitution
the South had threefths of all her slaves added to
her free population to fix her representation in Con.
gress: now that slavery is abolished she will have
iwo-tfths more added thereto, and thus come back
under the old Constitution with increased power
and would thus make the vote of one white man id
the South nearly equal to two in the North This is
The reason why the rebels are opposing this part
Of the amendment.
"Sec. g. No person shall be SenatCr or Rspre.
sentative IN Congress, eecor of President or Vice
PRESIDENT or hold any Office civil or military under
the Onited States or under any State, who, laying
previously taken an oath as a member Of Congress-
or as an otlcer of the United States or as member
OF any stale Legislature, an executive or civil
ohcer OF any State, to support the Constitution o.
Ihe Onileo States, Shall have engaged in insurrec
tlon or rebellion against the same or giving aid OF
S""Ioit 10 ehe enemies thereof; but Congress NAV
BY vote of two-thrds in each House remove suct
disability"
The intention of this section is to give the Office
to the Union men Of the South. so that we shan bsv
perpetual peace, and that jefferson 70 ..- IN,
other traitors like him shall never ara,n control mi
Government, and thus endanger its liberties. |
these leading rebels shall continuet 10 lolL ue o.
In the South, we shall haze no De, a. B.
contrary, perpetual strife, They nave .,,, ,o..,,
already. They should have no further saw. Tbs,
children will succeed to the rights which the9 Jy
lose By their treason this is enough, in ali con
science. This section, you will observe, applies I
those rebels only who have P'Uursd hemseIUes )
taking the oath to support the Consultation Of ii
Onitsd States who have heretofore held office an
fsksa an oath 10 support tie Constitution OF the Tn
ted States; should any hardship arise thereby, Coz
gress may grant relief by two thirds vote.
Sec 4. The validity Of the public debt Of Il
United States authorized by law, including that il
CURED In payment of bounties and pensions for Sc
vices In supPressing insurrecton or rebellion, sha
not DC questioned; and neither the United States
any otaie shall assume or pay any debt or obligatic
incurred IN aid of insurrection or rebellion again
he United States, or any claim for loss or emanc
patton of any slave; but all such debts obli0atoI
and claims shall be held illegal and void"
This section will cut off all future hone on n
part OF the rebels of securing payment for the
slaves or Of the rebel debt, and thus relieve Our CON
sry from future sectional strife.