But the leaders who, in official position before the war, had solemnly sworn to support the Constitution, were held to be far more guilty than the multitude who followed them.

They deliberately rebelled against a government to which, on their consciences and on their oaths, they had given their personal pledge of fidelity.

The Republicans did not propose to visit even these chief offenders with pains and penalties; but they resolved to place in the Constitution a prohibition upon their holding office under the National government until after two-thirds of both branches of Congress, satisfied of their good intentions, should remove their disabilities.

The Democrats unanimously voted against even this mild discipline to those who precipitated the desperate war, thereby declaring their willingness, if not their desire, that the most guilty should fare as well as the innocent; that for example Mr.Toombs might resume his seat as a senator from Georgia, Mr.Breckinridge as a senator from Kentucky, Mr.
Benjamin as a senator from Louisiana, Mr.Jefferson Davis as a senator from Mississippi.
Still another provision of the Amendment which might prove temporary in its application, or might prove permanent, as the South should decide, was that relating to representation in Congress.

On this point the Republicans held, as has been so often repeated, that the negro should not be included in the basis of representation until he was admitted to suffrage.