Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-26
Washington city, January 10, 1869.

The following are the changes in the propos-
ed Virginia constitution which the committee
will ask Congress to enact:
Ii. r. l ,4S5-BilI entitled San act providing
for an election in Virginia. y
Amendments suggested for the consideration
Of the Senate Committee of the Judiciary:
First amendment-Strike out the whole of
the first section after the enacting clause, and
insert In lieu thereof three sections, as follows
That the State Of Virginia shall be entitled
and admitted to representation in Congress as
State of the Union when the voters of the
said State, who at the time of the election here
matter provided for shall be registered and
qualified as such In compliance with the acts Of
Congress known as the reconstruction acts, shall
have agreed to and :atifed the constitution
dopted by the convention which met in Rich
mond, Virginia, on the Sd day of December
A. ID. 1867, subject to and in accordance with
the conditions aud notifications hereinafter dc
clared and proposed.
SECTION 2. and be 1t further enacted, That
the foregoing section is subject to the following
fundamental conditions precedent, and shall
not take effect until the same and each of them
are fully accepted By the voters of Virginia at
the said election: s.a
l. The constitution Of said State shall never
be SO amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen or class Of citizens Of the United States
of the right to vote in said State who are entitl
ed to vote by the constitution thereof herein
recognized except as a 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 inhabit-
ants of the State: P'Ocided, That any altera-
ton of said constitution may be made with re
gard to the time and place Of residence of vo-
tiers.
Ii. That in the adoption and ratification Of
said constitution there shall be omitted there
from the following parts and provisions thereof,
which, In the opinion Of the congress, are un-
necessary for the protection Of any right and
tend to retard and prevent the restoration of
that harmony and good will among the people
which are among the chief objects sought to be
attained by the reconstruction acts aforesaid
viz,
l. The provision for disfranchisement and
disqualification contained in article three sec
ton one, clause four, and in section seven Of the
same article and that relating to church pro-
perty in article eleven of said constitution.
g The provisions for local organization. 90
vernment, and police, contained in article six,
sections thirteen to twenty-one inclusive, those
in article seven, and in the two last sentences
of article eight, section eight.
l. ). The provisions relating to homestead and
other exemptions in article eleven, sections one
to seven inclusive.
III. That the Limitations upon the power of
taxation for public free school purposes in article
eight, section eight, be changed from Eve mills
TO ten mills
SECTION 3. Had be 1t further enacted, That
the said constitution, subject to the said tunda-
mental conditions, and with the notifications
aforesaid, be submitted for ratification to the
voters registered and qualified as aforesaid ac
cording to the provisions Of the reconstruction
acts, on the fourth Thursday of April, 1867
The vote on said constitution shall be ''for the
constitution, subject to the fundamental combs
ton prescribed by Congress, or against the
constitution. The said election shall be held
at the same places where the election for de
legates to said convention was held, and under
the regulations to be prescribed by the COM
fnauding General of the military district and
/ the returns made to him as directed by law.
Second amendment: Strike out in section
five, line four, the word September" and H.
sert June"
Proposed title: An act to provide for ad-
hitting the State of Virginia representation in