The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-07-24
THE NEW AMENDMENT.

great governmental bond, March 4 17S9, |
it has been found necessary to amend
that instrument, Gin order to form a
more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the gen
eral welfare. and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity."
Not the least important of these is the
last. 1t was originally drafted by Mr..
Stevens, and submitted to the House
April Both, 1867. 1t passed, yeas 12S,
nays 81 was amended in tie Senate
June Sth, by vote of 80 yeas to II,
nays; again returned TO the House and
as amended passed June 18th, by a
strict party vote, yeas 13S, nays 36. 1t
was forwarded to the Secretary of State,
and by him submitted to the Governors
of the several States, for ratification or
rejection by their several Legislatures.
President Johnson, as usual, sent in a
message of disapproval. 1t was how
ever quickly ratified by the requisite
three fourths of the States then repre-
sented in Congress, and it was held by
eminent Statesmen that that ratification
rendered it portion of the Constitution.
The question was agitated in Congress
but no definite action taken, and in
February 1868, Democrats having in the
meantime acquired the ascendancy in
those bodies, the Legislatures of Ohio.
and New Jersey, in which States the
amendment had been previously ratified,
passed resolutions resembling the ratif-
cation and asking the return of the
papers from the Office of the Secretary
of State Mr.. Seward declined, and the
opinion of the highest authorities given
drawn from the State Department. No
/ further action has been taken, until
with the re-admission of the Southern
/ States under the reconstruction bill, the
amendment has been ratified by three
fourths of all the States and it ie Off
cially declared portion of the Consti-
tuition of the United States. Although
1t has met with strenuous party
oppositIcn and some delay has occurred,
it has been ratified in half the time, by
far larger majorities, and with less pop
ular and legislative opposition than was
the original Constitution, which was
not ratified by the requisite wo-thirds,
until two years after its submission TO
the States; some of the Legislatures not
ratifying il until year and more later
Whatever may be the party opposition
to the fourteenth amendment, il is un-
deniably founded upon the new order of
things that had their birth in the slave
holders rebellion. Both parties have
declared that slavery is dead that
rebellion was a crime and failure ; that
the debt of the nation must be paid
This is the groundwork of the amend
ment, and when objection to it will no
longer make party capital, democracy
will acknowledge its justice, recognize
its necessity, and-deny they ever op
posed il. The amendment now incor-
porated as a portion of the Constitution
is as follows:
!, ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized
in the United States and subject to the juris.
diction thereof are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside
No State shall make OF enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immunities oi
citizens of the United States nor shall any
State deprive any person of life, liberty ol
property, without due process of law, nor de
: ny to any person within its jurisdiction the
t equal protection of the law.
e. SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appor
toned among the several States according t
. their respective numbers, counting the who'll
number of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed. But when the rignt to yot
u at any election for the choice of Electors TO
Q President and VIce-President of the UniteC
d States, Representatives in Congress, the exec
y utive and judicial officers of State, or tb
members Of the Legislature threof is denieC
! to apy of the male inhabitants of such Stat
!. being twenty-one years of age and citizens o
the United States, or In any way abridged
, except for participation In rebellion or othe
e crime, the basis of representation therein
II shall be reduced in proportion which the mum
@ Der of such male citizens shall bear to tn
N whole number of male citizens twenty-on
q years of age in such State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator o
= Representative in Congress, or elector o
President and Vice President, or hold an.
. office, civil or military, under the United State
'i or under any State, who, having previously
Il tax en- an oath, as member of Congress, o
e as an officer of the United States or as mem
e Der of any State Legislature, or as an execu
n tive or judicial officer of any State, to sup
i port the Constitution of the United State:
shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellio
y against the same, or given aid and comfor
u to the enemies thereof. But Congress may
8 by n vote of two-thirds Of each House, re
is move such disability.
= SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt o
~ the United States authorized by law, includ
,a ing debts incurred for payment of pension
and bounties for services in suppressing insur
e rection and rebellion, shall not be questi oned
d But neither the United States nor any Stat
20 shall assume or pay any debt or obligatio
D. incarred in aid of insurection OF rebellio
- against the United States, or any claim fo
sc the loss or emancipation of any slave; but a
l. such debts, obligations or claims shall be hel
illegal and void.
SEC. 3. The Congress shall have power {
enforce, by APPROPRIATE legislation, the pre-