Year: 1870

Tha following is the Virginia bill as it
passed the Senate


An Act to admit the State of Virgieia to
representation in the United States.


WHEREAS, The people OF Virginia have
framad and adopted Constitution of
State Government which is republican;
and whereas, the Legislature of Virginia,
elected under said Constitution, have rat
fled the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments to the Constitution of the United
States and whereas, the performance of
these several acts in good faith was a con-
dition precedent to the representation Of
the State in Congress; therefore.


Bet enacted &C., That the said State of
Virginia is Untitled to representation IN
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 up
on the discharge Of his Office, he shall take
and subscribe and file in the Office, of
the Secretary of State of Virginia for per-
manent preservation an oath IN form fol-
lowing: II - do solemnly swear that l
have never taken an oath as member Of
Congress or as an officer Of the United
States, or as q member of anyEState Legis-
lature, or an executive or judicial officer
of any State to support the Constitution
of the United States and afterwards en-


gagged in insurrection Of rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the


enemies thereof, SO help me God" or such


person shah in like manner take, subscribe
and file the following oath Il, =, do


solemnly swear that have, by act Of Con-
| gress of the United States been relieved
/ from the disabilities imposed upon me by
| the Fourteenth Amendment of the Const-
tuition of the United States, so help me
God" which oath shall be taken before
and certified by any officer lawfully author
lied to administer oaths and any person
who shall knowingly swear falsely in tax
ing either Of such oaths shall be deemed


guilty of perjury, and shall De punished
therefore by Imprisonment not less than


one year and not more than ten years, and


shall he fined not less than 81 900 and


not more than $4,000, and in all trials


for anv violation of this act the certificate


of taking of either Of said oath with proc
of signature of either party accused shall
be taken and held as conclusive evidence
that such oath was lawfully and regularly


administered by competent authority
And providing further, that every sucl
{ person who shall neglect for period o
: thirty days next after the passage Of tAI
S act to take, subscribe and file such oath q
S aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to a.
: intents and purposes to have vacated hi
: office; and provide further, that the Stat


of Virginia is admitted to representatlo,
4 in Congress upon the following fundamen
: tai conditions That the Constitution {
: Virginia shall never be so amended c
# changed as to deprive any citizen or clas
; of citizens Of the United States OF tn
y right to vote who are entitled to vote b
= the Constitution herein recognized, exceE
as a punishment for such crimes as ar
! now felonies at common law, wherefol
i they shall have been duly convicted VI
! der laws equally applicable TO all the II
d habitants Of said State provided, that an
V alteration of said Constitution prosperity
q in its effect may be made in regard
h time and place of residence ofvoters; thi
! it shall never be lawful for the same Sta
3 to deprive any citizen ofthe United Stat
> on account Of his race, color or previol
r condition of servitude Of the right to no
a office under the cnnstitn+se4s-e fsrIT5
Of said State, or upon any such ground to T
!. quire of him any other qualification {


Office than such required of all other cit


zens; that the constitution of Virgin


shall never be so amended or changed
= deprive any citizen or class Of citizens
n the United States of the school rigt
: and privileges secured by the constitute
as of said State.