The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-06
VOLUME 5.---NO. 90.
An Act to Promote the Reconstruction of
Georgia.


An Act to Promote the Reconstruction of
Georgia.
The following is the full text of the bill
as passed by Congress on the 21st ultimo,
remanding Georgia to territorial condi-
ton, and making new and further require
metts Of her people before admission in:
to tho Union:
Be it enacted, That the Governor Of
Georgia be and he is hereby authorized
and directed, forthwith, by proclamation,
TO summon all persons elected to the Gen.
eral Assembly, as appears by the procla,
maticn of Meade, dated June 25th 1865;
to appear on some day certain named Id
the proclamation, at Atlanta. and there
upon said General Assembly shall proceed
to perfect it's organization in conformity
with the Constitution and laws of the
United States according to the provisions
of this act ,s
End. That when the members, so cleo.
ted, to the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, shall be convened, every mem
Der, and every person claiming to be elees
ted as member of the Senate or House
of Representatives, shall, in addition t6
taking the oath required by the Constitu-
tion of Georgia, also take and subscribe,
and file in the Office of the Secretary Of
State of Georgia, one of the following
oaths or afirmations, namely:
I d. solemnly swear or. affirm; that
have never held the Office or performed
the duties of Senator or Representative
in Congress, nor been q member Of Tho
Legislature of any State of the United
States, nor held any civil Office createdby
law for the administration Of any general
law of State, orfor the administration
of justice in any State, under the laws of
the United States, nor heldsany Office in
the military or naval service Of the UNI
ted States, and thereafter engaged in in
surrection or rebellion against the United
States, or gave aid or comfort to its enc:
mics, or rendered, except in consequences
of direct physical force, any support or
aid to any insurrection OF rebellion against
the United States, nor held any Office nm
der, or given any support to any Govern.
ment acting in hostility to the United
States, or levyihg war against the United
States, so help me God or on pains ana
penalties of perjury, as the case may be-.
Or the following oath or affirmation,
namely: I do solemnly swear or affirm
that 1 have beeh relieved by an Act Of
Congress from disabilities, as provided by
the Fourteenth Amendment, 80 help me
God-or, OH pains and penalties Of per:
jury, as the case may be; which oath i0f'
affirmation, when SO filed, shall be enter:
ed on record by the Secretary of Statb Of
Georgia. Said oath or affirmation, or a:
copy of the record thereof, duly certified
by the said Secretary of State, shall be-
evidence in all courts and places. Every
person claiming to be 80 elected, who
shall refuse, or decline, or neglect, OR be
unable to take one ofsaid oaths or affrma.>
tions, shall not be admitted to seat in.
the Senate or House of Representatives.
3rd. That if any person claiming to be-
elected to the Senate or House shall faE:;;
sely take either oaths, he shall be deeme&
guilty of perjury, and suffer the pains and
penalties thereof, and may be tried
therefore, by the Circuit Court of the;
United States for the District of Georgia.;
ted. The jurisdiction Of said Court shall
be sole and exclusive for the purpoees
Aforesaid, e
4th. That the persons elected and ell!
titled to compose such Legislature, Rh6
shall comply with the provisions Of this
Act, shall thereupon proceed to reorga.:
nize the Senate and House by Che efeG:
tion of proper officers. y
5th. That if any person shall, by force;
violence or fraud, wilfully hinder 6r'inter:,
rupt any person elected from taking eth,
er of the oaths or afirmations prescribed,
or from participating in the proceedings
of the Senate or House, after having tac
ken one of said oaths or affirmations, and
otherwise complied wfth this Act he shall
be deemed guilty of felony, and may be-
tried therefor by the Circuit or District
Court of the United States for theDis-
trict of Georgia, III which the offence-fnay
be committed, and shall be- punished by
Imprisonment at hard labor for not less
than two, nor more than ten years, and
jurisdiction of said Court shall besoIS
and exclusive. s,-s< .-..eg }:2
9Th. That it is hereby declared that the
exclusion of any person; elected as afere-
said, ard being otherwise qualified, from
participation In the proceedings OF the
Senate or House, upon the ground ofraoe,
color or previous condition of servitude9
would be illegal and revolutionary, and 10
hereby prohibited. -.
7th: That upon application Of the G6v-
ernor of Georgia, the President Of the
United States shall employ such military
or naval forces Of The United States as
may be necessary to enforce and execute
the prece ling provisions of this Act. j1f4
Sth. That the Legislature shall ratify'
the Fifteenth, Amendment proposed TO.