The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-13
The Settlement of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOurteen-The Presidents Proclamation.

| rOurteen-}ne ffeStOent'b ffOciam0tlOus
President Johnson has issued a proclama-
ton setting forth that Whereas, by an act OF
Congress, entitled an act to admit the States
of North Carolina South Carolina, Louisiana,
Georgia, Alabama and Florida to representa-
| ton in Congress, passed June 25, 1868, it is
made the duty of the President, within ten
days after receiving official information of the
ratification by the Legislature of either of said
States of a proposed amendment to the cons.i-
tuition known as article fourteen, to issue a pro-
clamation announcing the fact, and whereas
the said act seems to be prospective;" and
whereas, as he says in substance, certain par
! ties acting as the State authorities of Florida
have reported the ratification of the thirteenth
| (abolishing slavery and the fourteenth amend
ments to the constitution by their State Legis-
lature; and whereas certain other parties,
acting as the State authorities of North Caro-
lima, have attested the ratification of said
fourteenth article by their Legislature, he, the
President, issues this proclamation, San
nouncing the fact of the ratification of said
amendment by the Legislature of the State of
North Carolina in the manner hereinbefore set
forth" The certified vouchers of the ratifca-
ton by the other reconstructed States, we in
fer, have not yet been received by the Presi-
dent.
The ratification of Florida, before the pas
sage of the act of Congress in question, is re-
garded by Mr.. Johnson as a nullity, and under
the same rule, we suppose, the Arkansas ratifis
10 oIntn
this ruling appears to be correct, and will
probably, to upset it, require special act
of Congress or another ratification by the
Legislatures concerned In any event we pre-
sumo that Congress during the present session
will see this thing through, inasmuch as from
this proclamation it is evident that the Pres-
dent will fight for his policy against that of the
| two houses to the bitter end. We assume,
therefore, that before the adjournment of the
session we shall have a proclamation from
Congress, if necessary, announcing this article
fourteen of the amendments as part and par
eel Of the constitution-the supreme law of the
| land ''to all ntents and purposes.
How, then, will the two political parties of
! the country and how will the reconstructed
| States stand under the supreme law of this
| amendment? For the precise information of
our readers we here reproduce it in full -
ARTICLE Xiv.-SECrIoS L. All persons born
naturazcd in the United States ana subject to the
jurisdiction thereof citizens OF the United States
and OF the state wherein they reside. No state shall
| make or enforce any law which email abriige tue
privileges or immunites 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 10 any person within its jurisdiction the
/ a.
SEC. q Representatives shall be apportloned among
! the several states according to their respective
numbers, counting The whole number NJ persons IN
each state, excluding Indians not faxed. But when
the right to vote at any election for the choice Of
electors for the PRECEDENT and Vice President or the
United States, Representatives In Congress, the eX
| ecutive and Judicial officers OF state or the mem.
bers OF the Legislature thereof Is denied 10 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 rebel
be reduced In the proportion which the number OF
such male citizens shall bear 10 the whole number of
male citizens twenty-one years OF age IN such state.
SEC. B. No person shall be a senator OF kepresen-
tativc In Congress or eecor Of President ana Vice
President or hold any Office civil or raiitaiy under
the United States or under any state. Who, having
previously taken an oath as q member OF Congress,
an officer OF tho United States, or as "a member
OF any State Legislature or "a an executive or judi
ciai ocer Of any state TO support the constitution
OF the United states, shall have engaged IN insurrec
| ton or rebellion against the same, or given aid or
comfort TO the enemies thereof But Congress may,
by vote Of two-thirts of each house, remove such
| disability.
SIC 1. The validity of the public debt OF the United
states authorized by law including debts incurred
suppressing Instruction and rebellion, shall not be
questioned. But neither the United States nor any
1 State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation In
Cured In aid OF instruction or rebellion against the
United States or any claim for the loss or emancipa
ton Of any slave; but all such debts obligations or
| claims shall be held illegal ana void.
| SEQ 3. The Congress shall have power TO enforce
by appropriate legislation, the provisions OF this
| rra-o Il .xr;II ho obcorvod 6rst that aoual
civil rights are established throughout the
United States to all citizens and that persons
of all races and colors, born or naturalized in
this country, are citizens. In the next place II
will be observed that the regulation of the
right of suffrage, on certain conditions, is re-
stored to the several States. Next we have
certain civil and military acknowledgements OF
rebels, subject to absolution by q two.thirds
vote of each house Of Congress; next, securi-
ties for the future in behalf of the national
debt and against all rebel debts and claims for
slaves, and finally, Congress Is clothed with
the power to enforce these provisions. Upon
this amendment against President Johnson
policy, in the State elections Of 1860, there
was a distinct appeal to the people,
and from Maine to California this amendment,
as the policy Of Congress, was so overwhelm-
ingly sustained that it was generally supposed
that the democratic party had fought Its last
battle, and that the elements composing il
would have to take a new departure under
some new organization, after the fashion of the
old wing party.
In 1867, however, in the abandonment Of the
popular policy of this amendment and in the
adoption Of a compulsory system of universal