Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-01-25
The Senate Virginia Bill.

On Friday, the 21st, after spicy debate,
in which the split in the Radical party be-
came wider and more apparent, the U. s.
Senate passed the Virginia Bill in the ungen-
erous form given below The bill goes back
now TO the House:
An act to admit the State of Virginia to rep
resentation in the Congress of the United
States.
Whereas, The people of Virginia have
framed and adopted a Constitution of State
government, which is Republican and
whereas, the Legislature of Virginia elected
under said Constitution have ratified the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States /; and where
as, the performance Of these several acts in
good faith was a condition precedent to the
representation of the State in Congress /;
therefore.
Be it enacted, &C., That the said State of
Virginia is entitled to representation in the
Congress Of the United States provided, that
before any member of the Legislature of said
State shall take or resume his seat, or any of
fieer of said State shall enter upon the duties
of his office. he shall take and subscribe and
file in the Office of the Secretary of State of
Virginia Tor permanent preservation an oath
in the form following:
IL, do solemnly swear that L have
never taken an oath az a member OF Congress,
or as an officer of the United States, or as a
member Of any State Legislature. or as an ex-
ecutive or judicial officer of any State, to sup
port the Constitution of the United States, and
afterwards engaged in instruction or rebel-
lion against the same, or given aid or comfort
to the enemies thereof So help me Cod
Or such person shall, in like manner, take,
subscribe and file the following oath:
IL, -, do solemnly swear that l have,
by act of Congress of the United States, been
relieved from the disabilities imposed upon
me by the Fourteenth Amendment of the
| Constitution of the United States. So help
me God" Which oath shall be taken before
and certified by any officer, lawfully author
! lied to administer oaths. And any person
who shall knowingly swear falsely In taking
either of such oatLs. shall be deemed guilty
of perjury, and shall DO punished therefore
by imprisonment not less than one year and
not more than ten years, and shall be fined
not less than one thousand dollars and not
more than ten thousand dollars. And in all
trials for any violation of this act the certif-
cate of the taking of either of said oaths, with
proof of the signature of the party accused,
shall be taken and held as conclusive evidence
that such oath was lawfully and regularly adj
ministsred by competent authority.
And provided further, That every such per-
son who shall neglect, for the period of thirty
days next after the passage of this act, to take,
subscribe and file such oath as aforesaid. shall
be deemed and taken, to all intents and pur-
poses, to have vacated his Office.
And provided further, That the State of
Virginia is admitted to representation in Com
gress upon the following fundamental cOndi-
! tons:
That the Constitution Of Virginia shall
never be Sc amended or changed as to deprive
any citizen, or class of citizens, of the United
| States of the right to vote who are entitled to
vote by the Constitution herein recognized,
! except as punishment for such crimes are
| now felOnics at common law, whereof they
shall have been duly convicted under laws
equally applicable to all the inhabitants of
said State; provided, that any alteration of
said Constitution, prospective in its effects,
may be made in regard to the time and place
of residence of voters.
That it shall never be lawful for the said
State to deprive any citizen of the United
| States, on account of his race. color, or pre-
vious condition of servitude. &c, of the right
to hold office under the Constitution and
aud laws of said State, or upon any such
ground, to require of him any other qualificn-
! ton for Office than such as required Of all
other citizens.
That the Constitution of Virginia shall
never be so amended or changed as to deprive
any citizen, or class of citizens, of the United
States of the school rights and privileges Sc
cured by the Constitution of said State.