Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-12
Southern Plan of Reconstruction.

Gov. Orr, Gov. Parsons, Gov. Marvin,
Judge Sharkey, and other selfconstituted rep
resentatives of the South, who have been in
Washington, have agreed, with the concurrence,
it is said, Of the President, upon recommending
the adoption by the Southern States of the fol-
lowing plan of adjustment. Though it con-
tains, in our view, serious Objectionable princi-
pies, and would commit the South to conces-
sons it should not make, yet we have no idea
that the Radicals will assent to it as basis
of settlement-they will insist on more unfa-
vorable terms still. The South should avoid
committals of concessions, and rely upon firm
and mastery inactivity" The following Is
the proposed plan
Article 14-Section 1.-The Union under the
Constitution is and shall be perpetual. No
State shall pass any law or ordinance to secede
or withdraw from the Union, and any such law
or ordinance shall be null and void.
Section 1.-The public debt Of the United
States, authorized by law, shall ever be held
sacred and inviolate. But neither the United
States nor any State shall assume or pay any
debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrecton
or rebellion against the Government or author
ity of the United States.
Section 3.-All persons born or naturalzed
in the United States, and subject to the .Jurls-
diction thereof, are citizens of the United States
and of the States in which 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 de-
prive any person Of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law, nor deny to any
person within it's jurisdiction the equal protec-
ton Of the laws
Section 4-Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the whole
| number of persons in each State, excluding In
| dams not taxed. But when any State shall, on
account Of race or color, or previous condition
| of servitude, exclude from voting at any cleo
ton for the choice of electors for President and
| Vice President of the United MATES, represen-
| tatives in Congress, members OF the Leglsla-
ture or other officers elective by the people, any
| Of the male inhabitants Of such State, being q
years of age and citizens of the United States,
| then the entire class OF persons so excluded
from the elective franchise, shall not be counted
| in the basis Of representation. No State shall
require as property qualification for voters
| more than two hundred and fifty dollars worth
of taxable property, nor as an educational quail
| ifcation more education than enough to enable
the voter to read the Constitution of the United
States in the English language and write his
| own name.
| Proposed amendment to State Constitution.
| Article.-Every male citizen who has resided
in this State for one year and in the county in
which he offers to vote six months immediate
ly preceding the day of election, and who can
read the Constitution of the United States in
the English language, and can write legibly his
own name, or who may be the owner of $3.50
worth of taxable property, shall be entitled to
vote at all elections for Governor Of the State,
members of the legislature, and all other Off
GERS elective by the people of the State:
Rorided, That no person by reason of this
| article, shall be excluded from voting who has
heretofore exercised the elective franchise under
the Constitution and laws Of this State, or who,
at the time of the adoption Of this amendment
may be entitled to vote under said Constitution
| and laws