Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-29


Houses Of Congress, has gOn 9 to
the President for his signature,
by which Virginia will be restored
to the Union. Il is a most vile
and unnecessary breach Of faith
on the part Of the Radical Con
gress
An Act to admit the State of Vir-
ginia TO representation in the
Congress OF the United States {:
Whereas, The. people Of Vir.
ginia have framed and adopted q
Constitution of State govern
ment, which is republican ; and
Whereas, The Legislature Of
Virginia, elected under said Con-
stitutiOn, have ratified the Four.
teenth and Fifteenth amendments
to the Constitution of the United
States and
Whereas, The performance of
the several acts in good faith was
a condition precedent to the rep
resentation Of the State in Con.
gress;
Therefore, he it granted, &c,
That the said State OF Virginia is
entitled TO representation in the
Congress of the United States.
Provided, That before any mem
Der of The Legislature of said State
shall take or resume his seat, or
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 Secre.
tary Of State of Virginia for per-
manent preservation, an oath in
the form following:
~ do solemnly swear that l
have never taken an oath as q
member Of Congress, or as q
member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive or judicial off.
eEr of any State, to support the
G institution Of the United States,
md afterwards engaged In insur.
rection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid and comfort to
the enemies thereof. So help me
God"
Or such person shall in like
manner take, subscribe, and file
the following oath
~ do solemnly swear that |
have BY IN act of Congress of the
United States been relieved from
the disabilities imposed on me by
the Fourteenth amendment of the
Constitution of the United States.
So help Inc Cod"
Which oath shall be taken be-
fore 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 gull.
ty of perjury and shall be pun
ished therefor by Imprisonment
not less than one year, and not
more than ten, and shall be fined
not less than $1,000 and not more
$4,000. And in all trials for any
violation of this act the certificate
of the taking of either of said
oaths, with proof of signature OF
either party accused, shall be tn.
ken and held as conclusive evi,
dence that such oath was lawfully
and regularly administered by
competent authority.
And, provided further, That every
such person who shall neglect for
u period of thirty days next after
the passage of this act to take,
and subscribe and file such oath
as aforesaid, shall be deemed and
taken 10 all intents and purposes
TO have vacated his office.
And provided further, That the
State Virginia is admitted to rep
resentation in Congress upon the
following fundamental conditions
That the Constitution of Virgi.
MIA shall never be so amended oil
changed as to deprive any citizen
or class of citizens Of the United
States Of the right to vote, who
are qualified to vote by the Con.
stitution herein recognized, eX.
cept rs a punishment for such
crimes as are now lelonies at com.
mon law, whereof they shall have
been convicted under laws equal
ly applicable to all the inhabitants
OF said State.
Provided that any alteration o.
said Constitution proscriptiyC
sic in its effect, may be made
in regard to time and place of res
idence Of voters.
That it shall never be lawful fol
the same State 10 deprive any
citizen Of the United States OF
account of his race, color, ant
previous condition of servitude
of the right TO hold Office under
the Constitution and laws of sale
State, or upon any such groun(
to require of him any other quail
~ifications for Office than such a'
is required of all other citizens.
That the Constitution of Yir.
ginia shall never be so amended
or changed as to deprive any citi
zen or class of citizens of thC
United States of the school rights
and privileges secured by the Con.