Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-15
RECONSTRUCTION.
The New Law for Virginia, sEsssisssppi
and Texas.


and Texas.
The following is the full text of
the act authorizing the submission
of the constitutions of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas to vote of
the people and authorising the
election of State officers provided
by said constitutions, and members
Of Congress, as provided:and signed
by the President Saturday :
Be il enacted. etc, That the Prcsi-
dent Of the United States, at such time
as he may deem best for the public in
interest," may submit the constitution
which met in Richmond, Virginia, on
Tuesday, the Sd day of Dec, 1867, to the
registered voters of said State registered
at the date of said submission for ratii.
cation or rejection, and may also submit
to separate vote such provisions of said
constitution as he may deem best, such
vote to be taken either upon each Of the
said provisions alone or in connection
with the other portions of said constitu-
ton, as the President may direct
Sec. 2. That at the same election the
voters of said State may vote for and
elect members of the General Assembly
of said State and ali the officers of said
State, provided for by the said constitu-
ton, and members of Congress; and the
officer commanding the district of Vir-
GINA shall cause the lists of registered
voters of said State to be revised, en-
larged and corrected prior to such elec-
ton, according to law, and for that pur+
pose may appoint such registers as he
may deem necessary; and said elections
shall be held and returns thereof made
in the manner provided by the acts of
Congress commonly called the 'recon-
struction acts.
Sec. 3. That the President Of the
United States may in ike manner SUBJ
NIT the constitution Of Texas to the
voters of said State at such time and in
snch manner as he may direct, either
the entire constitution or separate pros
visions Of the same, as provided in the
first section in this act, to a separate vote,
and at the same election the voters may
vote for and elect the members of the
Legislature and all the State officers proc
vided for in said constitution and mem-
bers of Congress, provided also that no
election shall be held in said State of
Texas for any purpose until the President
so direct.
SEC. 4. That the President of the
United States may in like manner, as
he may deem expedient, direct either
the entire constitution or separate pro-
visions of the same as provided in the
first section of this act, to be submitted
to separate State election to the State
of Mississippi, and at the same election
voters may vote for an elect the members
of the Legislature and all the State
officers provided for in the said cOnstitu-
ton, and members of Congress.
SEC. g. That if either of said cOnstitu-
tons shall be ratified at such elections,
the Legislature of the State so ratifying
elected a. provided in this act, shall
assemble at the capital of said State on
the fourth Tuesday after the official
PRONUNCIATION of such ratification by the
military officer commanding in said
State.
Sec. 6. That before the States of Vir-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas, shall be adj
mitted to a representation in Congress
their several Legislatures, which may be
hereafter lawfully organized, shall ratify
the fifteenth article which has been pro>
posed by Congress to the several States
as an amendment to the constitution of
the United States.
Sect. That the procee lings in any OF
the said States shall not be deemed final
or operate as complete restoration
thereof until their action respectively
shall be approved by Congress.