Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-17
49, tn REMOVE POLITICAL
DIsABHLITIEs.

Conorsss will, in lew Gays, nave
hsfore il n bill for the relief Of those
Who fall under the third sectien OF the
Four,eensh Amendment. The Recon
.,ruct;on Committee have Instructed
,bair Chairman to report bill trans
fsrr;nu this pardoning power to Inc
n;str;c, Courts of the United States. u
nrovides that every citizen disfranch'sed
tv the third section of the Fourteenth
Amendment, persons who have had COM
mi,sions in the army or navy or have
heen members of Congress, shall De
rs.,ored 10 all rights of citzenehip
on applying. By q petition, to such .
court. in any State o. Territory 10 when
he had his home during che wac. setting
forth what Office he ever held under the
limited States prior to April l, 1861,
which BY law required any osth to sup
mort the Constitution; and also, in what
manner be had given aid or assistance IN
the rebellion, or whether be bad held
any office under State or the Confede-
rate government, or either OF them
during any part Of the war, glving . par
,;eular description of the acts done, ans
Offices or places hell by them ia that
bebalf. and that therein and thereby he
repounees all allegiance or iealty TO any
supposed government heretofore set up
against the United States vithiu the
anne; that he truly intends hereafter to
oct and eenduct himself as o true and
loysl citizen, and gill bear true faith and
allegiance to the Government; that be
has not done. since june l. 1865, auy act
of hostility to the United States, or com
mitted any crime By violence against
the laws therefor or against the
laws Of coy State; aud that he
has not endeavored since that time by
force and fraud, to interfere With the civil
richis Oh a1y cilizs an, or to prevent the
freedom cf election or of speech; that
from Tint day be has beepa wsli-disposed
and good eitizen-snd that be prays that
hisrights be restored to him. This peti.
ton ia 10 be sworn to in open court, and
IL to be publicly advertised thirty days.
AZ the end Of which time any person
msy appear and oppose such petition
Int. if there be no opposition, the Judge
csn issue q certificate to the petitioner,
whareupon his disabilities shall be re-
moved. IF there be sufficient evidence
showing why the certificate should not be
granted, then the petitioner is forever de-
barred from relief except BY Especial cot
of Congress. Nothing in the act is to be
construed to restore any rights Of pro-
perty heretofore lost OF forfeited by any
citizen, or to sllo~ sny claim on Con-
gress for the same.
IfCongress passes this bill IS reported
il will thereby perform an act Of liberal
iiy far beyond orr present calculation
Upon iis introduction, there will no doub
be a great many amendmsnis offered
any one Of which, Il adopted, will viz
tunlIy destroy the good in.eations Of th'
act
II he Rsdicsi party would continue t.
keep open the Wounds Of The lase civi
strife, We DO not know Of shy bette
method than that Of disfrAnchisinE sn'
perseculiaE the prominent men Of thu
South, Who we're leaders 10 the cause o
Southern independence. The gesnd con
solidaiion policy has been, or will be Il
q short tine. forced upon the country
and nothiog nov remains uGaeeom
plishei By The party for which It starte'
o1;
Whsther ibe obiiierstion Of STATE hoe
piii bring permanent peace TO the eour