The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-11
Mr.. Paira's Bill,


PA,Ni.'s bill for rcconstrTcting Virginia Gn-
troIuccd yesterday although as yet it has
received no endorsement even from COM
m:ttcc, rnuch less from Congress. Mr..
raIEr is al influential member Of the Re-
construction Committee, and we believe that
Ills hill contains just about the conditions
which will be IMPOSED upon us by Con-
grcSS.
E.Whercas the President Of the United
States, on the 9Th day Of July, 1869, at an
election for the ratification or rejection OF
the Constitution Of tie State Of Virginia,
did, hy virtue OF an act approved April ~,
1869. submit 70 y separate vote OF the
electors Of said state fine seventh section OF
the ,hrd article Of said Constitution, which
required the members of the General AS
scm!l!v and certain other officers Of said
State 10 take and subscribe the oath or al
frration prescribed in the act OF July 2,
1862. for officers of the United States, and
said r2ction was rejected, and no provision
remains in said Constitution requiring
the members Of tic General Assembly or
other officers to take an oath or affirmation
OF eligibility under the third section
of the fourteenth amendment OF the Con-
s;itution of the United States; and whereas
br virtue Of authority conferred by
tie said ~; OF April 10, 1869, the General
Assembly Of Virginia has duly ratified the
vyo;uycd fifteenth amendment Of the Con-
stitu,ion Of the United States and whereas
sad General Assembly has, without express
authority Of law, but i'll accordance with
the opinion Of the Acknowledgement Of the
Uoi.el States, aud by permission Of the
conm4r,ler Of the military district of Nir-
yin;a, chosen senators to represent the said
STATE in the Congress OF the United States;
therefore,
- &c Il enacted iy the Senate and House
fRcnrcScntdtircS Of II" tni!ed States OF
.ifRcricn IN Congress Assembled, That the
State OF Virginia is entitled and admitted
to representation iii Congress as . State of
,hc Onion. upon the following fundamental
conditions:
"Fi.s; That hereafter all members of
ihc General Assembly, and all executive,
administrative, and judicial officers of said
State, snail, before entering upon the du-
ties q their respective Offices, take and
subscribe one OF the following oaths or
rinations-uamcly Il do solemnly
swear Ter affirm, rs the case may be,) that
have never held the Office or exercised the
duties OF senator or representative In
Congress, nor been Il member Of the Legis
lutirc ui any State Of the United States,
Nor lcld any civil Office created by law for
The administration Of any general law Of Il
Stale, or for the administration Of justice
in ANY State or under the laws Of the United
States, nor held any Office i'll the military
or naval service Of the United States, and
thereafter engaged in instruction or re-
Eellion AGAINST the United States, or gave
uil or comfort to its enemies, or rendered,
EXCEPT in consequence of direct physical
force, any support or aid to any insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the United States,
nor held any office under or given any sup
port TO any Government of any kind organ
ICED or acting in hostility to the United States
or levying war against the United States.
So help me, God. (Or on the pains and
penalties of perjury, as the case may be.r
Or the following oath or affirmation
namely: 9 do solemnly swear Tor affirm,
as the case may be,) that / have been re-
lieved by On act Of the Congress of the
United States from disabilities as provided
for BY section three of the fourteenth amend
mcnt to the Constitution of the United
States. SO help me God. (Or on the pains
and penalties of perjury, as the case may
bc.)' And upon falsely taking either of
said oaths or a!lirmations shall be deemed
guilty Of perjury, and shall suffer the pains
and penalties thereof; and may be tried,
CONVICTED, and punished therefor by the
circuit court of the United States for the
district in which said crime Was commit
ted.
"Sccond, That the Constitution Of said
State shall never be so amended or changed
as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens
Of the United States Of the right to vote or
hold Office in said State, who are entitled to
vote or bold Office by the Constitution thereof
herein recognized, except as q punishment
for such crimes as are now felonies at COM
mon law, whereof they shall have been duly
convicted, under laws equally applicable to
all the inhabitants of said State, or to de-
priyc any citizen, or class of citizens, on nc
count of race, color, or previous condition of
seryituda, OF the right to sit upon juries, or
to an equal participation in the school fund
or Echool privileges, as recognized 10y SAID
Constitution: ProUided, That any altera-
ton Of such Constitution may be made with
regard to The time and place OF residence Of
voters.
tTliird. That all persons who shall. at
the time when said Constitution shall take
effect, hold any executive, administrative,
or judicial Offices by the appointment on au-
shorty OF tue district commander, shall
continue to discharge the duties of their
respective Offices until their successors, or
those upon whom such duties shall under
said E Quslituti9a deyolvc, are duly chosen
or appointed and qualified,
fourth. That said General Assembly
shall meet on the -- Wednesday Of -,
1870, and after the members thereof shall
have taken and subscribed one Of the said
oaths or afirma.ions, shall, by solemn
public act, declare the assent Of said State