The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-07-21
WILLIAM ii. SEWARD.
Secretary OF state Of the United
Eaafee-

To al 10 tchom these presenis may come, greeting:
Whereas the Congress Of the United States,
on or about the sixteenth OF June, in the year
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six
passed a resolution which is in the words and
figures following, to-wit;
The PfSpSss,nS p ~
BE q resoired by the Senate and House Of Repre-.
srniaiires q he Cniied States Of Amtrica IN Don.
grsss asstnSled, Two thitds OF both Houses con-
posed to the Legislatures of the several States
as an amendment to the Constitution Of the
United states, which, when ratified by three
part OF the Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE xiv.
Sec !. All persons born OF naturalizej 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
shali make or enforce any law which shall
lens Of the United States; nor shall auy State
deprive any person OF life, liberty, or property,
without due process OF law, nor deny TO any
person within It's Jurisdiction the equal pro-
See. .. Representatives shs be apportloned
among the several States according to their re-
spective numbers, counting the whole number
Of persons In each State, excluding Indians
not taxed. but when the right to vote at any
election for the choice Of electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President Of the United States,
Representatives In Congress, the executive
and Judicial of1cers OF State, or the members
Of the Legislature thereof, 10 denied to any of
, "a. male inha6itants Of such state, beipg
united states, or In any way abridged, except
for participation 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 citizens twenty -one years Of
age In such state.
sec. 3. No person shall be = Senator or Rep
,esentatlfe in Congress, or elector OF Presl-
dent and Wee President, or hold any office,
civil or military, under the United Ststes, or
under any state, who, having previously taken
! an oath, as n member of Congress, or as an
omcer OF the United States, or ~ a member OF
any state Legislature, or as au executive or
| Constitution Of the United States, shall have
engaged In insurrection or rebellion against
me same, or given aid or comfort to the enc
two thirds Of each House, remove such diva
bility.
See. 4. The validity OF the public debt Of the
unted states, authorized by law, including
counties for services In supprcssing insurrec-
tion OF rebellion, shall not be questioned. But
nsi n The United St.,es nor aay state shall
cufrea in aid OF fnsurreetion or rebellion
against the United states, or any claim for
the loss or emancipation o; any slave; but all
sueh debts obligations, and claims shall be
held Illegal aud void. - =.
See. .. The Congress shall have power TO
SCHUYLER UonFAx,
Speaker OF the House OF Representa- ives.
LAFAYETTE 5. FOSTER,
.,,. President of the Senate .ro ie'apore.
EDWARD McPHsRsoS,
CLERK Of the House Of Representatives.
Secretary OF the Senate.
Aud whereas by the second section OF The
net OF Congress, approved the twentieth OF
April one thousand eight bundled and eight
cen, entitled IAN act to provide for the publ
cation OF tho laws of the United States, and
Tor other PURPOSES" 1t Is mais the duty OF the
Secretary OF state forthwith to cause any
amendment 10 the Constitution of the United
States, which has been adopted according 10
The provisions OF the said ConstItu tion, to be
published In the newspapers authorized to
promulgate the laws, with his certificate, spe-
eiiying the states by which the same may have
been adopted, and that the same has become
valid, to all intents and purposes, As part OF
the Constitution of the United States;
And whereas neither the act just quoted
from, nor any other law, expressly or by con.
elusive Implication, authorizes the Secretary
OF state 10 determine and decide doubtful
questions as to the authenticity of the organi-
zation OF state legislatures, or AZ TO the power
OF any State legislature to recall a previous
act or resolution OF ratification of any amend
ment proposed to the Constitution;
And whereas 1t appears from Official docu.
ments on NE In this Department that the
amendment to the Constitution Of the United
states, proposed as aforesaid, has been rAti.
fed by the Legislatures OF the States Of Con.
nect!eut, New Hampshire, Tennessee, New
Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, New York, Ohio,
Illinois, West Virginia, Kansas, Maine, Ne.
vaia, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Rhode
Island, Pennsylyania, Michigan, Mnsssehu.
sets, Nebraska, and Iowa;
And whereas 1t further appears, from docu.
ments on file 10 this Department, that the
amendment to the Constitution OF the United
| states, proposed as aforesaid, has also been
ratified by newly constituted and ne WY -estAb.
lished bodies avowing themselves to be, and
acting as, the Legislatures, respectively of the
States of Arkansas, Florida, North Csroliia,
Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama;
And whereas 1t further appears from Official
documents on fle In this Department that the
Legislatures OF two Of the States nrst above
enumerated, to wit: Ohio and New Jersey
have since passed resolutions respectively
with drawing the consent OF each of said Statei
to the Aforesaid anendmentj and whereas II
Is deemed = matter OF doubt aud uncertainty
whether such resolutions are not irregular
invalid, and therefore ineilcctusl for with.
drawing the consent OF the said two States
or OF either Of them, to ths Aforesaid amend.
ment;
And whereas the whole number OF States IN
the Uuited States 10 thirty.seven, to wit New
Hampshire, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island
| Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn
| sylysnia, Delaware, Maryland, Virgins, NORTH
| Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Vermont
| Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, IT,
| diana, mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine
Missouri, Arkansas Michigan, Florida Texas
Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California
| Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, an,
| Nebraska
| And whereas the twcnty-thrce Statea frs
hereinbefoIe named, whose Legislature hay,
rstiRcd the said proposed amendment, and tn,
Elk states next thereafter named, as having
ratified the said proposed amendment by newt,
nstiluted and established legislative bodies
together constitute three .fourths Of the Who'll,
number OF States 10 the United States;
| Now, therefore be It known that !, Willlan
II. Seward, Secretary OF State Of the UniteI
| Statcs, by virtue and In pursuance OF the sec
oud section OF the act OF Congress, approved
the twentieth OF April, eighteen hundred ant
eighteen, heTeinbofoFe cited, do hereby certify
that II the revolutions Of the Legislatures o
| Ohio and New Jersey, rAtifying the aforesaid
| amendment are to he deemed rs remRinIRa
| Of full force and effect, Notwithstanding
the subsequent resolutions OF the LeGiRlsturei
| Of those states which purport to Withdraw
the consent OF said states from such ratIaca
| tinG, then the aforesaid amendment has heel
| ratlnnl in I q M anner hereintOfOIe mentioned