Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-04-21
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITU-
TION

To the Editor Of the heaneGec Journal:
As other amendments than the Fifteenth
have been made to the the constitution of the
United States, think it would crafty the
public if you would insert them all m your
paper-that we may understand what is meant
by the discussions that continue to occupy
the newspapers, and which all the people
ought to be informed about. S.
We presume our correspondent does not
desire us to publish all the amendments to the
constitution, but only those in relation to the
abolition of slavery and questions growing out
of it, which are generally discussed at this
time. The following are the amendments re-
ferred to: Editor.
ART. l3. Sec. l. Neither slavery nor invol-
untary servitude, except punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States,
or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to en-
force this article by appropriate legislation.
ART. IA. Sec. l. All persons born or
naturalized in the United States, and subject
10 the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens Of the
United States and of the State wherein they
Itslut NO Sidle silali MAKE OF enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges or I'M
munities of citizens of the United States nor
shall any State deprive any person Of life,
liberty or property, without due process of
law, nor deny to any person within its juris-
diction the equal protection of the laws.
Sec. q Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according 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 election for the choice Of electors
for president and vice president of the United
States, representative in congress, the execu-
tive and judicial officers of State, or the
members of the legislature 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 eX-
cept 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.
Gee. 3. No person shall be a senator or
representative in congress, or elector OF presi-
dent 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 member of congress- or as an officer
of the United States, or as member OF any
State legislature, or as an executive or ju-
dicial officer Of any State, TO support the Con-
stitution of the United States, shall have en-
gagged in insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or eoufort to the enemies
thereof. But congress may, by vote Of two
thirds of each house, remove such disability.
See. 4. The validity of the public debt of
the United States, authorized by law, includ-
ing debts incurred for payment of pensions
and bounties for services in suppressing in
surrection or rebellion, shall not be ques-
toned But neither the United States nor
any State shall assume or pay any debt or OBJ
legation incurred in aid OF insurrection or re-
bellion against the United States, or any claim