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  1. Overview: United States Fifteenth Amendment
  2. Full Record: United States Fifteenth Amendment
  3. Committee:The Senate
  4. Session: 1867-03-07 12:00:00
  5. Event type: CREATE

United States Fifteenth Amendment

The Senate

The Senate of the Fortieth Session of Congress

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Document introduced in:

Session 6532: 1867-03-07 12:00:00

Members of committees are appointed; S. Res. 8, amending the Constitution, is proposed; Mr. Sumner proposes resolutions regarding the reconstruction of the rebel States

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Resolutions Concerning the Reconstruction of the Rebel States

There is 1 proposed amendment related to this document on which a decision has not been taken.

Resolved, That Congress, in declaring by positive legislation that it possesses paramount authority over the rebel States, and in prescribing that no person therein shall be excluded from the elective franchise by reason of race, color, or previous condition, has begun the work of reconstruction, and has set an example to itself.

Resolved, That there are other things remaining to be done which are as clearly within the power of Congress as the elective franchise, and it is the duty of Congress to see that these things are not left undone.

Resolved, That among the things remaining to be done are the five following:

1. The existing governments which have been declared to be illegal must be vacated, so that they can have no agency in the work of reconstruction, and will cease to exercise a pernicious influence.

2. Provisional governments must be constituted as temporary substitutes for the illegal governments, with special authority to superintend the transition to permanent governments republican in form.

3. As loyalty beyond suspicion must be the basis of permanent governments republican in form, every possible precaution must be adopted against rebel agency or influence in the formation of these governments.

4. As the education of the people is essential to the national welfare, and especially to the development of those principles of justice and morality which constitute the foundation of republican government, and as according to the census an immense proportion of the people in the rebel States, without distinction of color, cannot read and write, therefore public schools must be established for the equal good of all.

5. Not less important than education is the homestead, which must be secured to the freedmen, so that at least every head of a family may have a piece of land.

Resolved, That all these requirements are in the nature of guarantees to be exacted by Congress, without which the United States will not obtain that security for the future which is essential to a just reconstruction.

Decisions yet to be taken

  • Motion for the Regular Order of Business (introduced on 1867-03-13 12:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e724800)

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