The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-06-22
WHOLE NO. 148.

But there two recent constitutional
/ amendments. each of which furnishe. ample
and cumulative power.
! There Is, first, the amendment abolishing
slavery. with its clause comforting on Congress
| the power to enforce it BY appropriate Iegisla-
ton, IN pursuance of which Congress has al-
ready passed the Civil Rights Act, which is
applicable TO the North as well as to the South.
Clearly, and most obviously beyond all ques-
tiou, If 1t can pass the Civil Rights Act it can
| also pass n Political Rights Act; for each is
appropriate to enforce the abolition of sla-
very and TO complete this work. Without it
the work is only half done.
There is yet another amendment recently
adopted by three fourths of the loyal States,
which is itself an abundant source of power.
After declaring that all persons born or nat
uralized in the United States and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof. are citizens" this
amendment proceeds to provide that "no
State shall make or enforce any law which
shall abrIdge the privileges immunities of
citizens of the United States F" and Congress
is empowered to enforce this provision by ap-
Propriate legislation. Nothing can be palmer
II low, in the face of these provisions, any per-
sons can doubt the power of Congress, can
n ot understand.
The following is the bill proposed to
accomplish the object:
Whereas, The Constitution of the United
States abolishes slavery everywhere within the
jurisdiction thereof, so that all constitutions,
laws or regulations of any State or Territory
In aid OF slavery or growing out of the same,
are null and void and whereas, the same Con-
stitution In another provision recently adop-
ted declares that 8" no State shall make or en-
force any law which shall abridge the prIvi-
leges or immunities of citizens Of the United
states /" and whereas, also, Congress is en-
powered by appropriate legislation to enforce
these several provisions, which cannot be done
without securing the elective franchise to. cit
iEens who have been slaves. OF who are the de-
scendants of slaves, or who are deprived of
equal rights by reason of race or color and
whereas, further, it is expressly declared in
the Constitution that the United States shall
guarantee to every State In the Union repub-
lican form of government, and it is plain that
any inequality of rights is inconsistent with
republican form of government and the prom
ises of the Declaration of Independence; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of Amer
ica in Congress assembled, That every citizen
of the United States, although he may have
been a slave or is the descendant of a slave
or by reason of race or color, is deprived of
equal rights, shall, in every State and Terri
tory, have the right to vote at all elections
for members of Congress, for Presidential
electors, for Representatives and Senator'S to
State OF Territorial Legislatures, for all State,
county, city, town and other officers of every
kind, upon the same terms and conditions,
and no Others, as white citizens are and may
be allowed to vote and every provision of
every State and Territorial Constitution, stat
ute and ordnance which is now, or hereafter
may be enacted, and every custom and princi-
pie of law heretofore recognized in any State
or Territory, contrary to- the foregoing pro-
visions, are hereby declared null and void.