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, Representatives in Congress, the executive or judicial of ficers of a 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, except 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. SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President 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 a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties, for services in suppressing the insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State, shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any 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 have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. (Signed,) SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. LA FAYETTE S. FOSTER, President of the Senate, pro tem. Attest: (Signed,) EDWARD MCPHERSON, Clerk of the House of Representatives. J. W. FORNEY, Secretary of the Senate. A true Copy. CIRCULAR To His Excellency, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The Governor of the State of Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee: SIR: I have the honor to transmit an attested copy of a Resolution of Congress, proposing to the Legislatures of the several States, a Fourteenth Article to the Constitution of the United States. The decisions of the several Legislatures upon the subject, are required by law, to be communicated to this Department. An acknowledgement of the receipt of this communication, is requested by A true Copy: Your Excellency's most obed't serv't, A. J. FLETCHER, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: I CERTIFY, That annexed is a true copy of a Concurrent Resolution of Congress, entitled "Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States," the original of which Resolution, received to-day, is on file in this Department. In testimony whereof, I, Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the Seal of the Department of State to be affixed. SEAL | t Done at the City of Washington, this sixteenth day of June, A. D., 1866, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninetieth. A true copy. (Signed,) WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Secretary of State. I, ANDREW J. FLETCHER, Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee, do certify that the foregoing is a copy of a Concurrent Resolution of Congress, entitled "Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States," the original copy of which, as the same was transmitted by the Secretary of State of the United States, is now on file at my office. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my Official Signature, and by order of the Governor, State of affixed the Great Seal of the State of TenTennessee nessee, at the Department, in the City of NashSEAL. ville, this second day of July, A. D., eighteen hundred and sixty-six. A. J. FLETCHER, Senator Smith moved that ten thousand copies of Executive Message No. 1, and accompanying documents, be printed for the use of the Senate. Senator Trimble moved to amend the motion by adding "two thousand copies in German." The amendment was accepted, and the motion carried. On motion of Senator Nelson, Executive Message No. 1 was ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. Senator Trimble offered Senate Joint Resolution No. 2, to-wit: Joint Resolution adopting the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States: Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, proposed by Joint Resolution of the Congress of the United States, at its present session, in words and figures following, viz: "Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) That the following Article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely: ARTICLE XIV. SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens 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, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. SECTION 2. Representatives shall be apportioned 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, Representatives in Congress, the executive or judicial officers of a 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, except 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. SECTION 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector for President 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 a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of twothirds of each House, remove such disability. SECTION 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties, for services in suppressing the insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States, nor any State, shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave, but all such debts, obligations and claims, shall be held illegal and void. SECTION 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by ap propriate legislation, the provisions of this Article.” Be, and the same is hereby ratified, as part of the Constitution of the United States. On motion of Senator Trimble, the rules were suspended and the Resolution taken up. Senator Carrigan offered Senate Joint Resolution No. 3, in lieu of Senate Joint Resolution No. 2, to-wit: Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Tennessee has been called together under extraordinary circumstances, by proclamation of the Governor, for the solemn purpose of ratifying certain amendments proposed to the States composing this Union, by the Congress of the United States, and, Whereas, The amendments are questions upon which the greatest wisdom and statesmanship should be exercised, and its importance fully comprehended by the most sagacious judgments among them, and, Whereas, About one-third of the State is not represented in this Body, nor indeed can it be, until writs of election are issued to fill the vacancies that now exist, and, Whereas, The Constitution of the United States requires that amendments thereto shall be ratified by three-fourths of the Legislatures of the States, and, Whereas, It is right and proper that all the people should be fully, faithfully and legitimately represented in said Legislature, and feeling it to be our duty before entering upon the discharge of the responsible duties entrusted to us by the people of the State, to have them as fully represented as possible by law, and feeling a deep and anxious solicitude for the speedy and complete resumption of our relations with the Federal Government, and desiring the establishment of harmony and good feeling among the people of our State, and the permanent restoration of impartial justice to all classes whatsoever; therefore, Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That we believe it unwise and impolitic, just at this time, in view of the fact aforesaid, to entertain or adopt the Constitutional amendment by the Congress of the United States. Be it further resolved, That the present extra session adjourn sine die. Senator Trimble moved to lay the Resolution offered in lieu on the table. Senator Johnson moved an adjournment until 10 o'clock, A. M., Monday next. Senator Cate called for the ayes and noes on the motion to adjourn. |