Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-24
The Proposed Amendment to the Con.
stitution of the United States.


Last week we announced the passage, by both
Houses of Congress, of Bill re-odmitting five of
the uurecon tructed Southern States to the Union.
Among this five is included our own State. One
of the conditions of such re.admission is the rat-
ficaton, by the Legislature Of each State, Of the
so-calied Fourteenth Article. And MS some Of
our readers may not be familiar with the import
of this proposed amendment, we give it below.
1t is necessary that this amendment be ratified
by tbree-fourhs of the States before it can be in
corporated as part of the Constitution. Having
failed thus far, to obtain the requisite three
fourths, and several of the "loyal States" having
reconsdered ami revoked their ratification, it now
becomes necessary to obtain the ratification by
most of the "rebellious States" which, Congress
says, are not States, and can have voice in the
National Councils until thOy become States.
Those Legislatures having decided Radical
majority will doubtless ratify this fourteenth arti
Gle, because their masters say they must The
Legislature of South Carolina will ratify it, and,
by so doing, will pnnder to the behests of cor
rupt Congress, and assist in fastening upon other
Stntcs yillainous and unconstitutional clause in
the Constitution, on,-unconstitutional because rati-
fed by coercive measure of Congress, and not
by the free action of three. .fourths Of the States.
The Article itself is entirely Objectionable, for
reasons evident to all who examine it.
Article XIV.-Section / All persons born or
naturalizsd in the United States, and subject TO
the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United
States and of the States wherein they reside. No
State shall make or enforce any laws which shall
sbridge the privileges or immunites of citizens of
the United States, shall any State deprive any
person OF life, liberty, or. property, without due
process Of law. nor deny any person within ts
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Sec. g. Representatives shall be apportioped
among the several States according to their re-
spectivs numbers, counting the whole number Of
persons in each State, excluding Indians not
taxed. But whenever the right to vote ut an cleo
ton for electors of President and Vice. President
or for United States Representatives in Congress
executive or Judicial officers of u State, or men,
bers of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any
of the male inhabitants of such States, being
tweuty-one years of ago and citizens Of the Uni
ted States, or in any way abridged, except for
participation in rebellion other crime, the basis
of representation therein shall be reduced in pro-
shall bear to the whole number Of such male ci.i-
zeps twenty -one years of age in such State.
Soc. 3. No person shall be Senator or repre-
sentative in Congress, or elector o. President, or
mold On Office civil or military, under the United
States, under any State, who, having previous
ly taken au oath rs member OF Congress, or as
an officer Of the United States, or as a momher of
any State Legislature, or us IN executive or judi.
oial officer Of any State, to support the Consttu-
ton Of the United Statos shall have engaged in in
surrection or rebellion against the Same, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; but Con-
gress mny, by vote of two thirds of each House,
remove such disability.
Sec. 4. The validity Of the public debt Of tie
United States, authorized by law, including debts
incurred for the payment Of pensions and boun-
ties for services in suppressing nsurrection re-
bellion, shall not be questioned; but neither the
United States nor any State shall assume or pay
any debt or obligation incurred in aid Of insurrec-
tion or rebellion against tho United States, or
claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave;
but all such debts, obligations and claims, shall
be held illegal and void.
Sec 5. The Congress shall havo power to en-
force by appropriate legislation, the provisions of
this article.