Evening star., 1870-02-05
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF The UNITED STATES,
Passed a. Second Session Of Forty first Congress
OFFICIAL.

State of Georgia.
Be IL enacted ~ the Senate and House of Repre-
ssafdtires Of the Caited States Of America in CON
SresS dsssmbled, That the governor of the State
of Georgia be, and hereby Is, authorized and di-
rected, forthwith, by proclamation, to summon
all persons elected to the general assembly of
said State, as appears by the proclamation of
George q. Meade, the general commanding the
military district including the State of Georgia
uated June twenty-hfth, eighteen hundred and
siNty-eight. to appear on some day certain, to be
named in said proclamation, at Atlanta i'm said
State; and thereupOn the said general assembly
oi sald state shall proceed To perfect Its organi-
Zation IN conformity with the Constitution and
laws Of the nited States, according to the pro-
visions OF this act
SIC. 2. And De 1t further enacted, That when
the M mbcrS so elected to said senate and house
OF representatives shall be convened as afore-
said, each and every member and each and
every person claiming to be elected as a member
OF SAID senate or house of representatives shall.
in addition TO taking the oath or oatls required
by the constitution of Georgia, also take and
subscribe and file in the Office OF the secretary of
state OF the State of Georgia one of the follow
ing oaths or affirmations, namely II do solemn
" swear (Or affirm, the case NAV be) that
have never held the office or exercised the duties
OF, a senator or representative in Congress- nor
been member of the legislature of any State of
the United States, nor held any civil Office ere
ated by law for the administration of any gene
raj law of State, for the administr alton of ius
tice in any state or under the laws of the United
States nor held any office in the military or ma
val service of the United States, and thereafter
engaged In insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or gave aid or comfort to its enc
mics, or rendered, except in conseq uence of ,li-
rect physical force, any support or aid to any
insurrection or rebellion against the United
States. nor held any office under, or given any
support to, any government of any kind Orran-
lied u acting in hostility to the United states.
or leyying war against the United States So
help mt GCd, (or on the pains and penalties of
perjury, as the case may be.)' Or the following
oath or affirmation, namely: al do solemnIy
swear (uT affirm, as the case NAV be, J that
have been relieved, by an act OF the Congress of
the United States, from disability as provided for
by section three of the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution of the United States So helm
me God, (Or on the pains and penalties of perjury
rs the case may bc.)'' Which oath or affirmation
when so filed, shall be entered of record by
the secretary of state of the State Of Georgia,
and said oath or affirmation, a copy of the
record thereof, duly certified by said secretary
OF state, shall be evidence i'm all courts and
places. And every person claiming to he so
elected. who shall refuse or decline or neglect
or be unable to take one of said oaths or affiTma
tons above provided, shall not be admitted to
seat in said senate or house of representatives.
or to participation in the proceedings thereof
but shall be deemed ineligible to such seats
SIC. ). And be a. further enacted That If any
person claiming to be elected to said senate or
house OF representatives, as aforesaid, shall
falsely take either of said Oaths or affirmations
above provided, he shall be deemed guilty OF
perjury, and shall suffer the pains and penalties
thereof; and may be tried, convicted, and pun
ished therefor by the circuit court of the United
States for the district of Georgia. in which lis
trict said crime was committed; and the iuris
dictiOn of said court shall be sole and exclusive
Tor the purpose aforesaid.
SEC. 4. Aad be 1t further enacted, That the per-
sons elected, rs aforesaid, and entitled to com
pose such legislature, and who shall comply
with the provisions OF this act, by taking one OF
the oaths or aftrmatOns above prescribed shal,
proceed, in said senate and house of
to which they have been elected
rospectively. to reOrganiZe said senate and house
r. hy oil
ara qualification OF the proper officers OF each
house.
SIC. 5. And be u further enrcted, That if any
person shall, by force, violence, or fraud, wi!
fully hinder or interrupt any person or person
elected as aforesaid from taking either of the
oath or affirmations prescribed by this act or
from participating in the proceedings of said
senate and house of representatives, after hay-
ing taken one of said oaths or affirmations and
otherwise complied with this act, he shall be
deemed guilty of felony, and NAV be trie, con
ycted, and punished therefor By the circuit or
district court OF the United States for the district
OfGeOrgia, in which district the said ofiense shall
be committed; and shall be punished therefor
by imprisonment at hard labor for not less than
two nor more than ten yea =, in the discretion OF
the court and the jurisdiction of said courts shall
e sole and exclusive for the purpose aforesaid.
SEC. 8. 4nd Le IL further enacted, That il is
hereby declared that the exclusion of any per
sen or persons elected as aforesaid and being
Otherwise qualified, from participation in the
proceedings of said senate or house of renre-
sentatives, upon the ground of race color. or
previous condition of servitude, would be il
legal, and revolutionary, and is hereby pro-
h5ited.
SIC Z. ind be II further enacted, That upon the
application of the governor of Georgia the Pres
ideDt of the United States shall employ such
military or naval forces Of the United States as
may be necessary to enforce and execute the
preceding provisions of this act.
SEC. 8. And be at further enacted, That the
leg gsiature shall ratify the fifteenth amendment
/ ropOsed to the Consultation of the United
sat $ before senators and representatives from
Georgia are admitted to seats i'm Congress
j. u. BLAINE,
Speaker of the House Of Representatives
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Vice President Of the United States and Presi-
dent OF the Senate.
Approved, December %, 1869.
u. S. GRANT.