A Bill to provide for the restoration to the states lately in insurrection of their full political rights.

Whereas, It is expedient that the states lately in insurrection should, at the earliest day consistent with the future peace and safety of the Union, be restored to full participation in all political rights;

And, whereas, the Congress did, by joint resolution, propose for ratification to the legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, an article in the following words, to wit:

"Article—

Section 1. 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.

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State excluding Indians not taxed. But whenever in any State the elective franchise shall be denied to any portion of its male citizens, not less than twenty-one years of age, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation in such State shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens not less than twenty-one years of age.

Sec. 3. Until the fourth day of July, in the year 1870, all persons who voluntarily adhered to the late insurrection, giving it aid and comfort, shall be excluded from the right to vote for Representatives in Congress and for electors for President and Vice-President of the United States.

Sec. 4. Neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation already incurred, or which may hereafter be incurred, in aid of insurrection, or of war against the United States, or any claim for compensation for loss of involuntary service or labor.

Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

Now, therefore,

Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever any one of the states lately in rebellion shall ratify the above recited amendment as required by the Constitution of the United States, the Senators and Representatives of such state shall, after the 4th day of March, 1867, if found duly elected and qualified and after taking the required oaths of office, be admitted into Congress as such; Provided that Senators and Representatives from Tennessee and Arkansas, elected and qualified as aforesaid, shall be admitted into Congress as soon as said states respectively shall ratify said amendment as aforesaid.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That when any state lately in insurrection shall have ratified the foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution, any part of the direct tax under the act of August 5, 1861, which may remain due and unpaid in such state, may be assumed and paid by such state; and the payment thereof, upon proper assurances from such state, to be given to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, may be postponed for a period not exceeding ten years from and after the passage of this act.