Litchfield enquirer., 1868-06-18
RESTORATION OF THE SOUTHERN
 STATES


 The following is the "Omribus" bill, so called, as passed by the Senate:-
 An Act to aolnsn Abe States of No'th Casoli- na, Soaah Carolisa, Louisiand, Georgsa, aud Florida 0 representation 1n Congress. Where as the people of North Carolina, South and Florida have, in pursuance of the pro- visions of an act entitled ss An Act for tho more efficient government of the Rebel States" passed March 2, 1867, and the acts supplemental thereto, framed constitutions of State government, which are Repub- lican, and have adopted said constitutions by large majorities of the votes cast at the elections held for the ratification or repeal ing of the same,
 Iherefoae, De it enacted, That each of the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, shall be entitled and admitted to represen- tation in Congress, as State of the Union, when the Legislature. of such State shall have duly ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, propos- ed by the XXXIXth Congress, and known as Article IA. upon the following funda- mental conditions:
 SEC. l. That the Constitution of neither U changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the right to vote in said State who are entitled to vote by the Constitution thereof herein recognized, except as 8 punishment for such crimes as are now felonies at common law, whereof they shall have been duly convicted under laws equally applicable to all the inhabitants of said State; p1ooided, that any alterations of said Constitutions, prospective in its effect, may be made with regard to the time and place of residence of voters; and the State of Georgia shall only be entitled and admitted to represen- tation upon this further fundamental con- dition: That the first and third sub -divis- ions of section IT of the Constitution of said State, except the proviso to the first subdivision, shall be null and void, and that the General Assembly of said State by solemn public act shall declare the as- sent of the State to the foregoing funda- mental condition.
 SEC. 2. That if the day fixed for the first meeting of the Legislature of either of said States by the Constitution or ordinance thereof shall have past, or so nearly arriv- ed. before the passage of this act that there shall not be time for the Legislature to as- semble at the period fixed, such Legisla- ture shall convene at the end of twenty days from the time this act takes effect, un- less the Governor elect shall sooner con- vene the same.
 SEC. 3. That the first section of this act shall take effect as to each State, except Georgia, when such State shall, by its Leg islature. duly ratify Article IA of the amend ment to the Constitution of the United States, proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con- gress; and as to +he State of Georgia, when it shall, in addition, give the assent of said State to the fundamental condition herein before imposed upon the same, and there upon the officers of each State duly elected and qualified under the Consultation there of shall be inaugurated without delay; but no person prohibited from holding office under the United States, or under any State, by section of the proposed amend ment to the Constitution of the United States, known as Article 14 shall be deem- ed eligible to any office in either said States unless relieved from disability as provided in said amendment; and it is hereby made the duty of the President, within ten days after receiving official information of the ratification of said amendment by the Leg islature of either of said States, to issue a proclamation announcing that fact.
 The exception above made against the Georgia Constitution sets aside certain sec- tions relating to ''relief' from debts. As they stood they authorized substantial re- pudiation.