The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-08-08
The XIVth Amend rkfe mt.

The XVIII A mendment to tbs Conslitu-
ton of the L. 8 recently decd qred ratified,
was first reported as a joint.re solution by the
Joint Select Committee on Reconstruction,
April 80, 1866. After various amendments
it passed both Houses Of Congress and was
transmitted to the executives Of the various
States in June, 1866.
Asthis Amendment affects Maryland about
as vitality as it does any of the States, and
will deprive her Of one, If not two, of her
five members of Congress, we publish it en-
tire:
ARTICLE XIV, SECTION All persons
born or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citi.
zens 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 with.
out due process of law; nor deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal pro
lection of the laws.
Sec. =. Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according
to their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each State, ex-
GLIDING Indians not taxed; 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, the executive and judicial officers
of State, or the members of the Legisla-
ture thereof, is denied to any Of the male
inhabitants of such State being q years of
age and citizens Of the United States, or in
any way abridged, except for participation
i'll rebellion or other crime, the basis of rep
rescntation therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of
male citizens q years of age in SAID State.
Representative in Congress-, or Elector, or
President, or hold aus once, civil mill
tary, under the United States, or under any
State, who, having previously taken an oath
as member OF Congress, or as an officer Of
the United States, or as member OF any
| State Legislature, or as an executive or judi
cial officer of any State, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, shall have
engaged in instruction or rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof; but Congress may, by a
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, includ,
ing debts incurred for payment Of pensions
and bountes for services in suppressing in
surrection or rebellion, shall not be ques,
toned; but neither the United States nor
any State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid Of insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation Of any
lc1a R,,t lnlt ok opl
claims shall be held illegal and void.
SEC. S. The Congress shall have power to
enforce, by appropriate legislation, the pro.
visions of the article.
The population of Maryland, in 1850, was
Gs7, 049, but as by this Amendment the III, }.
l3l colored people are to be counted out,
the representative population of the State
will be reduced to 515,91S. And as the ra.
ito of representation, which is now 1877 1000,
will be increased under the next census, our
Congressional delegation will be reduced &C.
cordingly, unless, in the meantime, the right
of suffrage is conferred upon the blacks.
The First, or Eastern Shore Congressional
District, will also have to be extended, as
there are only SO, 7Ss whites on the shore
At present 46, 545 colored people are counted
in the basis of representation in this District
which brings it up to the prescribed ratio
And when Mr.. McCullough's colored con
stituents are Topped off, another county Oh
two will have to be appended to the Distric
to entitle us to Congressman.
The XINth Amendment will, as we have
shown, produce quite change in this Dis
trict, and as it will affect the other Districts
still more. it will be apt to inaugurate pc
litcal revolution in the State, which vii
erelong lead to the enfranchisement of tn,
colored man in Maryland.