The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-25
The New Co...,.u,,on of Virginia.

The Richmond papers contain the new Const-
tuition adopted by the State convention unoer tue
reconstruction laws. IL is thought by many per
sons that the article relating to the elective IRAN
chise is so rigorous and restrictive in character.
extending much further than that passed by Con
gress that it will cause the rejection OF the Con
stituiion. Ii establishes universal suffrage, with
the disqualification OF idiots, lunaucs, persons
convicted of bribery in elections treason, felony,
embezzlement of public funds, or engaging in
duels and also as in section four, which Is as FOL
lows:
Every person who has been a senator or rep
resentative in Congress or elector OF president or
vice president, or who held any office, civil or
military UNDER the United States or under aoy
State, previously having taken the oath as mem
Der of Congress or as so ofncer OF the United
States, or as member OF any State legls AZURE,
or as an executive or judicial officer, shall have
engaged in Instruction or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort TO the enemies
thereof-this clause shall include the following
officers: Governor lieutenant governor, secretary
of State, auditor of public accounts, second
auditor, register of land office, State treasurer,
attorney general, sheriffs, sergeant of city or
town, commissioner OF revenue, county sur
veyOr, constables, overseers Of the poor, CON-
missioner board of publ; works, Judges of the
Supreme Court, judges OF circuit courts, Judges
of court of hustings justices OF county courts,
mayor, recorder, aldermen, cOuncilmen Of a city
OF town, eoroners, escheators, inspectors of to-
bscco, flour, ETC.; clerks of Supreme, district,
circuit and county courts and court OF hustngs,
and attorneys for commonwealth; provided, that
the legislature may, by vote of three-6fths OF
both Houses. remove the disabilities incurred by
this clause from any person included therein by a
separate vote in each case"
The other sections of this article provide that
81 elections shall be by ballot; that office holding
shall be open to all voters that all persons enti
tied to hold Office shall be allowed TO sit as jurors
and that the general assembly shall pass the regis
tratiOn law at the next session.
The oath of Office for all city, county and State
offices is as follows: a" do solemnly swesr (or af'
frm) that | have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States, since have been clti
zen thereof, that have voluntarily given no aid
couDtenance, counsel, encouragement 10 persons
engaged in armed hostility thereto, that have
never bought nor accepted, nor attempted to ex'
erclse the functions of any office, whatever, under
any authority or pretended authority, in hostility
to The United States, that have not yielded a
voluntary support 10 any pretended government
authority power or constitution within the United
States hostile or Dimical thereto aud do further
swear Tor sffirm) that, to the best of my know
ledge ard ability. | will support and defend the
Constitution Of the United States against all enc
mics, foreign and domestic; that will bear true
faith and allegiance 20 the same that take thi:
obligation freely. without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion; and that | will wei
and faithfully discharge the duties of the Office
on which / am about to enter. So help me
God"
II is provided that disabilities under this oatt
may be removed by three-ftths vote of the as
sembly, bnt state officers must also take the fol
lowing osth
81 sclemnly swear or affirm that I will support
and maintain the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and Constitution and laws of the
State of Virginia. that | recognize and accep
civil and political equality of all men before
laws, and that will faithfully perform the duty
Of - to the best OF my ability. So help me
God"