Bland to represent them at Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 and the U.S. Congress would not readmit Virginia to the Union ( nor seat any of its representatives ) until that was corrected .
1868 was necessary because Virginia 's 1850 Constitution expressly permitted slavery .
Bland to represent them at Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 , which was necessary because Virginia 's 1850 Constitution expressly permitted slavery , and the U.S. Congress would not readmit Virginia to the Union ( nor seat any of its representatives ) until that was corrected .