, 1870-01-24

TIE CAKE OF VIRGINIA

On Friday, the 14th Of January, the House
cf Representatives passed what Ia known a.
the Bingham bill for the admission Of Viz
ginia to representation in Qo1gress. That
bill reads IS fol!ow8:
3 &cpnA:itotton, republican In form. and hnYs IN
4n re>ree1 coufoTned to the FeaulfemenN e.f tne
- o. CoogEeaa entitled An act antnona!ng tho
ssslppt, and Texas 70 : vote Of the people, md
aulnotlI1ng the eiecuuu Of Htn.e of3cers pfpy1ued
e ~ sa1a asa OF Coz
&c u enaeta1 BY LAs Sksaats and HostA ef Rtprs.
s<atn!tsss a the initial !State4 ef 4sa<rss IA C1n-
Virginia il entitled to 1epreseu,auon IN the Coz.
gttss Of the United StareA
The Senate, on Friday last, amended this
by substituting therefor:
WH1sKAs. Tne people Of Virginia have framed
ann adopted constitution Of Sate Goyesnmen:,
WHEREAS, Tho Lez!slaiure Of vtre,nla, elsced
c1oer said consultation, have ratified the Fsuf-
tnxlon Of rbe Cntted States; and,
NhkAEas, The performance Of these seseral
acsz. IN good faith, WIS condition precedent to
the Iep'eseu1ancn Of tho Safe IN Congress;
b ii r,.zettd. &C.. That the raid stAte of vlr.
2!ntA y ehuued 70 representation ID kae Congress
memeer of Inc Issts,asurc q ssid stsse ' sasil iii
tske or resume hts seat, or aoy oface. Of said
Ssate shall enter upon mo dntes Of hls once, ne
shall taSe AID 6ubscflbe- and tle IN i4e cllce OF
the 6ec1o srs Of State Of Virgins lorperuEHent
rreterTstlou. an oath n the form following:
cs o q: s
otncer Of the United States, or AZ 4 member Of
any s.ste legislature, or ~ N e1ecauve or lndi-
c:tl oflcer Of any SrAte to 6uPnott The ConartQ-
rnr Ct tie United Srz1es, and afterwards engaged
IN irsuy.ec ton or reoeuion akalLat the same, or
siyen s,d , Of eo'ors to the enemies thefeof' So
u such per.on shall, In Ike uauue1. take, sub
kcI!3t, &nd rle TIE folio N1rg oat1:
&C. oi coaztes. of ihe Uaite1 States. been r.
l!eved frrn the disabilities imposed upon me By
The Fo1 rttsntn Amendment q the Consultation Of
the Crlled Stases. 50 help NC God.n II
The fourteenth article d the amendments
to the constitution provides that no person
"5hall hold any otfce, civil or. mill
tzry, under the United States OF under any
State, who, having previously taken an oath,
as member Of CongrBs, OF as an officer Of
The United States, or as member Of any
State Legislature, or - an executive or ju-
dicsd officer Of any State to support tho
Constitution of tn United States, shall
have engaged in insurection or rebellion
against tho same, OF given aid or comfort to
the enemies thereof. But Congress may.
BY a yote Of -thirdspf each house, re-
move such disability" 1T will be seen that
this oath is simply to equine that members
Of the Virginia Legislature, in addition to
swearing to support 10 Constitution Of the
United states, shall t~er to support the
fourteenth article of the amendments
thereof.
The Senate seemd to think that an oath |
to support the VILE constitution did not
include all its part The Senate bill then
declares that taklg such oath falsely shall
be deemed perju13 and shall be punished By
fine andimprisonIent, and that any member
Of the Legislatur who for thirty days ahal1
omit to take suc1 oath shall be deemed to
have vacated hissest- It also provides:-
"Thas the s.ateif Virginia u admitted 10 rep
rtAeutzuou in Correaa upon the following runda- |
nen'a ii conditions That the Constitution Of VII. |
Etr1a spAll never amended OF chauged 60 ~ to
Uutted States Of he night to vote Who &ze eautied
TO y1tc pJ the cohti1nuo1 herein recognized, ex.
Ieinntes ii com5n law, whereof IheJ shslI have
been duly conV1oed under laws equally applicable I
70 al tnnahilant Of said dstate,-prov1ded that any
edscss. may be ttde in regard 10 uue and plAca Of
1esleuce Of vhers: ttst II shall never be laxf1l
Tinted s'ateson aeooaaf:of hs Taoe, colo1, Of
p1e*ious condition Of seFvatude, Of the right TO
hold ONCE upttr the constitution and laws OF said
any o,ber ancttion tor o1lce tnAn 6Uca required
o. sl otntr cttzeus; that the Constitution OF Ysr.
E.pia shall n@ef be 20 amended Of changed Rs to ]
United sata Of the school rights and pl1yieees
seerrtd ey % constitution Of kald Stsie."
The yal.e and Importance Of this clause
may be stimated when it is remembered !
that all ttst re1ataa tn tha r7o},t NJ 1n4are =.