Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-26


sbsll hereafter dare to exclude negroe
from the ballot-box, then they mus
undergo again the aunoyances Of
military government. Congress says OF
this subject that the State shall no
have the right to interfere. In word, !
| il a conquered province, and has lost 1T
State individuality by the act Of rebe llior
The citizens living within this territory
must do just as the Radical party desires
otherwise the punishment of the bsyone'
will be inflicted. tis
The bill as il passed the Senate is al
follows:
WHEREAS, The people Of Virginia have
framed and adopted Constitution Of
state government which is republican
and whereas the Legislature Of Virginia
elected under said Constitution have rati'
fied The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments of the Constitution OF the United
States; and whereas the performance Of
these several acts in good faith was q
condition precedent to the representation
Of the State in Congress; therefore he II
Rssolred, etc, That the State OF Vlr-
gipia is entitled 70 representation IN the
Congress Of the United States; provided
that before any member Of the Legisla-
ture 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. subscribe and file in the office of the
Secretary of State of Virginia, for per
mapeut preservation, an oath in the form
following: -, do sol
emily swear that have never taken an
oath as a member of Congress, or as On
officer Of the United States, or as mem
Der of any State Legislature, or an ex-
ecutive or Judicial Office Of any State, to
support the Constitution of the United
States, and afterwards engaged in insur-
rection or rebellion against the same, or
given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof, so help me God;" or such per
son shall in like manner take, subscribe
aud file the following oath: II. -.
do uolemnly swear that have, BY act OF
Congress Of the United States, been re-
lieved from the disabilities imposed upon
me by the Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, so
helm me God" which oaths shall be
taken before and certified by any officer
lawfully authorized to administer oaths.
And any person who shall knowingly
swear falsely 10 taking either of such
oa,hs shall be deemed guilty Of perjury,
and shall be punished therefor by i'm
prisonment not less than one year nor
more than ten years. and shall be lined
not less than $1,000 and not more than
$4,000. And in all trials for any viela-
ton of this resolution the certificate OF
the taking of either of said osths, with
proof of the signature of the party &C.
cused, shall be taken and held as conclu-
siye evidence that such oath was regu-
lated by authority. And provided fur
Their that every person who shall neglect,
for a period of thirty days next after
the passage of this resolution, to sub
scribe and file such oath as aforesaid,
shall be deemed aud taken, to all intents
and purposes, to have vacated his office
and be It further provided, that the said
State of Virginia shall not be entitled to
admission into the Union as State ex-
cept upon the fundamental condition that
her constitution shall never be amended
or changed as to deprive colored citi-
zens Of the right to vote or to hold
Office under that constitution; and be
it provided further, that the State
of Virginia ia admitted to representation
| in Congress as one of the States of the
Union upon the following fundamental
condition: that the constitution Of
Virginia shall never be SO amended OF
changed as to deprive any citizen. OF
class Of citizens, of the United States oil
the right to vote who are entitled to vote
by the constitution herein recognized,
except as punishment for such crimes
as are now felonies at common law,
whereof they shall have been duly con-
victed under laws equally applicable to
all the inhabitants of said State: Pro
vided, that any alteration Of said consti.
tuition, prospective in its effects, may be
made in regard to the time and place o.
residence Of voters; but the constitution
of said State shall never be 80 amended
or changed as to prevent any person, OF
account of race, color, or previous condi
ton Of servitude, from serving as juror
or participating equally in the schoo
fund or school privileges provided for il
said constitution.