Year: 1870

VmernA-The Virginia bill passed the
House yesterday by party vote in the same
form as 1t went through ihe Sarat,. it Is in
tne following terms:


az Act 70 adna.t the State Of Virginia to repre-


SeHtdtaon IN the Congress Of the United States.


Whereas, the people of Virginia have framed
and adopted a Constitution of State Govern
ment which is Republican; and whereas the
Legislature of VIrgi mia elected under the SAID
Constitution have ratified the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of
The United States; and whereas the perform
ance of these several acts in good faith was
condition precedent TO the representation of
the State in Congress-;


Therefore, be 1t enacted, etc., that the said
Stale Of Virginia is ent,tled 10 representation
IN the Congress of the United States, provided
that before any member of the Legislature of
the said State shall take or resume bis 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 permanent preservation, an oath
in the form following:


T., do solemnly swear that have new
er taken an oath as a member OF congress or
as an officer of the United states, as memDer
of any Legislature, or as an executive or judIc-
ial officer of any State, to support the Consti-
tntion of the United States and afterwards en-.
gagged in Insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or gwen ald or comfort to the enemies





Or such person shall in like manner take
subscribe and file the following oath:


do solemnly swear that have by
act ot the congress a the United States been
released from the disabilities imposed upon me
Dy the Fourteenth Amendment of the Con-
stltutlon OF the United States, so help me God.


which oath shall be taken before and certi-
ned by any officer lawfully authorized to ad-
minister oaths, and any person who shall
Knowingly swear falsely In taking either OF
such oaths shall be deemed guilty Of perjury,
and shall be punished therefor by impr SON.
ment Tor not less than one year and not more
than ten years, and shall be fined not less
than $1,000 and not more than $40, 600; and in
all trials for any violation of this act the certif
lcate OF the taking of either of said oaths, with
proof OF the signature of either party, accused,
shall be taken and held as conclusive evidence
That such oath was lawfully and regularly ad-
mlnlstered by competent authority; and pro-
vlded, further, that every such person who
snail neglect sfor the period of thirty
days next after the passage of this act to
take, subscribe and file such oath as
aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken all
intents and purposes to have vacated his
office; and provided further, that the State of
Virginia is admitted to representation in Con-
gress upon the following fundamental condi-
tons: That the Constitution of Virginia 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 Constitution herein recognized,
except as punishment for such crimes as are
now felonles at common law whereof they
shall have been duly convicted under the laws
equally applicable 10 all the Inhabitants of said
State; provided thn. any aIleratlon of said
CONSTITUTION prospective in its effects may be
made in regard to the time and place of resi-
dence of the voters; that it shall never be law
full for the same State to deprive any citizen OF
the United States, on account of his race or
color or previous condition of servitude, of the
right to hold any office under the constitution
and laws of said State, or upon any such
ground to require of him any other qualfica-
uon for office than such required OF all other
citizens; that the Constitution of Virginia
shall never be so amended or changed as to de-
prlve any citiz IN or class of citizens of the
United States OF the school rights and privi-
leges secured by the constitution of said State