1870: Readmission of Virginia, Mississippi, Texas

From Bensonwiki

Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi were the last of the ten secessionist states to reenter the Union besides Georgia. They were readmitted within months of each other, at the very beginning of 1870 according to the Third Reconstruction Act of 1867. ^[1] Even though Virginia was not admitted into the Union until January 26th, 1870, Republicans were ready to begin the election processes as early as 1868, but the military government was not enthusiastic, thus forcing Virginia to have to wait until the next session of Congress to be readmitted. Texas’ readmission process was also slowed down because of their concern over Confederate soldiers not being given the right to vote in state elections. Yet, on March 30th, 1870 the official bill approving their admission was passed. It was only a month earlier that, Mississippi was admitted as a state on behalf of Congress on February 23rd, 1870. ^[2] Even though all three states differed greatly from one another, it is evident that they were all opposed to the disfranchising and disqualification laws which would prevent ex-Confederates and Confederate sympathizers from voting in elections. ^[3] Clearly, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia were still loyal to the Confederacy and its statutes, even though they felt the pressures of readmission. All three states varied according to their demographics and sources of economic profit, yet they were forced to confront the same realities such as every man’s right to full equality and representation under the law—a controversial and painful task.

Footnotes: ^[1] Rembert W. Patrick, The Reconstruction of the Nation, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1967), 140-164 ^[2] Ibid,, 375-398 ^[3] Robert Selph Henry, The Story of Reconstruction, (New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1951), 375-398

Sources: [1]Robert Selph Henry, The Story of Reconstruction, (New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1951), 375-398 [2]Rembert W. Patrick, The Reconstruction of the Nation, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1967), 140-164 [3] "Weekly News Summary", (Christian Union, 1870-1893), 1,4 (January 1870), 60