Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-13
Bill Providing for election.

On Thursday last, the following bill passed
the House of Representatives by vote of l25
to "a:
A BILL authorizing the submission of the con-
situations of Virginia, Mississippi, and Tex
as to a vote of the people, and authorizing
the election of State officers, provided by the
said constitution, and members of Congress-
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House of Re
presentatiues of the United States of America IN
Congress assembled, 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 Conven
the Sd day of December, 1867, to the register
ed voters of said State for ratification or rejec-
ton, and may also submit to separate vote
such provisions of said constitution as he may
deem best
SECTION 2. And be 1t further enacted, That
at the same election the voters OF said State
may vote for and elect members of the General
Assembly of said State, all the officers Of said
State provided for by the said constitution, and
for members of Congress and the officers com
handing the district of Virginia shall cause the
lists of registered voters of said State to be re-
vised and corrected prior to such election, and
for that purpose may appoint such registrars as
he may deem necessary and said election shall
manner provided by the election ordinance a.
dopted by the Convention which framed said
constitution.
| SECTION 3. And be 1t further enacted, 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 such
manner as he may direct, either the entire con-
stitutlon or separate provisions of the same, to
a direct vote; and at the same election the vot-
ers may vote for and elect the members of the
Legislature and all the State officers provided
gress; proDsded, aLso that no election shall be
held in the said State of Texas for any purpose
until the President so directs.
SECTION 4. And be 1t further enacted, That
the President Of the United States may In like
manner re-submit the constitution of Mls,ls-
sippi to the voters of said State at such time
and in such manner as he may direct, either
the entire constitution or separate provisions OF
the same to separate vote; and at the same
election the voters may vote for and elect mem
bers of the Legislature and all the State officers
provided for in said constitution and members
Of Congress.
SECTION s. And be 1t further enacted, That
if either of the said constitutions shall be ratif-
ed at such election, the Legislature of the State
SO ratifyng elected as provided for in this bill,
shall assemble at the capital of said State re-
spectively on the fourth Tuesday after the Of
fetal PRONUNCIATION of such ratification by the
military officer commanding in the State.
SECTION g. And be at further enacted, That
in either of said States the commanding Gen
eral, subject to the approval of the President Of
the United States may suspend, until the &C
ton Of the Legislatures elected under their con-
situations respectively, all laws that he may
deem unjust and oppressive to the people.
The Senate on Friday amended the above bill
by the addition of the following resolution by
a vote Of 80 ayes to 20 nays:
"Be 1T resolved, &C., That before the States
of Virginia. Mississippi, Texas, and Georgia,
shall be admitted to representation in Congress-
their several Legislatures, which may be here
after lawfully organized, shall ratify the fifteenth
article, which has been proposed to the several
States as an amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States"
In the first section the words registered vot
ers of said States" were stricken out, and the
words ''voters OF said States registered at the
time Of said submission Of the constitution
inserted.
The bill was then passed-ayes, A nays, g.
The bill as thus amended passed the House
of Representatives by the vote Of lO7 ayes tt
80 nays.