The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-20
Constitutional Amendment.


The following is the Constitutional Amend
ment, commonly called the Howard Amendment:
ARTICLE XIV.
Section l. 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 jurisdic-
ton the equal protection of the laws.
Sec 2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their re-
spective numbers, counting the whole number OF
persons in each State excluding Indians not tax
ed. But when the right to vote at any election
for the choice of electors for President and Vice
President OF the United States, representatives in
Congress, executive and judicial officers ola State
or the members of the Legislature thereof, is de-
MED to any of the male inhabitants of such State
being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the
United States, or in any way abridged except for
participation in rebellion other crime the basis
of representation therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of such male citi-
zcns shall bear to the whole number OF male citi-
zens twenty one years of age in such State.
Sec 3. No person shall be Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress- or elector OF President and
Vive-President, or hold any Office civil or mill
tary, under the United States or under any State,
who having previously taken an oath as mem
Der of Congress- or as an officer of the United
States, or as member 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 But Congress may by vote of
two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the
United States authorized by law, including debts
incurred for payment of pensions and bounties
for services in suppressing instruction or rebel
lion, shall not be questioned. But neither the
United States nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insur-
rection rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation of any
slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims,
shall be held illegal and void.
Sec s. The Congress shall have power to ell
force by appropriate legislation the provisions OF
this article
An Act to Prescribe an Oath of Office
and for Other Purposes.
The following is the oath (siron-clad') of of
flee referred to in the Reconstruction and Sup
Elemental Acts:
Be it enacted, That hereafter any person elected
or appointed to any office of honor or profit I'M
der the government of the United States, either
in the civil, military or naval department of the
public service, except the President of the Unit
ed States, shall before entering upon the duties
of such office, and before being entitled to any of
the salary or other emoluments thereof, take and
subscribe the following oath or affirmation 81
A. B, do solemnly swear Tor afirm) that have
never voluntarily borne arms against the United
States since have been citizen thereof; that
have voluntarily given no aid, countenance coun-
sci or encouragement to persons engaged in
armed hostility thereto that have never sought
nor accepted, attempted to exercise the func-
tons of any office whatever, under any authority
or pretended authority, in hostility to the United
States that have not yielded a voluntary sup
port to any pretended government, power or CON
stitution within the United States, hostile or in-
imical thereto and I do further swear Cor afirm)
that to the best of my knowledge and ability,
will support and defend the constitution of the
United States aganst all enemies, foreign and do
nestle; that will bear true faith and allegiance
to the same that take this obligation freely.
without any mental reservation or purpose Of
evasion, and that will well and faithfully dis
charge the duties of the Office on which am
about to enter. So help me God," which oath,
so taken and signed, shall be preserved among
department to which said officer may appertain.
And any person who may falsely take said oath
shall be guilty of perjury, and on conviction, in
addition to the penalties now prescribed for that
offence, shall be deprived of his office, and rem
dered forever incapable after, of holding any of.
flee or place under the United States.
ApprooAd Jlly g. 1862.