CHAPTER 6

An act prescribing means by which persons who have been
disfranchised by the Third Article of the Constitution
may be restored to the rights of voters.

Passed June 22d, 1865.

Wuernas, in the opinion of this General Assembly the
time has arrived when it would be safe and expedient to
restore to the rights of voters certain persons who are dis-
franchised by the provisions of the third article of the Con-
stitution of Virginia ; now, for the purpose of restoring such
persons : ;

Src. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Virginia, That every person possessing in other respects
the qualifications of a voter, under the Constitution and
laws of the State, who has taken, or shall hereafter take,
the oath prescribed by the Amnesty Proclamation of the
President of the United States of the twenty-ninth of May,
eighteen hundred and sixty-five, which oath is in the fol-
lowing words, to wit: ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm),
in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth
faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of
the United States and the union of the States thereunder,
and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully sup-
port all laws and proclamations which have been made,
during the existing rebellion, with reference to the emanci-
pation of slaves;” and an oath to uphold and defend the
Government of Virginia, restored by the Convention which
assembled at Wheeling on the eleventh of June, eighteen
hundred and sixty-one, which oath is in the following
words: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will uphold
and defend the Government of Virginia as restored by the
Convention which assembled at Wheeling on the eleventh
day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-one ;” shall be
entitled and qualified to vote for members of the General
Assembly, andfall officers elective by the people, subject
always to the laws in regard to voters and voting not incon-
sistent with this act: Provided, however, that the persons
excluded by the terms of the said proclamation from the
benefits thereof, excepting those embraced in the thirteenth
class of such excluded persons, shall not be entitled or qual-
ified to vote as aforesaid, unless pardoned by the President,
as provided for by said proclamation.
EC, 2. This act stall be in force from its passage.