The Republican journal., 1870-02-03
VIRGlNIA---THE ACT OF PERFlDY,
An Act to admit the State Of Virginia to Rep
resentation in the Congress of the United
States.


An Act to admit the State of Virginia to Rep
resentation in the Congress of the United
States.
Whereas, the people Of Virginia have
framed and adopted a constitution of state
government which is Republicans and
Whereas, the Legislature of Virginia, elect
ed under said constitution, have ratified the
Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States; and
Whereas, the performance Of these several
acts, in good faith, was condition precedent
to representation of the state in Congress
therefore,
Be it enacted, &c, That the state of Virgin
la be entitled to representation in the Con-
gress of the United States provided that be-
fore any member of the legislature of said
state shall take or resume his seat, or any
officer of said state shall enter 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: d, do sol
emily swear that | have never taken an oath
as a member of Congress, OF as an officer of
the United States, or as a member OF any
State Legislature, or as the executive or ju-
dicial officer of any State, to support the Con-
| stitution in instruction or rebellion against
enemies thereof. SO help me God" Or
such person shall in like manner take, sub
| scribe and file the following oath Ct,
do solemnly swear that | have, by act of Con-
gress of the United States, been relieved
| from the disabilities imposed upon me by the
Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution
| of the United States. So help me God,
which oath shall be taken before and certified
by any officer, lawfully authorized to admin
lister oaths; and any person who shall be
deemed guilty OF perjury, shall punished
therefor by Imprisonment not less than one
year, and not more than ten years, and shall
be fined not less than 81 900, and not more
than 10000; and in all trials for any viola
ton of this act the certificate of the taking of
either of said oaths, with proof of the sigma
ture Of either party accused, shall be taken
! and held as conclusive evidence that such
oath was lawfully and regularly administers
eddy competent authority.
And provided further, That every such per-
sons who shall neglect for the period of 80
days next after the passage OF this act to take,
subscribe, and file such oaths as aforesaid,
shall be deemed and taken to all lntents and
purposes to have vacated his office
And provided further, That the state of Vir-
ginia is admitted to representation in Con
gress upon the following fundamental condi-
IIOlS: 1udl luc constitution OF Virgins
shall never be so amended or changed as to
deprive any citizen or class of citizens oft
United States Of the right to vote, who are en-
titled to vote by the constitution herein re-
cognized, except as punishment for such
crimes as are now feonies at common law.
whereof they shall have been duly convicted
under laws equally applicable to all the in
habltantS OF said state; provided that any al
teratlon OF SAID constitution, prospective in
its effects, may be made in regard to the
time and place Of residence of voters; that
it shall never be lawful tor the same State to
deprive any citizen of the United States, on
account of his race, color or previous cond-
ton of servtudc, of the right to hold office
under the constitution and laws of said state,
or upon any such ground to require of him
any other qualifications for office than is re-
quired Of all other citizens that the Const-
tuition of Virginia shall never be so amended
OF changed as to deprive any citizen OF class
of citizens of the United States of the school
rights and privileges secured by the Const
tuition Of the United States