The Van Buren press., 1871-04-18
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
Especial Dispatch to the Republican,
WASHINGTON, April 10.
THE AMNESTY BILL.

l
step on the amnesty question. Some
sixty Republicans joined hands with the
Democrats in voting for bill which re-
lleves all but three classes of persons
from the disabilities imposed by the l4th
amendment. A majority of all the New
England members, and three of the -four
colored members, supported the bill,
while General Banks, Garfield and Farms
worth, Governor Blair, of Michigan, and
other well-known Republicans gave it
their votes for the first time
HOPE IN THE SENATE.
There is a very good prospect that the
Senate will this week pass the bill
THE EFFECT, IF PASSED.
If SO it is estimated that from 100000
to 175,000 persons in the South will be
restored to citizenship, and leave but |,
500 to 1000 DISTINGUISHED. The three
excepted classes are as follows: First,
Members of the Congress of the United
States who withdrew therefrom and aided
the rebellion. Second, Officers Of the
army and navy Of the United States who,
being above the age of ftwenty- one years,
left said army or navy and aided the re.
bellion. Third, Members of the State
Conventions which adopted the ordi-
nances of secession who voted for the
adoption of such ordinances.
OATH OR AFFIRMATION REQUIRED.
Before any person shall be entitled to
the benefit of this act, he shall, within the
district where he resides, before a clel k
of some court of the United States or a
United States commissioner, take and
subscribe an oath or affirmation to sup
port the Constitution of the United States
and to bear true faith and allegiance to
the same, which oath or affirmation shall
be forwarded by said officer to the Secre-
tary of State of the United States, who
shall cause list of all persons comply
ing with the provisions Of this act to be
laid before Congress at the opening of
each session thereof; and the officers be-
fore whom such oath or affirmation is
made shall give to the person taking it a
certificate of the fact under such forms
and regulations as the Secretary of State
may prescribe.
WASHINGTON April II.
The Western Republican members
have generally agreed on bill for addi
tional representation in the present Con
gress. An effort will be made to pass it
in the House this week; if not successful
it will be held over till next session. 1t
provides that the following States shall
be entitled to members of the House Of
Representatives in addition to the mum
Der now allowed by law for and during
the forty second Congress as follows ;
The States Of Alabama, Arkansas, Cal
iforna, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,
Massachusetts,, Minnesota Mississippi,
New York, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee and Virginia, each one
additional member. The States of Geor-
gia, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Wisconsin, each two addi-
tional members The States of Iowa,
Michigan and Missouri each three addi-
tional members; and the State Of Illinois
four additional members
The second section provides that the
additional members to which such States
are by this act entitled shall be elected
by general election in such States-each
State electing by general ticket the mum
ber to which it is entitled, provided that
if in any Of said States no election is pro-
vided for by law for the year 1871, then
in such case the election shall be held at
such time as may be provided by the
Legislature of the State, and in case the
Legislature does not make provision for
such election then it shall be held on the
day fixed by the governor of the State
by public proclamation at least 60 days
before the same takes place.