New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-01-25
Q F. FL Q / "A L.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the Second SessAon ofthe Forty.
First Congress.
[PBBLIo-No. IL
AN ACT to promote the Reconstruction OF
the State of Georgia.

AAS Dlbt0 vi NeO1Blh,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled, That the
governor Of the State of Georgia be, and
hereby is, authorized and directed, forth
with, by proclamation, to summon all per.
sons elected to the general assembly OF said
State, as appears by the proclamation of
George e. Meade, the general commanding
the military district including the State of
Georgia, dated June twenty fifth, eighteen
hundred and sixty eight to appear on some
day certain, to be named in said proclama-
ton, at Atlanta, in said State; and thereupon
the said general assembly Of said State shall
proceed to perfect its organization in con-
formity with the Constitution and laws of
the United States, according to the pro.
visions of this act.
SEE g. And be it further enacted, That
when the members so elected to said senate
and house of representatives shall be con-
vened, as aforesaid, each and every member
and each and every person claiming TO be
elected as member of said senate or house
Representatives shall, in addition to taking
the oath or oaths required by the constltu-
ton of Georgia, also take and subscribe and
file in the Office of the secretary of state of
the State of Georgia one Of the following
oaths or afhrmatiOns, namely: Il do solemn
ly swear (Or affirm, as the case may be) that
have never held the office, or exercised the
duties of, a senator or representative in
Congress, nor been a member of the legisa.
ture of any State of the United States, nor
held any civil Office created by law for the
administration OF any general law of State,
or for the administration of justice in any
State or under the laws of the United States
nor held any office in the military or naval
service of the United States, and thereafter
engaged in instruction or rebellion against
the United States, or gave aid or comfort TO
its enemies, or rendered, except in conse.
quence of direct physical force, any sup
pert or aid, to any instruction or rebellion
against the United States, nor held any
office under, or given any support to, any
government Of any kind organized or acting
in hostility to the United States, or levying
war against the United States. So help me
God, Cor on the pains and penalties OF per-
jury, as the case may be.)" Or the follow
ing oath or affirmation, namely: II do sol
EMMY swear Tor affirm, as the case may be)
that have been relieved, by an act of the
Congress of the United States, from dsabih-
ty as provided for by section three of the
fourteenth amendment to the Constitution
of the United States. So help me, God, Cor
on the pains and penalties OF perjury, as the
case may be }" 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, or a copy of
the record thereof duly certified by said sec
rotary of state, shall be evidence in all
courts and places. And every person claim.
ing 10 be SO elected, who shall refuse or de-
cline or neglect or be unable to take one of
said oaths or atfrmations above provided,
shall not be admitted to a seat in said senate
or house of representatives, or to partici.
patton in the proceedings thereof, but shall
be deemed ineligible to such seats.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if
any person claiming to be elected to said
senate or house of representatives., az afore-
said 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 punished therefor by
the circuit court Of the United States for the
district of Georgia, in which district said
crime was committed; and the jurisdiction
of said court shall be sole and exclusive for
the purpose aforesaid.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That
the persons elected, as aforesaid, and euti-
tied to compose such legislature, and who
shall comply with the provisions of this act,
by taking one Of the Oaths or affirmations
above prescribed, shall thereupon proceed,
in said senate and house of representatives
to which they have been elected respectively,
to reorganize said senate and house of repre-
sentatives, respectively, by the election and
qualification of the proper officers of each
house.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if
any person shall, By force, violence, or fraud,
willtully hinder or interrupt any person or
persons elected as aforesaid from taking
either the oaths or affirmations prescribed
by this act, or from participating in the pro-
ceedings of said senate or house Of repre-
sentatives, after having taken one of said
oaths or affirmations, and otherwise com
piled with this ACT, he shall be deemed
guilty of felony, and may be tried convict.
ed, and punished therefor by the circuit or
district court of the United States for the
district OF Georgia, in which district said
offense shall be committed; and shall be
punished therefor by Imprisonment at hard
labor for not less lhaE two nor more than
ten years, in the discretion Of the court,
and the jurisdiction of said courts shall be
sole and exclusive for the purpose afore-
said.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it
is hereby declared that the exclusion of any
person or persons elected as aforesaid, and
being otherwise qualified, from participation
in the proceedings OF said senate or house of
representatives, upon the ground of race,
color or previous condition of servitude,
would be Illegal and revolutionary, and is
hereby prohibited.
SEC. I. And be it further enacted, That
upon the application of the governor of
Georgia, the President 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 acts
SEC. s. And be it further enacted, That the
legislature shall ratify the fifteenth amend.
ment proposed to the Constitution OF the
United States before senators and represent
stiyes from Georgia are admitted to seats in
Congress.
J. @. BLAINE,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Vice President of the United States and
President Of the Senate.
Approved, December %, 1869.
U. s. GRANT.