Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-25
THE VIRGINIA BILL.


The kilograms from Washington last
night inform us that the Reconstruction
Committee of the House have agreed to
report in favor of the Senate bill for the
admission of Virginia, and that the House
will probably pass the bill as itcame from
the Senate. 1t will be remembered that
the measure as it originally passed the
House was a simple preamble and resolu-
tionintroduced by Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio;
the preamble stating that the people of
Virginia having adopted constitution
republican in form, and having
in all respects conformed to the
requirements of the act of April 10, 1869,
authorizing the submission of the Con-
situations of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas to a vote of the people, and author
izing the election of State officers provided
for by said Constitutions and members of
Congress-" it was therefore, Resolved,
That the said State of Virginia is entitled
to representation in the Congress of the
United Statesn
1t will be seen by reference to the Senate
bill, which we publish below, how vast
the changes which have been made by
that body. 1t will be seen that it is bold
ly stated in the preamble that
the ratification of the -Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments
to ;he Constitution of the United States
was condition precedent to the represen-
tation of the State in Congress. 1t will
also be seen by reading the bill that it is
introduced 10 enforce the third section of
the Fourteenth Amendment, and to impose
further conditions, which even the pream-
bic does not assume to have been origin
ally imposed as conditions precedent to the
representation of the State in Congress. We
can but believe that this daring assumption
of Congress will result in the destruction of
the Radical party. The powerful, legal
argument of Judge Trumbull will be read
by his own party, and must have its
effect Already the sblest Radical jour
nails in the North and the West arc
warning their members of Congress of
the dangers ahead if they persist in their
present proscrptiVe policy.
The bill as it passed the Senate is as
follows:
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 rati-
fed the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the 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 resolved. ETC., That the State of
Virginia is entitled to representation in
the Congress of the United States; pro-
vided that before any member of the
resume his seat, or any officer of said State
shall enter upon the duties of his office, he
shall take, subscribe and file in the office
of the Secretary of State of Virginia, for
permanent preservation an oath in the
form following: 81, do sol
EMMY swear that have never taken an
oath as member of Congress, or as an
officer of the United States, or as men,
Der of any State Legislature, or any ex-
ecutive or judicial Office of any State, to
support the Constitution of the United
States, and afterwards engaged in insur-
rection or rebellion 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: 81, --,
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 amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States, so help me Cod" which Oaths
shall be taken before and certified by any
officer lawfully authorized to administer
Oaths. And any person who shall know
ingly swear falsely in taking either of
such Oaths shall be deemed guilty of per-
jury, and shall be punished therefor by
Imprisonment not less than one year nor
more than ten years, and shall be fined
not less than 81 900 and not more than
$4,000 And in all trials for any viola
ton of this resolution the certificate of
the taking of either of said oaths, with
proof of the signature of the party &C
cused, shall be taken and held as COnclu-
sive evidence that such oath was regu-
authority. And provided further, that
every person who shall neglect, for pc
Rod of thirty days next after the passage
Of this resolution, to subscribe and file
such oath as aforesaid, shall be deemed
and taken, to all intents and purposes, TO
have vacated his office; and be it further
provided, that the said State of Virginia
shall not be entitled to admission into the
Union as State except upon the funda-
mental condition that her constitution shall
never be amended or changed as to de-
prive colored citizens of the right to vote
or to hold office under that constitution;
and be it provided further, that the State
of Virginia is admitted to representation
in Congress as one of the States of the
Union upon the following fundamental
condition: that the constitution of
Virginia shall never be 80 amended or
changed as to deprive any citizen, orclass
or citizens, of the United States, of the
right to vote who are entitled to vote by
the Constitution herein recognized, except
as a punishment for such crimes as are
now felOnies at common law, whereof
they shall have been duly convicted under
laws equally applicable to all the inhab-