Ok. Let’s take a Time Machine to history. When the Idea of Service, public Service, in Government or the Military was considered an Honor. The Amendment is written for those who did not honor their oath. Those who swore an oath as a political leader, or officer in the Military, to support and defend the Constitution. You may have heard of this oath.
The Amendment was written for those who had taken the oath, and then betrayed it by working against the nation.
They had dishonored themselves. They had no right to expect that anyone would accept their honorable oath in the future.
In other words. You lied and betrayed me before. I won’t let you do it to me twice.
Section 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 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 thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Congress could restore the honor of the individual. Congress could decide that the individual was worthy of the honor of service again.
It doesn’t say Pardon which is what would be needed to get rid of a conviction. It doesn’t talk of overturning or forgiving a conviction.
It talks about the tens of thousands who had taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution and then betrayed it.
Our Ancestors didn’t view Political office as a Right. They viewed it as a Privilege. An Honor.
Those who betrayed that Oath. Who demonstrated they had no Honor. Those people did not deserve further Honorable service in the future.
www.archives.gov
