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Message to Congress

PDF Format
Message
to Congress
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U.S.
Constitution
14th Amendment
The
Amendment
That Never Existed
Ulysses S. Grant's First
Message to Congress
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Comment
". . . Seven States
which passed ordinances of secession have been fully restored to
their places in the Union. The eighth (Georgia) held
an election at which she ratified her constitution, republican
in form, elected a governor, Members of Congress,
a State legislature, and all other officers required.
The governor was duly installed, and the legislature met and
performed all the acts then required of them by the
reconstruction acts of Congress. Subsequently,
however, in violation of the constitution which they had
just ratified (as since decided by the supreme court
of the State), they unseated the colored members of
the legislature and admitted to seats some members who are
disqualified by the third clause of the
fourteenth amendment to the Constitution --
an article which they themselves had contributed
to ratify. Under these circumstances I would
submit to you whether it would not be wise,
without delay, to enact a law authorizing
the governor of Georgia to convene the members
originally elected to the legislature, requiring each member to
take the oath prescribed by the reconstruction acts, and
none to be admitted who are ineligible under the
third clause of the
fourteenth amendment. . . . ." |
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