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 legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, shall be valid as part of said Constitution, viz:
ARTICLE —.
Representatives and direct taxes [-e888998]shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective[-e888998] numbers of male citizens[+e888998], counting the whole number[-e888998] of the United[+e888998]persons in each[-e888998] States therein above the age of twenty-one years having[+e888998], excluding Indians not taxed: Provided, That whenever[-e888998] the qualifications requ[+e888998]elective franch[-e888998]isit[+e888998]e for electors of the most numerous branch of the[+e888998]shall be denied or abridged in any[-e888998] State Legislature, and direct taxes sh[+e888998]on account of race or color, [-e888998]all be apportioned among[+e888998]persons of[-e888998] such States according to the va[+e888998]race or color shall be exc[-e888998]lud[-e888998]ed[-e888998] o[+e888998]f all p[+e888998]roperty[+e888998]m[-e888998] the basis of [-e888998]representat[-e888998]io[-e888998]n.