The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-01
The Constitutional Amendments.

a correspondent suggests that the re.
cent silly stories about Mr.. Grceley's
being in favor of paying the Rebel debt,
pensions to Rebel soldiers, and the like,
would all be brought to an untimely end
if the public had not forgotten how sub.
stantial are the guarantees which secure
the result Of the war. Here are the
amendments which have been duly rati6.
ed in the constitutional way, have been
proclaimed as part of the Constitution of
the United States, and have now been
formally accepted by every political or
ganization in the country.
THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENr-1S65.
ART. l3. SEC. 1. Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except as punish
ment 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
enforce this article by appropriate egis.
laton.
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT-186S.
ART. IA. SEC. l. All persons born or
naturalized in the United States, and SUBJ
jcct to the jurisdiction thereof, are citi-
zens of the United States and of the State
wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens of the United States, nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, lib.
erty, or property, without due process of
law, nor deny to any person within its
Jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
Sec. 2. Representatives shall be ap-
pointed among the several States accord
ing 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 tine United States, Repre-.
sentatives in Congress, the executive and
judicial officers of State, or the members
of the Legislature thereof, is denied to
any Of the male inhabitants of such State,
being II years of age and citizens of the
United States, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion OF
other crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proper.
tion which the number of such male citi.
zens shall bear to the whole number OF
male citizens 81 years of age in such
State.
SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator
or Representative in Congress, or elector
of Presiden. and Vice. President, or hold
any office, civil or military, under the
United States, or under any State, who
having previously taken an cath as a
member of Congress, or as an officer ol
the United States, or as a member of any
State Legislature, or as an executive OF
judicial officer of any State, to support
the Constitution of the United States
shall have engaged in insurrection OF
rebellion against the same, or given aid
or comfort to the enemies thereof. Blu,
Congress may, by vote of two-thirds o.
each House, remove such disabilities.
SEC. 4. The validity of the public deb'
Of the United States, authorized by law
including debts incurred for payment Of
pensions and bounties for services in sup.
pressing insurrection or rebellion, shal
not be questioned. But neither the
United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation incurred III
aid of insurrection or rebellion agains;
the United States, or any claim for the
loss or emancipation of any slave, but all
such debts, obligations, and claims shal
be held illegal and void.
SEC. 3. That Congress shall have pow
er to enforce, by appropriate legislation
the provisions of this article.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT-1S70
ART. IL. SEC. l. The right of citizens
Of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States
or by any State. on account of race, color
or previous condition of servtude.
Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legis-
lation.