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A MEMBER OF WASHINGTON'S FAMLY OPPOSES THE 14TH AMENDMENT
LITTLETON QUINTER WASHINGTON (1825 - 1902), a member of a branch of the Washington family of Virginia, noted newspaper correspondent and writer on political affairs in Washington, DC. During the Civil War he was chief clerk of the Department of State for the Confederacy, known as Col. Washington. Very fine content A.L.S. 10 pp. 8vo, Washington, Jul. 18, 1869 to newspaper editor and Pennsylvania Representative R.J. Haldeman with pertinent commentary opposing the Fourteenth Amendment. Washington writes, in small part "...The 3rd section of the 'Seward' or 14th Constitutional Amendment reads as follows: see 3. No person shall be a senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, 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 & comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability...Every person elected or appointed to any office of honor or profit under the Government of the United States, either in the civil, military or naval departments of the public service, excepting the President of the United States, shall, before entering upon the duties of such office and before being entitled to any of the salary or emoluments thereof [sic], take & subscribe the following oath of affirmation: 'I A.B. do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States and I have been a citizen thereof [sic]; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereof; that I have neither sought nor accepted nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power or constitution within the United States...The negroes can all take the oath though they all gave 'countenance'... Now as to the Whites of the 11 states which comprised the Confederacy?...When Mr. Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 to invade the South all differences of opinion in the South vanished. Still, that is to say 499 out of every 500 men became supporters of the Confederate government...The number of persons reached by this 14th Amendment is [I estimate] 20,000 in Virginia, 20,000 in North Carolina, South Carolina 12000, Georgia 20,000, Florida 3000, Alabama 15,000, Mississippi 12,000, Louisiana 12,000, Tennessee 12,000, Texas 8000, Arkansas,6000 making in all 138,000 besides about 20,000 more in Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia & Maryland. It is especially noteworthy that this 14th Amendment is applicable not only to Federal but to all State officers & is so made as to comprehend all who have ever held any public employment however small...The result is to deny us the services of all the experienced men...I have written hurriedly & imperfectly; but all this is merely intended to be suggestive & can be much improved on by the Committee..." Light crease with very minor foxing to first page, minor marginal wear, else very good to fine condition.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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