Chap. 86.—An ACT to amend the third Article of the Constitution of
Virginia.

Passed December 8, 1865.

Whereas, by an act entitled an act to provide for the
amendment of the third article of the constitution, passed
June the twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, it was
enacted, “that the governor of this commonwealth is hereby
authorized to submit to the qualified voters of this state, at
the next election for members of congress and of the general
assembly, the question—Shall the next general assembly be
clothed with power to alter or amend the third article of the
constitution ?” and whereas the governor did, in pursuance
of said act, submit the said question to the said qualified
voters, at the said election held for members of congress and
of the general assembly, and has communicated the result to
the general assembly, at its present session, whereby it ap-
pears that there were, of the said qualified voters, a majority
of the votes cast in the affirmative on said question: There-
ore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the first
section of the said third article of the constitution be
amended by striking therefrom the following words:

“No person shall hold any office under this constitution,
who shall not have taken and subscribed the oath afore-
said. But no person shall vote or hold office under this
constitution, who has held office under the so-called confed-
erate government, or under any rebellious state government,
or who has been a member of the so-called confederate
congress, or 8 member of any state legislature in rebellion
against the authority of the United States, excepting there-
from county officers.”

2. The general assembly retains to itself the power to alter
or amend all the other provisions of the said third article.

3. This act shall be in force from its passage.

Chap. 86.—An ACT to amend the third Article of the Constitution of
Virginia.

Passed December 8, 1865.

Whereas, by an act entitled an act to provide for the
amendment of the third article of the constitution, passed
June the twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, it was
enacted, “that the governor of this commonwealth is hereby
authorized to submit to the qualified voters of this state, at
the next election for members of congress and of the general
assembly, the question—Shall the next general assembly be
clothed with power to alter or amend the third article of the
constitution ?” and whereas the governor did, in pursuance
of said act, submit the said question to the said qualified
voters, at the said election held for members of congress and
of the general assembly, and has communicated the result to
the general assembly, at its present session, whereby it ap-
pears that there were, of the said qualified voters, a majority
of the votes cast in the affirmative on said question: There-
ore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the first
section of the said third article of the constitution be
amended by striking therefrom the following words:

“No person shall hold any office under this constitution,
who shall not have taken and subscribed the oath afore-
said. But no person shall vote or hold office under this
constitution, who has held office under the so-called confed-
erate government, or under any rebellious state government,
or who has been a member of the so-called confederate
congress, or 8 member of any state legislature in rebellion
against the authority of the United States, excepting there-
from county officers.”

2. The general assembly retains to itself the power to alter
or amend all the other provisions of the said third article.

3. This act shall be in force from its passage.