Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01
VOLUME XXXIII.
STEVENS NEW CONSTRUCTION BILL.

The following is the new bill introduced
| bv Mr. Stevens in the House in view of the
failure Of the plan Of reconstruction sub
mittcd By the Committee Of Fiilen in theeir
report:
"WHEREAs. The eleven States which
lately formed the government of the social
ed Confederate States Of America have for
feiled all their rights in the Constitution,
and can be reinstated under the same only
through the action OF Congress: therefore,
BE it enacted by the Senate and the House
| Of Representatives Of the United States of
| America, in Congress assembled, That the
! eleven States lately in rebellion may form
| valid State Governments in the following
manner.
'SEC. >. The State Government now ex-
isting defacto, though illegally formed in the
midst of martial law, and though in many
! instances their constitutions were adopted
under duress and not submitted for ratltca-
| ton TO the people, and therefore are not to
be treated a. free publics, yet they are here
by acknowledged as valid governments for
| municipal purposes until the same shall be
duly altered aud legislative and executive
! officers shall be regaTed as such.
CSC. 3. Whenever the Legislatures of
said States shall enact that conventions shall
be called TO form legitimate State Govern
ment bv the formations and adoption of
State Constitutions, the Governor or Chief
Executive officer shall direct an election to
be held on a certain day to choose delegates
to a convention, who shall meet at the time
fixed by the Legislature and form a State
Constitution, which shall be submitted to
vote ofthe people, and if ratified by ma
iority Of the loyal voters, shall be declared
the Constitution Of the State.
CSC. 4. The persons who shall be entitled
to vote at both of said elections shall be as
follows: All male citizens above the age of
twenty-one years, who shall have resided
one year in said State, and ten days within
the election district.
'SEC. ). The word Citizens" as used in
this act, shall be construed TO mean all per- j
sons except Indians, not taxed, born in the
United States or duly nautralized: any male
citizen above the age of twenty-one years
shall be competent to be elected to act as a
delegate TO such Convention.
"SEC. 6. All persons who held office
either civil or military, under the govern
ment of the so-called Confederate States Of
Americaor rwhosworeallegiance TO said Gov
ment, are hereby declared to have forfeited
their citizenship, and to have renounced all
allegiance to the United States, and shall
not be exercise elective franchise until five
years after they have filed their intention or
desire to be reiuvested with the rights of cit
izenship, and shall swear allegiance to the
United States, and renounce allegiance to
all other governments or pretended govern
ments. The said application to be filed and
oath taken i'm the same courts that by law
are authorized TO naturalize foreigners
SEC. Z. No Constitution shall be presen-
ted to or acted on by Congress, which denies
TO any citizen any right, privilege or immu-
nifty, which is granted to every other citizen
in the State. All laws shall be impartial,
without regard to race or former condition.
If the provisions of this section should ever
be altered, repealed, expmged, or in any
way abrogated, this act shall become void,
and said State shall lose its right to be rep
resented in Congress.
"SEC 8. Whenever the foregoing condi-
tions shall be complied with, the citizens
of said State may. present said Constitution
to Congress, and if the same shall be APP
proved by Congress, said State shall be de-
cared entitled to the rights, privileges, and
immunites, and be subject to all the obliga-
tions and liabilities of State within the
Union. No Senator or Representative shall
be admitted into either House of Congress
until Congress shall have declared the State
entitled thereto"