The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1867-02-16
The Constitutional Amendment.
The proposed Constitutional Amend
ment is as follows:
ARTICLE XIV.


of the United States, and of the State
wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privilege and immunities
of citizens of the United States. Nor
shall any State deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property. without due
process of law, norAdeny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal pro-
lection of the laws. .,.
SEC. 2. Representatives shall be ap-
portioned arneng the several States ac-
eerding to their respective numbers.
counting the whole number of persons
in each State, excluding Indians not
taxed but whenever the right to vote
at any election of President and Vice
President, or United States represen-
tatives in Congress, executive and ju-
dicial officers, or the members of the
legislature thereof, is denied to any of
the male inhabitants of such State, be-
ing twenty-one years of age. and eiti-
zens of the United States. or in any
way abridged. exception participation
in rebellion or other crimes, the basis
of representation therein shall bear to
the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years of age in that State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be senator
or representative in Congress, elector
of President and Vice President, or
hold any Office, civil or military, under
the Uuited States, or under any State,
who, having previously taken an oath
as member of Congress, or as an of
ficer of the United States. or as men,
Der of any State Legislature, or as an
executive or judicial officer of any
State, to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in
instruction or rebellion against the
same. or given aid and comfort to the
enemies thereof; bpt Congress may, by
vote of two-thirds of each house. re-
move such disability. . -
SsC. 4. The validity of the public
debt of the United States authorized by
law, including debts incurred for, the
payment Of pensions and bounties for
service in suppressing insurreetion or
rebellion. shall not be questioned but
neither the United States nor any State
shall assume to pay any debt or obliga-
ton incurred in aid of Instruction or
rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation
of any slave. but all such debts, obli-
cations and claims shall be illegal and
void.
| This is the amendment which the
Radical Rump Congress is attempting
to impose upon the people of the South.
1t was born in sin, and reared in I'M.
guilty. tits foul disgrace upon legis.
lation. and palpable violation of the
Federal Constitution. The Constitu-
ton of the United States can only be
amended in the way clearly pointed out
by the instrument itself. No pettyfog.
ging bubble or Legislative evasion car
amend it in any other manner. Let vi
| see how the Constitution can be lawful
/ y amended. Article v, section l, O
the Constitution says:
"Congress, whenever two thirds O
both Houses shall deem it necessary
shall propose amendments to this con
stitution; or, ON the application of the
legislatures of two-thirds of the severa
States, shall call convention for pro.
posing amendments, which, in either
case, shall be valid to all intents anl
purposes. as part of this constitution
when ratified by the legislatures o
three -fourths of the several States, o.
by conventions in three fourths there
of, as the one or the other mode O
ratification may be proposed by Con
gress."
Now, the above amendment wa
passed through Congress in direct vic
lation of the above quoted Article.
portion of Congress have no legal RICH
to propose an amendment to the Con
stitution, and submit that amendmen
to the several State Legislatures 70
their action. 1t requires two-thirds O
, the members of both Houses of a fnl
Congress, to propose amendments t
the Constitution. How was the abov
: amendment proposedl BY portion Q
a Congress- mere radical cabal-
|, drunk with usurped power. and ami
mated by the fiendish passions G
3 hatred, malice and revenge. TIE
? States were totally excluded from re
presentation, and four States wer
: misrepresented by unprincipled rene
. gades, elected by army camp-followerl
f aided by the bayonet, when thi
: amendment was indecently hurrie
through Congress-. Was ever sue
Legislative knavery and injustice a,
tempted to beimposed upon any people
Cromwell's Rump Parliament neye
thought Of committing such DARN
: usurpation. But apart from the N
= constitutional manner In which Til
amendment was proposed, and the ii
decent haste with which tits urged apo
the State legislatures whose repfese,