The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-10-20
THE AMENDMENT.

Although the amendment of the Coustitu-
ton passed at the last session of Congress,
and already ratified by three or four States,
has been before the country for some months,
there is reason to believe that no small part
ofthe community fail to realize how easy and
Just its terms are. 1t is Systematically renre-
scented by the democratic papers and speech
es as series of"degrading conditions de-
signed to keep out the States indefinitely
Here it is as it was passed:
Joint resolution proposing an amendment
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 1.-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 tourths of said Legis
latures, shall be valid as part of the Consti
ton, namely:
ARTICLE 14-Sec. 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 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 person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process
| of law. nor deny to any person within its ju-
risdiction the equal protection of the laws
Sec. .. Representatives shall be appor
toned among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed. But when the right to
vote at any election for President and Vice.
President of the United States, representa-.
tivcs in Congress, the executive and judicial
officers of Il State, or the members of the
Legislature thereof, to any of the male in
habitans of such State, being twenty one
years of age, and citizens of the United Sta.
tes orin any way abridged except for parti-
cpation in rebellion or other crime, the ba-
sis ofrepresentation therein shall bcreduccd
in the proportion which the number Of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole number
Of male citizens twenty one years of age in
such State.
Sec. 3 No person shalt be a senator or
representative in Congress, or cIcctor OF
President and Vice President, or hold any
Office, civil or militnry, under the United Sta
ties, or under any State, who, having pre-
viously taken an oath, as member OF Con-
grcss. or as an officer of the United States,
or as member Of any State Legislature, or
ms an executive or judicial officer Of any
State, to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insur,
rcction or rebellion against the same, or
giving aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,
But Congress may, by vote OF two thirds
of each House, remove such disability.
Sec. t. The validity Of the public debt of
the United States, authorized by law, inclu,
ding debts incurred for payment of pensions
and bountics for services in supprcssing in,
surrcction and rebellion, shall not be qucs,
toned. But neither the United States nor
any State shall assume to pay any debt OF
Obligation incurred in aid of instruction OF
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation OF any
slave; but all such debt, obligations, and
claims shall be held illegal and void.
Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power tt
enforce, by appropriate legislation, the pro
visions of this article.
This amendment ought to be kept constant
ly before the people by the public journals
and by individuals until the election.
Tennessee, it will be remembered, ratified it
and was at once recognized, and her scna
tors and representatives admitted at the las
session.