Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-31
The Georgia Reconstruction BILL

THE following is copy Of the Georgia
Reconstruction bill which passed. ~ .he
Senate ON the 18th, and the House on the
21st of December: - - - - =, %
Pea enncted. etc., that the Governor OF
tho state of Georgia be, and hereby is,
o,,tborized and directed forthwith, by proc
1annat;on, TO summon all persons elected
TO- the General Assembly of said State, as
snnears by the proclamation OF George. ".
Mead. General commanding the military
district including the State OF Georgia,
dated June 25, 1868, to appear, on some
certain day to be named in said proclama-
ton. at Atlanta, in said State, ana mere,
mon the General Assembly shall proceed
to perfect its organization in conformity
with the Constitution and laws OF tne
United States, according to the provisions
of this act.
SEC Q. And be it further enacted, that
when the members 80 elected to said Sen
ate and House of Representatives shall be
convened as aforesaid, each and every
member. and each and every person CLAIM
inc tosbe elected as memberof said SEN,
ate or House of Representatives, shall, in
addition to taking the oath or oaths re-
ouired by the Constitution of Georgia,
also take and subscribe and file in the of
fee of the Secretary of State Of the State
of Georgia, one of the following oaths or
afirmations, namely: 6 GA n
az do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the
case NAV BEL that | have never held office
or exercised the duties of Senator or
Representative in Congress, nor been a
member of the Legislature of any State
of the United States, nor held any civil
office erected by law for the administra-
tion of any general law of State, or for the
administration of justice in any State, or
nnder the laws of the United States, nor held
any office in the military or naval service Of
the United States, and thereafter engaged
in insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or gave aid and comfort
10 its enemies, or rendered, except in con-
sequence of direct ply steal force, any sap-
port or aid to any instruction or rebellion
against the United States, nor held any
office under, or given any support to any
government of any kind, organized or act
ing in hostility to the United States, or
Lowing war against the United States. So
help me, God: p Or, ION the pains andpensa-
ties of perjury" as the case may be; or
the following oath or affirmation, VIA
al do solmenly swear Tor affirm as the
case may beg, that have been relieved by
an act of the Congress of the United
States from disability, as provided for in
section three of the Fourteenth Amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States. So help me, God," Tor, on the pains
and penalties of perjury, as the case may
be), which oath of affirmation, when so
filed, shall be entered on record by the
Secretary of State of the State of Georgia,
and said oath or affirmation, or copy of
the record thereof, duly certified by said
Secretary of State, shall be evidence in all
courts and places, and every person claim.
ing to be so elected, who shall refuse, or
decline, or neglect, or be unable to take
one of the said oaths or affirmations above
provided, shall not beadmitted to a seat
in said Senate or House of Representa-
tives, or to participation in the proceed
ings thereof, but shall be deemed ineligi.
BILE to such seats. t-d
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, that
if any person, claiming to be elected to
said Senate or House of Representatives
as aforesaid, shall falsely take either of the
said oaths or affirmations above provided
he shall be deemed guilty Of perjury, ant
shall suffer the pains and penalties there
of, and be tried, convicted and punished
therefor, by the Circuit Court of thu
United States for the district Of Georgia
in which district said crime was committed
and the jurisdiction of said court shall b.
solely and exclusively for. the purpose
aforesaid. f5 IA tx III ~
SEC 4. And be it further enacted, tina
the persons elected as aforesaid, and en-
titled to compose such Legislature, anc
whorshalkcomplye with the provisions o.
this act, by taking one ofithe oaths-o
affirmatiOns above prescribed, shall there
upon proceed in said Senate and House Of
Representatives, to which they have been
elected respectively, to reorganize said
Senate and House of Representatives re
spectively, by the election and qualifica.
ton of the properaOficers of each house,
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, thai
if any person shall, by force, violence, OF
fraud, willfully hinder or interrupt any
person or persons elected as aforesaid
from taking either of the oaths or affirma
tionsypreseribed by this act, OF, from par
ticipation> in the proceedings of said
Senate or House of Representative after
having taken one of said oaths or affirma
tions and otherwise complied with this
act, he will be deemed guilty of a felony
and may be tried, convicted and punished:
therefor by the Circuit or District Cour
Oh the United States for the District q
Georgia in which district said offenst
shall be committed, and shall be punished
therefor by imprisonment at hard labor
Tor not less than two nor more than ter
years, in the discretion of the Court, anC
the jurisdiction of such courts shall b,
sole and exclusive for the purpose afore
said
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, tina
it is hereby declared that the exclusion o
any person or persons, elected as afore
said, and being otherwise qualified from
participation in the proceedings of sal,
Senate or House of Representatives upol
the ground of race, color, or previous con
dition of servitude, would be illegal an,
revolutionary, and is hereby prohibited.
SEC. Z And be it further enacted, tina
upon the application of the Governo
of Georgia, the President. of tn
United States shall employ sdcl
military or naval forces of the Unitet
States as may be necessary to enforce an,
execute the provisions of this act.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted. tina
the Legislature shall ratify the. Fifteenth
Amendment proposed to the Constitution
OF the United States, before the Senator
and Representatives from Georgia are ad
mitted to seats in Congress. 3D., l..
- - 'y'"