The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-01-28
Washington city, January 18, 1869.

The following are the changes in the pro-
posed Virginia constitution which the COM
mittee will ask Congress to enact:
H. R. 1,485-Bill entitled can act pre-
viding for an election in Virginia"
Amendments suggested for the considera
ton Of the Senate Committee Of the Judicl-
airy
First amendment-Strikeo out the whole Of
the first section after tie enacting clause, and
insert in lieu, hereof three sections, as follow :
That the State of Virginia shall be enti-
tied and admitted to representation in Con-
gress as State of the Union when the ve-
ters of the said State, who at the time of the
election hereinafter provided for shall be reg
istered and qualified as such in compliance
with the acts of Congress known as the re-
construction acts, shall have agreed to and
ratified the constitution adopted by the con-
vention which met in Richmond, Virgin a.,
on the Sd day Of December. a. D. 1867. sub
iect to and in accordance with the conditions
and notifications hereinafter declared and
proposed.
SECTION 2, Had be At further enacted,
That the foregoing section is subject to the
following fundamental conditions precedent,
and shall not take effect until the same aud
each Of them are fully accepted by the voters
of Virginia at the said election:
I. The constitution of said State shall new
cr be so amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen or class of citizens ofthc United States
of the right to vote in said State who are en-
titled to vote by the constitution thereof here
in recognized except as punishment for such
crimes as arc now felonies at common law,
whereof they shall have been duly convicted
under laws equally applicable to all the inhab-
itants of the State: Provided, That any al
teration Of said constitution may be made
with regard to the time and place of residence
of voters.
II. That in the adoption and ratification OF
said constitution there shall be omitted there
from the following parts and provisions there
of, which, in the opinion of the congress, are
unnecessary for the protection of any right,
and tend to rctard and prevent the restoration
of that harmony and goodwill among the
people which are among the chief objects
sought to be attained by the reconstruction
acts aforesaid
| |. The provisions for disfranchisement and
disqualification contained in article three,
section one, clause four, aud in section seven
of the same article, and that relating to church
property in article eleven of said constitution
g. The provisions for local organization
government, and police, contained in article
six, sections thirteen to twenty-one inclusive
those in article seven, and in the two last sent
ences of article eight, section eight.
g. The provisions relating to homestead ano
other exemptions in article eleven, section
one to seven inclusive.
Ill That the limitations upon the power
of taxation for public free schools purpose:
in article eight, section eight, be changed from
five moles to ten miles.
SECTION g. And be At further enacted
That the said constitution, subject to the Sale
fundamental conditions, and with the modif
cations aforesaid, be submitted for ratification
to the voters registered aud qual,fe as aior
said, according to the provisions Of the re
construction acts, on the fourth Thursday o
April 1869. The vote on said constitution
shall be ''for the constitution, subject to tn
fundamental conditions prescribed by Con
gress," or "against the constitution" TIL
said election shall be he'd at the same place
where the election for delegates to said con
vention was held, and under the regulation
to be prescribed by the commanding Genera
Of the military district, and the returns mad
10 him as directed by law.
Second amendment Strike out in section
FIVE, line four, the word September and in
sert June"
Proncscd tie: can act to provide for ad
hitting the State Of Virginia to represents
ton in congress