JOINT RESOLUTION

Setting forth certain conditions upon which the States, the people of which have been lately in rebellion against the United States, shall be restored to their representation in Congress.

Whereas, in the present distracted condition of the country, it is eminently proper and necessary that all just and constitutional means should be employed for the quieting of popular excitement, the removal of unreasonable prejudices, and the obliteration of all hostile feeling growing out of the late unhappy civil war; and whereas one of the most prolific sources of unfriendly sentiment is the conflict of opinion existing on the subject of negro suffrage; and whereas it is now most evident that there is no probability whatever that Senators and Representatives in Congress from the States whose people were lately in insurrection will be allowed to occupy these seats to which they have been elected until said States shall have complied with certain fundamental conditions, a portion of which are hereinafter recited; and whereas it is unreasonable to expect the re-establishment of harmony and good feeling so long as the eleven southern States, whose people were recently in insurrection, are prevented from resuming their ancient relations to this Government: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That each of said States whose people were lately in insurrection as aforesaid shall be recognized as having fully and validly resumed its former relations with this government, and its chosen representatives shall be admitted into the two houses of the National Legislature, whenever said State shall have so amended its constitution as, first, to do away all existing distinctions as to civil rights and disabilities among the various classes of its population by reason either of race or color, or previous condition of servitude; second, to repudiate all pecuniary indebtedness which said State may have heretofore contracted, incurred or assumed in connection with the late unnatural and treasonable war; third, to yield all claim to compensation on account of the liberation of its slaves; and, fourth, to provide for the extension of the elective franchise to all persons upon the same terms and conditions, making no discrimination on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude: Provided, That those who were qualified to vote in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, by the laws of their respective States, shall not be disfranchised by reason of any new tests or conditions which have been or may be prescribed since that year.

SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That after the aforesaid conditions shall have been complied with, and the same shall have been ratified by a majority of the present voting population of the State, including all those qualified to vote under the laws thereof as they existed in eighteen hundred and sixty, a general amnesty shall be proclaimed in regard to all persons in such State who were in any way connected with armed opposition to the government of the United States, wholly exonerating them from all pains, penalties, or disabilities to which they may have become liable by reason of their connexion with the rebellion.

SEC. 3. And be it further resolved, That in view of the importance of the thorough assimilation of the basis of suffrage in the various States of the Union, all other States not above specified shall be respectfully requested to incorporate an amendment in their State constitutions, respectively, corresponding with the one above described.

SEC. 4. And be it further resolved, That in the adoption of the aforesaid resolutions it is not intended to assert a coercive power on the part of Congress in regard to the regulation of the right of suffrage in the different States of the Union, but only to make a respectful and earnest appeal to their own good sense and love of country, with a view to the prevention of serious evils now threatened, and to the peaceful perpetuation of the repose, the happiness, and the true glory of the whole American people.

• S. Res. 48 (introduced on 1866-03-17 00:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e740122) [This document]

• S. Res. 48 (introduced on 1866-03-17 00:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e740122) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]