The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-04-01
Special Dispatch 10 the Enquirer'I
B.tIer,s Georgia Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 80, 186.

The Reconstruction committee to-
dav Inv a strict party vote, agreed to
ranort The Georgia bill, offered by But
ier The preamble recites that as the
LEGISLATURE of said State has refused to
nuTge itself of the members who are
Isuch in violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment, and that majority OF the
! sgislature-in violation ofthe Federai
Constitution aud that Of the State, and
of the fundamental principles upon
which Congress consented to the resto'
ration of said State-eXpelled from the
Legislature qualified members Thereon
on the sole ground that they were OF
African blood, and admitted thereto
other persons not receiving majority
of the votes in their places, and that
in consequence of protection not be-
| ing afforded to the lives, Liberties
and property of people, whereby 1T ap-
pears that the people of Georgia have
! not complied With, or confirmed to, the
resolutions under which they were re-
stored, be il enacted, &c, that the Leg
islature originally elected, including
negroes, shall reasse mble, and every
person claiming to be elected shall sub
scribe TO the oaths of Office prescribed
by law for officers of the United States
ard by the Constitution and laws of
Georgia; but members disqualified by
the Fourteenth Amendment, whose dis
abilities have not been removed shall
be regarded as ineligible; aud false
swearing may be punished ss perjury,
under the United States laws before the
District Court
#TTba tbi irl Santinn HRaiaraa TN. a~,ul
sion Of negro Senators as void.
The forrth section enacts that whose
ever shall exercise the duties of any of
fee, Legislative, Judicial, Executive or
Administrative, being disqualified by
reason of participation in the rebellion,
direct or indirect, unless his disabilities
have been removed by Congress, shall,
on conviction, be punished by imprison-
ment of no less than one year nor more
than five, and be forever disqualified
from holding any Office of honor or
profit under the laws of the United
States.
The bill provides for keeping United
States troops in the State to carry this
act into full execution; and the military
officers shall respond to the demand of
the Governor for aid aud assistance in
the administration of the Government,
and the protection of life and property,
and the administration of justice in said
State.
I 4 PROTEST AGAINST THE BILL.
4 Georgia delegation, headed by Col
onel Bryan, formerly of the Federal ar
my, was heard by the committee on the
Georgia question. Mr.. Bryan said he
opposed this bill aud the general poll
cy of the Radicals in Congress in refer.
ence TO Georgia, which if carried out,
would, in his opinion, make second
Poland or second Ireland of the State.
He said that the people of Georgia, in
clsding rebels, were well disposed and
desired harmony, but the mischievous
legislation proposed would not only
overthrow the Republican party in the
State, but drive the people to despera-
tion, and none could foretell the disas-
ters 10 follow. He censured Governor
Bullock, to whom he attributed the de-
feat of the Fifteenth Amendment in the
Georgia Senate, and added that if uu-
limited power was placed in his hands =.
as proposed by this bill, incalculable |
injury would be done to the State and |
country.