The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-02-02
Virginia Bill.
The following is the Virginia bill as i
passed the Senate

~ 'pHO"'"s ID tue uSiuia OIL, as
. passed the Senate
An act to Admit the State of Virgin
to Representation in the Congress of th
United States. :
4 Whereas, The people Of Virginia hav
framed and adopted Constitution o
State government which is Republican
and -, ,5lI
i Whereas. The Legislature of Virgin,
elected u,der said Constitution has rati
fed the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Constitution Of the Unitet
States and .. l.a.l4
Whereas. The Performance fthe severn
acts in good faith was condition prece
dent to representation of the States ir
Congress therefore
Be ii enacted etc.. That the said State
OF Virginia is entitled to representation in
the Congress OF the United States. Pro
vided. That before any member of the Leg
| islature OF said State shall take or resume
his seat, or any officer of said State shat
ent ar upon the duties of his office, he
shall take and subscribe and file in the
office Of the Secretary of State of Virginia
for permanent preservation, an oath in the
form following
81 do soiemhly swear that have never
taken on oath as a member Of Congress, OF
| as an officer of the United Suites, or as a
member of any State Legislature, or as an
executive or judicial officer Of any State, to
sup;2o the Constitution of the United
States, and afterwards engaged in insurrec-
ton 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 file the following
oath:
"I,---do solemnly swear that have
by act of the United States, been relieved
FROM the disabilities imposed upon me by
the Fourteenth Amendment of the Consti-
tuition oc the United States, SO help me
God"
Which oath shall be taken before and
certified by any officer lawfully authorized
to administer oaths, and any person who
shall knowingly swear falsely IN taking
either of such oaths, shall be deemed guilty
of perjury, and shall be punished therefor
by imprisonment not less than one year
aud not more than ten years, and shall be
fined not es- than $1,000 and not more
than $4,000; aud all trials for any viola.
ton OF this act the certificates Of taking
of either of said oaths. with proof of sig
nature OF either party accused shall be
taken and held as conclusive evidence that
such oath Was lawfully and regularly ad-
mlnistered by competent authority.
And provided further That every such
person who shall neglect for period of
thirty days next alter the passage Of the
act to take, subscribe and file such OATH as
aforesaid, snail be- deemed and taken to all
lntents and purposes to have vacated his
nfiice; lind prouided farther, That the
State of Virginia is admitted to represen-
tatlon in Congress upon the following
fundamental conditions That the Con.
stitution of Virginia shall never be SO
amended or changed Us to deprive any citi-
zen or class Of citizens Of the United
states OF the right to vote, who are entitled
to vote by the Constitution herein recog-
n'zed, except as punishment for such
crimes as are now felonias at common law,
whereof they shall have been duly convic.
ted under laws equally applicable to all The
inhabitants of said State : Provided That
any alteration of said Constitution, pro-
scrip'ive in its eff>c,s, may be made in re.
gard to the time and place of residence of
votes. That it shall never be lawful for
said State to deprive any citizen of the
United States, on account of his rnce.
color, or previous condition of servitude.
OF the right to hold Office ulder the con-
sttution and laws OF said State, or upon
any such ground to require of him any
other qualification for Office than such as
is required of all other citizens that the
Constitution of Virginia shall never be so
amended or changed as to deprive any citi-
Zen On class Of citizens Of the United
SUITES of the school rights and privileges
secured by the Constitution Of said
State. ,