The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-01-28
Friday, January %, 1870.
THE ADMISSION OF VIRGINIA.

mission OF Virginia which passed the
the House on Wednesday last by a
strict party vote. The bill was pass
ed as it came from the Senate:
An ACT to admit the State Of Fi.
ginia to representation in the Con,
gress Of the United States.
Whereas, The people OF Virginia
have framed and adopted a Constitu
tion of State Government which is
republican; and whereas, the LegisIa.
1urc OF Virginia, elected under said
Constitution, have ratified the Four
tccnth and Fifteenth Amendments to
the Constitution of the United States;
and where's, the performance OF
these several acts in good faith was Il
condition precedent to the rcprcscnta-
tion Of the State in Congress; there
fore,
Be it enacted, &c, That the said
State of Virginia is entitled to repre-
scntation in tho Congress OF the Uni
ted States: Provided, That before any
member Of tho Legislature of said
State shall take or resume lis seat, or
any officer of said State shall enter
upon the duties of his Office, he shall
take and subscribe and file in tho Of:
fee Of the Secretary of State of Nir-
ginia for permanent preservation, All
oath in the form following:
d., do solemnly swear that ]
have never taken AL oath as mem
Dor Of Congress or as an officer Of the
United States, or as a Executive or
Judicial officer Of any State, to sup
port the Constitution Of the United
States, and afterwards engaged in in
surrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof so help me God"
Or such person shall in like manner
take, subscribe and flo the following
oath:
d., do solcmnly swear that
have, by act OF Congress Of the Uni,
ted States. been relieved fro,a the dis.
abilities imposed apon mo ny the four
teenth Amendment Of the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, so help me
God" Which oath shall be taken be-
forc and certified by an officer lawful
~ authorized to administer oaths.
And any person who shall knowingly
swear falsely in taking either Of such
oaths shall be deemed guilty of perging
ry, and shall be punished therefor BY
imprisonment not less than ten years,
and shall be fined not less than one
thousand dollars, nor more than ten
thousand dollars. And in all trials
Tor any violation of this act the ccrti-
ficate Of the taking Of either Of said
oaths, with proof Of the signature of
party accused, shall he taken and held
AS conclusive evidence that such oath
was lawfully and regularly admins
tered 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 intcnts
and purposes to have vacated his Of:
fee.
And provided, further, That the
State OF Firg ginia is admitted to rep
rcscntation in Congress upon The fol-
lowing fundamental conditions:
That tho Constitution Of Virginia
shall never be 80 amended or changed
rs to deprive any citizen or class of
citizens Of the United States of the
right to vote who arc entitled to vote
ny the Constitution herein recognized
except as punishment for such crime
as are now teionies at Common law.
whereof they shall have boon duly
convicted under laws equally applica-
bio to oil the inhabitants Of said State
provided that any alteration Of said
Constitution prospective in it's effects
may be mado in regard to tho 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 race.
color or previons condition of scrvi
tude, Of the right TO hold office under
The Constitution aud laws of said
state, or upon any such ground, to re-
qu're OF him any other qualification
Tor Office than snch as required Of all
other citizens.
That the Constitution OF Virginia
shall never be 80 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 Constitution of said State.
The most Objectionable features of
. tho Bill are the conditions which are
contained in tho, Senate's amend.
1nents, nd which prohibit the State
from amcndingits own constitutions!
With regard TO Suffrage and the right
Of holding Office. Mr., Thurman and:
other loading Democrats =" Of the scnr
ate 'deuted very justly tho right Of
Congress to make such condition,
precedent to- tho admission of any
atateI 1T could only :: be' done
tAreagh q Constitutional Am nendshent
thE which some ef tho reser5ed fights
Iqf the States still leA might be taken'
H9n thesssigit taanly iaFthisl way, could
thg Eo4stjtetien ,bs msdeto recognise
such an exercise Of power. But
what ear1s thS RSpebfcan inartv for
'Constthtiosial restsid,ions VII en- .tbev
,opp9se he sqeepHiishnatst of,their
buy Soidfy at6V tEs pa4Sei5ia sss s e TO- To-
} osdhipotdnes of CoxeSesssah@Sg SgasrS srS
ithe aAscks s9Ai dbalan aesnef fttbso1o1nS.
Btitution as the relics Of an effeta .civi
iliEation-tho quintesconce of old TO
gyism.