Evening star., 1870-01-11

IHE ADMISSION OF NIRGINIA--BILL Rk-
PORTED BY THE RECONSTRUCTION COMMIT
TEE-The Reconstruction Committee held q
meeting this morning, Mr.. Farnsworth, the Sc
nior member of the committee, in the chair, in
the absence of Gen. Butler, and agreed upon
the following bill, which they reported to the
House this morning:
Whereas the people of Virginia have adopted
a constitution, republican in form, and by its
provisions assuring the equality OF right I'm all
Citizens of the United States before the law; ami
whereas the Congress Of the United States hay;
received assurances, and are assured that the
people OF Virginia, and especially those here
tofore in insurrectiOn against the United States,
nave reDounced all claims Of any right OF g.
cession i'm a State, and that they are now well
disposed to the Government of the Unite,i
States, and will support and defend the Cons.
tIuon thereof, and will carry out in letter and
constitution submitted under the reconstruction
acts Of Congress and ratified by the people o.
Virginia Therefore
Be 1t enacted, de-, That the State of Virginia J.,
entitled TO representation in Congress as STATE
of the Union under the Constitution ratified on
the tth day Of July, 1863, upon the following
fundamental conditions:
First. That no person shall hold any Office
civil or military, in said State who shall not
have taken or subscribed one of the following
oaths or affirmations, viZ:-"1 do sOlemnly
swear Tor affirm) that have never taken an
oath as a member of Congress, or as officer OF
the United States, or as q member of any Stat
officer of any State to support the Constitution
Of the United States, and thereafter engaged in
lnsurrectiOn or rebellion against the same, or
gwen aid or comfort to the enemies thereof" or,
Il dosOlemnly swear (Or sffirm) that have been
relieved from disability by an act of Congress- as
provided for by the Sd section Of the I4th article
of the amendments of the Constitution Of the
United States"
Second. That the constitution of said State
shall never be so amended or changed as to de-
prlve any citizen or class Of citizens of the
hold office in said State who are entitled
to vote or hold Office in said State by
said constitution, except as . punishment
ior such 91i crimes as are now felonies at com
convicted under laws equally applicable to all
the inhabitants of said State, or to prevent any
person on account of race, color, or previous
condition Of servitude, from serving as a juror
or participating equally in the school fund or
school privileges provided for in said constitu-
ton: Provided, that any alteration of said con-
stitutiOn equally applicable to all the voters of
said State may be made with regard to the time
and place of residence of said voters
Third. That all persons who shall at the time
when said constitution shall take effect, hold, OF
istrative, or judicial Office in said State, BY the
appointment or authority of the District Com
mander, shall continue to discharge the duties
OF their respective office until their successors
or those upon whom such duties shall under
said lcOnstitutiOn devOlye, an duly chosen, or
APP ointed, and qualified.
. occ. q. anu Oe u IuTtteT endcted, mat the elec-
ton Of United States Senators by the General
Assembly of said State on the 18th day of Octo-
Der. 1869, shall have the same validity, as If
made by previous authority Of law.
Mr.. Bingham offered the following as sub
stitute, which was ordered to be printed:
JOINT RESOLUTION declaring Virginia entitled
to representation in Congress.
whereas the people Of Virginia have adopted
constitution republican in form, and have in
all respects conformed to the requirements OF
the act OF Congress 9Gltitled IAN act authorizing
the submission OF the constitutions of Virginia,
mississippi, and Texas to q vote of the people
and authorizing the election of State offi GERS
provided by the said constitution, and members
OF Congress-" approved April 10, 1869 There
fore
Be it resolred. &C., That the said state of Vir-
gina Is entitled to representation in the Con
gress Of the United States.