The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-07
The Georgia Reconstruction Bill.

THE following is copy of the Georgia
Reconstruction bill which passed the
Senate on the 18th, and the House on the
21st of December:
Be it enacted, tc., that the Governor of
the State of Georgia be, and hereby is,
authorized and directed forthwith, by proc
lamation, to suInnon all persons elected
to the General Assembly uf eaid State, as
appears by the proclamation of Geotss q
Mead, General commanding the military
district including the State of Georgia,
dated June 25, 1858, to appear on some
certain day to be named in said proclama-
ton, at Atlanta, in said State, and there
upon the General Assembly shall proceed
to perfect its organization in conformity
with the Constitution and laws of the
United States, according to the provisions
of this act
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, that
when the members 50 elected to said Sen
ate and House Of Representatives shall be
convened as aforesaid, each and every
member, and each and every person claim
ing 20 be elected as a member of said SEN
ate or House of Representatives, shall, In
addition to taking the oath or .oaths re-
quircd by the Constitution Of Georgia,
asso take ana subscribe and file IN the OF
fce'of the Secretary of State of the State
of 0tbrgia, one of the following oaths or
Affiliations, namely:
II do solemrfly swear Tor affirm, as the
case may be, that have never held office
for exercised the duties of a Senator or
Representative in Congress, nor been a
member of the Legislature Of any State
of the. UA,ked States, nor held any civil
ofice$rsItedJA Nv. law for the administers
tien OF eSk3ral Jaw of a State, or for the
administration ofjustice in any State, or
Under the lsNeof the United States, nor held
any office& the military or naval service of
| tho United States, and thereafter engaged
/ in sifsdrrection or rebellion against the
United States, or gave aid and comfort
20 its enemies, or rendered, except in con-
sequence ef,direct physical force, any sup
port or aid to my instruction OF 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
levying war against the United States. So
hel o me, God :" Or, ION the painsand penal
ties of perjury" as the case may be; or
the following oath or affirmation, viz:
81 do solmenly swear Tor affirm as the
case may be), 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, OF
decline, or neglect, or be unable to take
one of the said oaths or afflrmations above
provided, shall not be admitted 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
SEC. 3. 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, and
shall suffer the pains and penalties there
{ of. and be tried, convicted and punished
, therefor, by the Circuit Court of the
United States for the district of Georgia
in which district said crime was committed
, and the Jurisdiction Of said court shall bt
solely and exclusively for the purpos'
i aforesaid.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, tina
! the persons elected as aforesaid. and en-
, titled to compose such Legislature, ant
, who shall comply with the provisions o
this act, by taking one of the oaths o
5 aff1rmations above prescribed, shall there
= upon proceed in said Senate and House O
{ Representatives, to which they have bee
, elected respectively, to reorganize sal
4 Senate and House of Representatives re
|, spectively, by the election and qualities
y ton of the proper officers of each house.
t Sec. s. And be it further enacted, tina
g if any person shall, by force, violence, o
fraud, willfully hinder or interrupts an,
l person or persons elected as aforesaid
n from taking either of the oaths or affirins
r tions prescribed by this act, or from pal
: ticipation in the proceedings of sal
Senate or House of Representatives, ate
h having taken one of said oaths or afiirmf
d tons and otherwise complied with thi
d act, he viii be deemed guilty of felon,
d and may be tried, convicted and puniske
v therefor by the Circuit or District Coul
n of the United States for the Distsict {
Il Georgia in which district said offens
4, snail DC COiuuuttcu, ouu nfihu uC puuicuc
I. therefor by imprisonment at hard labc
It for not less than two nor more than te
years, in the discretion of the Court, an
t; the jurisdiction of such courts shall
d sole and exclusive for the purpose afor
said.
/; SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, thi
re it is hereby declared that the exclusion
I'd any person or persons, elected as afor
Ia said and heinp otherwise Qualified fro
Id participation in the proceedings of sa
II, Senate or House of Representatives upc
Tx the ground of race, color, or previous Co
O. dition of servitude, would be illegal al
OF revolutionary, and is hereby prohibited.
~ Sec. Z. And be it further enacted, tn
TO upon the application of the Govern
. OF Georgia, the President Of Il
d. United States shall employ 81,
he military or naval forces of the Unit,
ch States as msy be necessary to enforce o.
nd execute the provisions Of this act.