New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-10
TPyBLIC-NO. ISL

AN ACT to admit the State of Mississippi
to representation in the Congress OF the
United States
Whereas, the people of Mississippi have
framed and adopted u constitution Of State
government which is republican; and
whereas the Legislature OF Mississippi
elected under said constitution has ratlti d
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to
the constitution of the United States; and
whereas the performance of these several
acts in good faith is a condition precedent
to the representation Of the State in Con-
gress; therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States of
America in CONGRESS assembled, That the
said State of Mississippi is entitled to repre-.
sentation in the Congress. of the United
States: Provided, That before 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 Stat of Mississippi,
for permanent preservation, an oath or
affirmation in the form following: Il,
-, do solemnly swear COR atfirm)
that have never taken an oath as q mem.
Der of Congress, or as an officer of the
United States, or as u member Of any State
Legislature, or as an executive or judicial
officer of any State, TO support the constltu-
ton OF the United States, and afterward
engaged in instruction or rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof, so help me God;" or under
the pains and penalties of perjury, (as the
case may be;) or such person shall in like
manner take, subscribe, and file the follow
ing oa.h or affirmation: 81,
do solemniy swear Tor affirm) that l have,
by act Of Congress 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;' or under the pains and penalties
of perjury (as the case may be), which
oaths. or aftirmations, shall be taken before
and certified by any officer lawfully author
lied to administer oathS. And any person
who shall knowingly swear or affirm falsely
in taking either of such oaths or afirma-
tions shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and
shall be punished therefor by lmpris9n-
ment not less than one year, aud not more
than ten years, and shall be fined not less
than one thousand dollars and not more
than ten thousand dollars. And in all trials
for any violation of this act, the certiG cate
of the taking of either of said oaths or adir-
nations, with proof of the signature of the
party accused, shall be taken and held as
conclusive evidence that such oath or faffir.
nation was regularly and lawfully admin
istered by competent authority: And pro.
yided further, That every such person who
shall neglect for the period of thirty days
next after the passage of this act to take
subscribe, and file such oath or affirmation
as aforesaid. shall be deemed and taken, to
all intents and purposes, to have vacated his
office: And provided further, That the
State,of Mississippi is admitted to represen-
tation in Congress IS one OF the States OF
the Union, upon the following fundamental
conditions: First. That the constitution of
Mississippi shall never be so amended or
changed as to deprive any citizen or class OF
citizens OF the United States of the right to
vote who are entitled to vote by the
constitu zion herein recognized, except
as punishment for such crimes as
are now felonies at common law, whereof
they shall have been duly convicted under
laws equally applicable to all the inhabi-
tants of said State; provided, that any al
iteration of said constitution, prospective in
its effects, may be made in regard to the
time and place of residence of voters.
Second. That it shall never be lawful for
the said State to deprive any citizen of the
United States, on account of his race, color,
or previous condition of Sc vitude, 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 qualiti.
cations for Office than such as are required
of all other citizens. Third. That the con-
stituti0n OF Mississippi shall never be SO
amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen or class Of citizens of the United
safes of the school rights and privileges
secured by the constitution of said State.
Approved, February %. 1870.