The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-20
The Howard Amendment.


We hold it to be demonstrate that the
HOWARD amendment has never so much as
been proposed in constitutional manner
much less ratified. This will beyond ques-
ton be the ground taken by the successors
in power of the present Radical party. That
amendment was not proposed by constl-
tutional Congress, nor by constitutional
majority of Congress, nor ratified oy con-
stitutional States. The whole TRANSACTION
from beginning to end has been fraud
upon the real people of the country, anu
an attempt to inject into the body OF the
Constitution, by the use of Radical lnstru-
ments, q something foreign to its nature.
But all this does not matter just now.
The claim of the Radicals is that 1t has
been ratified by Connecticut, Tennessee,
New Jersey, Oregon, New York, Rhode
Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont
West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Massachusetts, Iowa. In
diana, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsyl-
vania, Nevada, Nebraska, and also by the
Legislatures and Governors assuming to
represent the States of Arkansas, North
Carolina, and Florida, making twenty-Slx
in all. Louisiana, South Carolina, and
Alabama have also ratified it in the same
irregular manner. So that twenty-nlne
States are counted in its favor. Twenty
seven we're needed. So that even if Ohio and
New Jersey be omitted, it is still ratified,
according to the Radicals. We therefore
once more reproduce this bogus amend
ment, which they say is now part OF the
Federal Constitution.
PARTICLE XIV.
"SEcTION !. All persons born or natu-
rallied in the United States, and subJec. 10
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 OF
;mmunities Of citizens OF the United States
nor shall any State deprive any person OF
life, liberty, or property without uue pio.
cess of law, nor deny to any person "t'hth
it's Jurisdiction the equal protection Oh inc
laws. a..u IA
"SEcr1os 2. Representatives shall De
apportioned among the several ota'es ac-
cordinc to their respective numoers' count-
ing the whole number OF persons IN ench
state. excluding Indians not taxed. bu'
when the right to vote at any electlon LOT
the choice of electors for PRESIDENT ana
V;ce-President of the United States, repre-.
sentatiyes in Congress, the executive ana
;udicial officers of State, or the members
of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any
If the male inhabitants of such State being
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the
limited States, or in any way abridged, ex-
cent for participating in rebellion or other
crime. the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which
the number of such male citizens shall bear
| to the whole number of male itizenstwenty-
| one years of age in such State.
"SEcTIoN 3. No person shall be sena-
tor or representative in Congress, or elector
of President and Vice-President, or hold
any Office, civil or military, under the
United States or under any State, who,
having previously taken an oath as o mem
Der of Congress, or as an officer OF the
| United States, or as q member Of any State
Legislature, or as an executive or Judicial
officer of any State, to support the Consti-
tuition of the United States, shall have en-
gagged in insurrection or rebellion against
the same, or given aid and comfort to the
enemies thereof. But Congress may, by q
vote of two-thirds of each House, remove
such disability.
"SEcTIoN 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 sup
pressing instruction and rebellion, shall
not be questioned. But neither the United
States nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation incurred in aid of in
surrection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or emanci-
patton of any slave; but all suoh debts, OBJ.
legations, or claims, shall be held illegal
and void.
"SEcTIoN S. That Congress shall have
power to enforce, by appropriate legisla-
ton, the provisions of this article"