Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-09-16
ARTICLE FOURTEEN.

The reconstruction of the rebel states
is going on rapidly and safely. All the
States but three have put themselves in a
condition to be restored to their former
relationship with the general government
and now By the adoption of the fourteenth
article of the constitution by three fourths
of the States, universal suffrage is sure to
be secured in every Southern State.
Secretary Seward gives official notice that
the following amendment has been adopt
ed i:
SECTION / All persons born or ma,
turalized in the United States, and sub
iect to the jurisdiction thereof, are citi-
zens of the United States wherein they
reside. No State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privilege
or immuntties of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any State deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, with
out due process Of law, uor deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws
SEC. 2. Representatives shall be ap-
portioned, among the several States ac
cording to their respective numbers,
counting the whole number of persons in
each State, excluding Indians not taxed
But when the right to vote at any cleo
ton for the choice of electors for Presi-
dent or Vice President of the United
States, Representatives in Congress, the
executive and judicial officers of the I'm
tied States, or the members of the legis-
lature thereof, is denied 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 from participation in rebellion or
other crime, the basis Of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proper
ton which the number of such male citi,
zens shall bear to the whole number of
male citizens twenty-one years of age in
such State
SEC. 8. No person shall be a Sena-
tor or Representative in Congress, or
elector of President or Vice President. or
hold any Office, civil or military, under
the United States, or under any State,
who, having previously taken an oath as
a member of Congress, or as an officer of
the United States, or as a 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 re-
bellion against the same; or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof But
Congress may, by vote of tWo-t thirds OF
each House, remove such disability.
SEC. A. The validity Of the public
debt of the United States, authorized by
law, including debts for payments of pen
sions and bounties for services in sup
pressing instruction or rebellion, shall
not be questioned But neither the IN
tied States or any State shall assume or
pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid
of insurrectiop or 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 5. That Congress shall have
power to enforce, by appropriate legisla-
ton, the provisions of this article
Passed Jule Ii, 1868.
This was adopted in Ohio and New
Jersey in 1867, but last winter the cop.
peaherds having majority in the leg
latures of each Of those states, took the
back track and repeated the resolutions
ratifying the same, but Mr.. Seward de-
MES their authority to repeal it, and de.
clares it sanctioned. The adoption Of
this amendmsnt settles and removes
from the domain Of political controversy,
several important questions.
All persons born in the United States
are citizens thereof
Ii any class of persons in any state is
excluded from the right of suffrage, such
persons shall also be left out in the emu
meration.
It excludes from Office all who resigned
to take part in the rebellion, unless the
disability lie removed by two-thirds vote
OF both Houses of Congress.
It makes forever good the public debt
1t forever repudiates, on behalf Of ma
ton and States, the confederate debt, and
all claims for emancIpated slaves.
No man can overestimate the great
value to the country from the adoption of
this amendment. Let the Republican
party be thanked for its noble work.