The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-02-03
Admission Of Virginia.
AN ACT TO ADMIT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA
TO REPRESENTATION IN THE CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Whereas, The people of Virginia have
framed and adopted Constitution of
State Government which is republican !;
and whereas, the Legislature of Virginia,
elected under said Constitution, have rat
fled the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to tie Constitution of the United
States; and whereas the performance of
these several acts in good faith was
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 tho United States ::
Provided, That before any member of
the Legislature of said State shall take
or resume his seat, or any officer 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, for permanent preservation, an
oath in the form following:
81. -, do solemnly swear that have
never taken an oath as member of Con-
cress or rs an officer of the United States,
or as member of any State Legislature,
or as an Executive or Judicial officer OF
any State, to support the Constitution of
the United States, and afterwards enga-
ged in insurrection or rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the
enomies thereof, so help me God"
Or such person shall in like manner
take, subscribe and file the following oath:
81, -, do solemnly swear that have,
by act of Congress of tho United States,
been relieved from tho disabilities imposed
upon me by the Fourteenth Amendment
of the Constitution of the United States,
so help mo God" Which oath shall be
taken before and certified by an officer
lawfully authorized to administer oaths.
And any person who shall knowingly
swear falsely in taking either of such
oaths shall be deemed guilty of perjury,
and shall be punished therefor by impris-
onment not less than one year and not
more than ten years, and shall be fined
not less than one thousand dollars, nor
moro than ton Thousand dollars. And in
all trials for any violation Of this act the
certificate 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 administered by
competent authority.
And provided, further, That every such
person who shall neglect for the period
of thirty days next after the passage of
this act to take, subscribe and file SUCH
oath rs aforesaid, shall be deemed and
taken to all intents and purposes to have
vacated his Office.
And provided, further, That the State
of Virginia is admitted TO representation
in Congress upon the following funda-
mental conditions
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 right to vote
who arc entitled to vote by the Constitu-
tion herein recognized, except as pun
ishment for such crimes rs are now felo-
MES at common law, whereof they shall
have been duly convicted under laws
equally applicable to all the Inhabitants
Of said State; provided that any atera-
tion of said Constitution prospective in
it's effects may bo made in regard to the
time and place Of residence OF voters.
That it shall never bo lawful for the
said State to deprive any citizen of the
United States, on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude, OF the
right to hold office under the Consttu-
ton and laws of said State, or upon any
such ground, to require of him any othor
qualification for office than such as is re-
ouired of all other citizens. =.
That the Constitution of Virginia shall
nevor he 40 amended or changed as to