The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-04-10
Who Are DISTINGUISHED by Legis-
lation Of Congress?

Che'Si I'iO Ipiiithl,y I'LL, VI WHICH tife
constitutional amendment is made
part, a certain portion of those who
were engaged in the rebellion are ex-
cluded in the first place from all par
tlclpation in the organization of the
State governments, and in the second
place from civil Office under those gov
ernments after they are. established.
1t seems to be the intention of the
Southern States to cave in on the aues-
ton of reconstruction, and to- make
themselves swift witnesses to the JUS
tice and propriety of the legislation
which the Jacobin; Congress has i'm
posed upon them. Under these circum-
STANCES it is matter of some conse-
qHence for them to know who are and
who are not prescribed. This point we
propose to elucidatc.
The constitutional amendment pro-
vides in section two and three as fol-
lows:
SEC. 2. Representatives shall he ap-
portioned among the several States, ac-
coiding 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 fol. the choice of electors
for President and Vice-Prcsident of the
United States, Representatives. in Con-
gress, the executive and judicial Off
GERS of a State, or the members of the
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of
the male inhabitants of such State, be-
ing twenty-0ne years OF age and citi-
zens of the United States, or in any
way abridged, except for participation
in rebellion or other crime, the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced
in proportion which the number of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens twenty lone
years of age, in such State.
SEC. 8. No person shall be a Senator
OF Representative in Congress, or cleo
tors of President or Vice President, Or
hold any Office, civil or military, under
the United States or under any State,
who, having previously taken an oath,
as a member of Congress, or as an Off
Ger of the United States, or as "a mem
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 Il e
same, or given aid and comfort to the
enemies thereof. But Congress may,
by vote of two-thir,ls of each House,
remove such disability. :.
The military bill provides that no
one "excluded from the privileges Of
holding office by the said proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, shall be eligible to cleo
ton as q member Of convention to
frame q constitution for any, of The
rebel States, nor shall any such person
vote for a member of said convention"
There is. no prohibition, however,
either in the amendment or in the mill
tary bill against such persons voting
The classes enumerated in the amend
| ment are merely excluded from office,
but are.not denied the rights Of suf-
frase, The military bill, i'll addition,
prohibits their voting for members OF
! the convention, and also excludes them
from the ieohventions.to frame the State
governments. After that, as voters,
| they stand upon a common footing
with all other citizens.
| From an examination Of the various
bills itahrears that iln following is
the condition of the varions classes
mentioned in the various bills which
have already been passed:
/ Ist. All persons who, before the war,
were members Of Congress or officers OF
| the Tinted 6tntes;; and took IA oath to
support the Constitution of the United
States and afterwards engaged in the
rebellion. Cd. All persons who; prior
to the war, we're erecatire, Legislature, OF
judicial officers of the State, and took
the like oath, and engaged in the rebel
lion. This embraces Governors, mem
bers Of tie Legislature, and judicial
officers, from a Judge of the Supreme
Court down to u Justice of the Peace,
WHO atany time held the Office and took
the oath, aud afterwards engaged in
the rebellion.
| Who then are not eycluded2 LIST. No
one is excluded because he held m Office
under the Confederate States from Presi
dent down, if he does not fall within one
of the excluded classes above specified
The simple. fact that he was Confederate
Senator, or a Confederate General, or that
he took an oath to support the Constitu
ton of the Confederate States, does moi
exclude him.
| I'd. No State or country officer is excln
ded on account of;hiS having held the Office
and taken the oath and engaged in the re
rebellion, If he we're not an e.recntioe {egis
htite or judicial officer therefore, neither
lawyer, sheriff, clerk tax collector, re
lceiver, country treasurer, coroner. surveyor
constable, or road commissioner is exclu
ded. Il ~.
Sd. AS no man under twenty-onc years
Of age, when the, war began. held any such
Office is disqualified, and uoncof them took
the oath to support the Constitution Of tht
Unitcd States during the war, and as Tho
war commenced nearly six years ago, nc
man in Georgia under twcnty-soyen years
-ef age can be excluded.
4th. Militia officers are not excluded
5t. The whole mass of our people who
| fall within none OF the excluded classes
above mentioned, are free from the disqual
iication, and may vote and hold any Office
in the State without regard to the part they
took in The, war. 80.
1t is evident that these prescriptions vii
exclado large proportion Of the people
Every man who has participated in the re
bellion, aid has prior to that period taker
an oath to support the Constitution of The
United States, is prescribed. No matter
how long before the war he may have taker
the oath to the Constitution, thought i
may have been half century, he is. still
excluded by that fact from all Official posi-
ton. 1t is q relentless, and inhuman poll
cy, unworthy Of an enlightened people an'
free Government; and yet there are mel
1in the South who for their own persona
benefit, and in the apprehension Of meas
ures stiiI more severe and exclusive, arr
willing tc accept the legislation now pre-
sented to them, aud fix upon themselye
| A. ..<,,@ ,,;t,, tha ho lpac IF flcry,o Il /,