An amendment to the Constitution of the United States that granted citizenship and equal rights, both civil and legal, to Black Americans, including those who had been emancipated by the thirteenth amendment.
The House of Representatives of the Thirty-Ninth Session of Congress
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Mr. Stevens submits a resolution to have the Committee of Judiciary inquire on the enforcement of law no matter race or color; Mr. Grider submits resolutions that are referred to Joint Committee on Reconstruction; Mr. Stevens reports on H. Res. 51
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing to amend the Constitution of the United States.
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 L[+e738982]l[-e738982]egislatures of the several States,[-e738982] as an amendment to the Constitution of the United Stat,[+e888986]e[-e888986]s;[+e738982],[-e738982] which, when ratified by three [+e738982]-[-e738982]fourths of [-e888986]the said L[+e738982]l[-e738982]egislatures, shall be valid as part of said Constitution, namely[+e738982]viz[-e738982]:
ARTICLE —.
Representatives and direc[-e888986]t taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective nwhich shall be determined by [+e888986]umbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians n[-e888986]ot taxed: Provided, That whenever the elective franchise shall be denied or abridged in any State on account of race or color, all persons of such race or color[-e888986] therein [+e738982]shall be excluded from the basis of repres; and no State within[+e888986]entation[-e888986]: And provided furth[+e738982 -e888986]er, Th[+e738982]Union[+e888986]at this[+e738982 -e888986] articl[+e738982]prescribe or establish any property[+e888986]e shall not be construed to affect the power of Congress to regu[+e738982 -e888986]late the quali[+e738982]s which may or shall in anywise abridge[+e888986]fication for electors of the most numerous branch of the Legisla[+e738982 -e888986]tures[+e738982]electi[+e888986] o[+e738982 -e888986]f [+e738982] f[+e888986]th[+e738982]nchise[+e888986]e severa[+e738982 -e888986]l States[+e738982].