Smyrna times., 1866-10-03
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CoSsrITUTIpl
THE UNION REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

"Resolved, By the Senate and House of Represen-
taves of the United States of America, tw lthlrds
of both Houses concurring, That the following Ar |
tice be proposed the Legislatures of the everal
States an amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States. which, when ratified by threetuurths
Of said Legislatures, shall be valid part of the
Constitution, viz:
"Art IA, Sec. l. All persons born or naturalized
in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof are citizens Of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No Stale shall make or
enforce any laws which shall abridge the privilege
imlnuntes Of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any State deprive any person Of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law, nor deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal proter
ton of th1 laws"
This section makes citizenship uniform in all the
Statrc, and protects citizens both North and South
for example, South Carolina must treat Pcnnsylva-
mans with the anne respect that she treat her own
citizens.
"Seo. >. RcDr '3eatatves shall be npVoitioaet
Org the several States cOrding tlieiT resp, c-
lva numbers, counting the whole number of pcioon
III each State, excluding Indians not taxed; bu.
whenever the right to vote at any election for ecc-
tors of President or Vice President, and for the Uni
ted States representatives in Congress, executive and
Judicial officers, the members of the legislatures
thereof, is denied TO any male nhabitant Of such
State, being 81 years OF age and citizens of the Uni
ted States, or in any way abridged, except for par
tclp4tnn in rebellion other crime, the basis Nf
representation therein shall be reduced in the pro.
portion which the number Of male citizens shall bea
to the whole number of male citizens 81 years Of
in such State"
This section fxcs tie basis of representation in
Congress upon the population of the several States
with this pfOoisO that where State denies the eec-
tive franchise to any of its qualified male citizens o.
Z years of age, (Which any State is allowed to dc
under this sectOu that then its representation 10
Congress shall be propOtionably reduced thus regu
idtng the representation in Congress by the number
"i Tcfs in tch State. Under t.s old Constitution
iia South lad thro fGhs Of al her slaves added ia
her free population TO fix her representati in Con
gres-: now slavery is abolished she viii have
lwohI,i~ ,'fc added thereto and ,hus conn back
under the old Constitution with increased p wer
and would thus make the vote cf one white man iT
the South nearly equal TO two in the North. This il
the reason why the rebels opposing this par
of the amendment.
Sec. g. No person shall be a SenatLr or Repre-
sentative IN Congress- eectOr Of President or Vic
President, hold any Office, civil or military unde
the United States, or under any State who havin
previously taken an oath a member of Congress
officer Of the United States, or as a membe
of any State Legislature, or as an executive or civ
officer of any State, 10 support the Constitution {
the nlied States, shall have engaged in insnrrc
comfort to the enemies thereof; but Congress ma
by a vote Of two.thirds in each House. remove SUI
hl~rb .uy'
q '.nn of this section is TO give the ofic
10 tne Lnlon men o. ,hc South so that we shall ha
perpetual peace, and so that Jefferson Davis al
other traitors like him shall never again control Ii
Government. and thus endanger its liberties
these leading rebels shall continue TO hold the ofir
10 the south, we shall have no peace, but,
contrary, perpetual strife. They have done enou
already They should have no further say. Th
children will succeed to the rights which they
lose By their treason this is enough, in all C
science. This section, you will observe applies
those rebels only who have P'yured tkeiase'ue3
taking the oath 10 support the COnsiHItI"G
United States who have heretofore ket6 gDtc"
take0 Odth to support the Constitution oil the
tgd States; should anv hardship arise thereby l
gress may grant relief by two thirds vote.
"Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt OF
United States authorized bylaw. including thai
Cured IN payment OF bounties and pensions for
vices in suppressng insuFrection or rebellion,
not b. questioned; and neither the United States
any State, shall assume pay any debt or ohliga
incurred in aid Of insurrection or rebellion ag'
the United Sates, or any claim for loss or EN-;
patton If any slave; but all such debts, Obliga
and c inns shall he held illegal and void"
This section will cut OF all future hope on
part Of the rebels Of securing payment FOR
S''Vrs or OF the rebel debt, and thus reeYe our
"y ifom iuturs sectional strife. .....