Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-15
Reconstructiofs.

The following is the full text OF the
act authorizing the submission of the
Constitutions of Virgins, Mississippi ano
Texas to vote of the people. 1t is ap.
proved and signed by the President.
Be il enacted, de-, That the President
of the United States, at such time as he
may deem best for the public interest
may submit the Constitution which
was framed by the Convention which
met at Richmond, Va, on Tuesday, the
Sd day of December, 1867, TO the regis
tered voters of said State registered at
the date of said submission for ratifi-
cation or rejection, and may also submit
to seperate vote such portions of said
Constitution as he may deem best, such
vote to be taken upon each of the said
provisions alone or in connection with
the other portions of the said Constitu-
ton as the President may direct.
SEC. 2. That at the same election the
voters of the said States may vote to
elect members of the General Assembly
of said State, and all the officers of said
State provided for by the said Constitu-
ton, and members of Congress; and the
officer commanding the district of Vir-
ginia shall cause the lists of registered
voters of said State to be revised, en-
largeu and corrected prior to such elect
ion according to law, and for that pur
pose may appoint such registers as he
may deem necessary, and the elections
shall be held and return thereof made
in the manner provided by the acts OF
Congress commonly called the Recon
struction Acts.
Sec. 8 That the President of the
United States may in like manner
submit the Constitution of Texas.
to the voters of said State at such
time and in sue manner as he may di-
rect, either in the entire Constitution,
seperate provisions of the same, as pro-
vided in the first section of this act, to
a seperate vote, and at the same election
the voters may vote for and elect the
members of the Legislature, and all the
State officers provided for ia said Con-
stitution, and members of Congress :
provided, also that no election shall be
held in said State of Texas, for any
purpose, until the President SO directs.
SEC. 4. That the President of the
United States may in like manner, as
he may deem expedient, direct either
the entire Constitution of the same as
is provided i'm the first section of this
act, to be submitted to seperate State
election in the State of Mississippi, and
at the same election voters may vote for
and elect the members of the Legisla-
ture, and all the State officers provided
for in said Constitution, and Members of
Congress.
SEC. 5. That if either of said Consti-
tutions, shall be ratified at such election
the Legislature Of the State so ratifying
elected as provided in this act, shall as
semble at the capital of said State on
the fourth Tuesday after the official pre-
mitigation of such ratification by the
military officer commanding in said
State.
SEC. That before the State of Vir-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas shall be ad
mitted to representation in Congress,
their several Legislatures, which may
be hereafter legally organized, shall
ratify the Fifteenth Article which has
been proposed by Congress to the several
States as an amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
SEC. Z. That the proceedings in any
of the said States shall not be deemed
final or operate as a complete restoration
of the same until their action respect
lively shall be approved by Congress.