31

member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or
as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or
judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies there-
of. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House,
remove such disability.

SECTION 4. The validity of the public debt of the United
States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for pay-
ment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing in-
surrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither
the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any bebt
or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or eman-
cipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations, and
claims shall be held illegal and void.

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

SCHUYLER COLFAX,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

LA FAYETTE S. FOSTER,
President of the Senate Pro tempore.
Attest:

EDWD. McPHERSON,

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

J. W. FORNFY,

Secretary of the Senate.

CORRESPONDENCE

With MAJOR GENERAL O. O. HOWARD Commissioner of the
Bureau of Refugees, &c.} concerning an assault on a freed-
man, with accompanying documents.

ANNAPOPIS, July 20th, 1866.
To Major VAN DERLIP,

DEAR SIR:—A colored man, by the name of Frederick Sharpe,
made complaint before me, on oath, on the 16th day of this