The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-17
AN ACT to admit the State of Mississippi
to representation in the Congress of the
United States.

AN ACT to admit the State of Mississippi
to representation in the Congress of the
United States.
Whereas the people of Mississippi have
framed and adopted a constitution of State
government which is republican; and
whereas the legislature of Mississippi elect
ed under said constitution have ratified the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution OF the United States; and
whereas the performance of these several
acts in good faith was a condition prece-
dent TO The representation of the State in
Congress Therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That the
said State Of Mississippi Is entitled to repre-
sentation 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 officer of said State
shall enter upon the duties of his Office, he
shall take, and subscribe, and file in the Of
flee of the Secretary of State of Mississippi,
for permanent preservation. an oath in the
form following: Il, do solemn
ly swear (or affirm that have never taken
an oath as member of Congress, or as an
officer of the United States, or as a 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 engaged in insurrection or re-
belliOn against the same, or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof so help me
God :" or under the pants and penalties of
perjury, Gas the case may be;) or such per-
son shall in like manner take. subscribe, and
file the following oath: "I.---, do
selemnly swear (Or affirm that l have. by
act of Congress of the United States, been
relieved frOm the disabilities imposed upon
ne by the fourteenth amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, SO help me
Cod" or under the pains and penalties of
perjury, Gas the case may be) which oaths
(or affirmations) shall be taken before and
certified by any officer lawfully authorized
to administer oaths. And any person who
shall knowingly swear Tor affirm) falsely in
taking either of such Oaths (or atfirmatiOns.)
shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and shall
be 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 certificate of the
taking of either OF said oaths, (or affirma-
tions) with proof of the signature
of the party accused, shall be TAX
en- and held as conclusive evidence that
such oath Tor affirmatiOn) was regularly
and lawfully 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 (or affrmation) as aforesaid, shall be
deemed and taken, to all intents and purpO-
ses, to have vacated his office! And provi-
ded further, That the State of Mississippi is
admitted to representation in Congress as
one of the States of the Union upon the fol-
lowing fundamental conditions: First
hat the Constitution of Mississi ppi shall
never be so amended or changed as to de-
prive any citizen or class of citizens of the
United States of the right to vote who are
entitled to vote bv the Constitution herein
recognized, except as a punishment for such
crimes as are now felonies at common law.
whereof they shall have duly convicted UNI
der the laws equally applicable to all the in
habitauts of said State. Provided, that any al
teration of said Constitution, proscriptive in
its effects. may be made in regal d to the
time and Mace of residence of voters. Sec
ond, That it shall never be lawful for the
said State to deprive any citizen of the Unit
ed StPtes, on account of his race, color, or
previous condition of servitude, of the right
10 hold office under the constitution and
laws of said State, or upon any such ground
to require of him any other qualifications for
office than such as arc required of all other
citizens. Third, That the constitution of
mississippi 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 secured by the consti-
tuition OF said State.
Approved, February % 1870.