Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-09-19
RICHMOND WING.
TUESDAY noRNlNe...~.sEPr,ls. 1865
mEMsEasHrs or THE LEeIsLATukE.
ncaxOsD; Sept Jan, 1855.


To ths EtitOr q the WAigs
There Is goat misappEshension among ne
voters Of this city IN regardrto the oath required
10 he token by the members Of the Eext Legisia-
ture. These erroneous Views are caicuistsa ~
embarrsss electors in their sofrages, and % MI
nate against our mnaic pal interests Atleielo.e
tank Il highly proper and necessary INA, ~
shoald correct them IN your Wiaey y. u,
joarnal either By giving The oath itseM % ..s
pablic, or such 4 commentary Is viii iLlsLs .s.
is provisons or what, perhaps Woqla IS
to present both. lNVoi
The second paragraph Of the third article
of the Consultation contains the following
provision t
:, Bot no person shsn hold oiaes 9rdes sals
: couslituti9n who has held oi1ee nnoer tHe ~
eailed Confederate Government, or under any re
ba1lious state Govern ent, or who has been
member of ths 80 called Confederate C0ngreSs, %
a member of any state Legislature N rsoeuion'
arain3t the authority OF the United states OK
cepting thezsfrom comfy oneers'
This provision OF the Constitution remains
in force, except as TO militia officers VINO
ceased to be- such prior to July, 1862 But
By the proclamation of the Governor, issued
in accordance with an act Of the Legislature
at its last session, the people are authorized
30 confer on the Legislature, to be elected IN
October, the power to rescind this provision
and thereby remove the disability it imposes.
Until this shall have been done, and the oath
ofof6ce, which forms part of the same article,
shall have been modified, no person Will be
allowed to take a seat in the Legislature
without swearing as follows:
II do solemnly swear (or affirm that will sup,
mort the Constitution OF the United states ana
the laws made in pursuance Thereon ss me 81
Law of the land ANYTHING in the constitution ana
laws of the state Of Virginia or in the ordinances
of the convention which assembled 81 Richmond
on the 18Th Of February, 1861, to the contrary
notwitbsta nding and that viii uphol' ana Ie-
f.nd the GoyerLmen. Of Virginia, as restored %
the convention which assembled AZ NneeiIns On
The 18th day OF June, 1861 and that have not
since the LIST day OF January, 1864, voluntarily
given aid or assistance n any way, TO those IN re-
6eIli0n against the Government OF the United
states, for the purpose OF promoting the same
We learn that there are candidates now in
the field for the Legislature who admit their
inability TO take this oath, but who rely upon
the probability Of its being altered, and the
other disabilities being removed, and who do
not Intend, if elected, to present themselves
at the clerks desk until these things have bee
done. The danger in this course is, that so
many such persons may be elected that the
Legislature will be without a quorum, and
the alterations cannot be made at all, at least,
not until sufficient number Of persons so
elected could be induced to resign and new
elections be held. This would delay the le-
gisla,ion of which the State stands 50 much in
need, aud would be, besides, sorry report
to 20 to Washington just at the time that our
Representatives will be seeking admission
into Congress.
The safest way will be for the people, to
elect men who can take the oath, where any
such, at all suitable in other respects, eau
be found.