The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-15

PORTLAND,
friday Morning, March is. 1867.
The Supplementary Reco..,ruo,;. p,,,


A few days since Mr.. Wilson of Iowa intro
duced bill in the House, supplemental to
the Reconstruction act of the last Co,,.a,,
which was passed by a strict party vote nv
to 27.
The Sherman bill, as it passed in its amena
ed form, so far as actual reconstruction i,
concerned, was rather permissory than per-
emptory, and did not provide definitely for
carrying its provisions into effect; the new
bill of Mr.. Wilson simply supplies this def
cheney, so that the President, provided he is
disposed to perform his duties and enforce
the provisions Of the first bill, has no reason
able excuse for interposing Veto The OBJ
jections that he urged against the first bill do
not lie against this, that having already be-
come law.
This bill merely provides for a speedy res
tolation of the rebel States under the former
bill, and tends to limit tine period of military
rule. 1t directs the commanding general in
each military district to cause a registration
to be made before September 1st, of all per-
sons proper to vote, and who shall take an
oath of sincere attachment to the United
States government and the Union: when the
registration is made the general shall order
an election, within thirty days, of delegates
to constitutional convention, which shall
form constitution to be submitted to vote
of the people. On the approval by Congress
Of the constitution, the representatives of the
State are to be admitted to Congress. Under
it the path OF restoration is easy.
When the bill of Mr.. Wilson reached the
Senate, Mr.. Trumbull of Illinois, chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, introduced a sub
stitute, which does not differ materially from
Mr.. Wilson's except that it is fuller and goes
farther into details. In the registration of
voters under the act of March I'd, 1t is provid-
ed in Mr.. Trumbull's bill that the oath reouir.
edshall be to the following effect, of the per-
sons registered: .aa
I do hereby solemnly swear, or affirm. that
am not excluded from the right to vote by the
9Th and 9th sections of said act to provide for
the more effectual government OF the rebel
States; that | will support the Constitution
and obey the laws of the United States; that /
will tOSthe best of my ability encourage all 9TH
ers to do the same. So help me God.
This bill also defines the numbers constitut.
ing the conventions to frame constitutions, be-
ing the same as in the popular branch of the
respective State legislatures, except in Virgin
ia, which is to have the same number as the
popular branch contained prior to the war. or
before West Virginia was separated from it.
When organized the conventions shall first
determined by vote whether they will proceed
to form Constitutions in accordance with the
provisions of March 3D. and if SO their work
when completed, shall be submitted for ratif-
cation to the the registered voters Ifratified
at the polls, by ballot, copy is to be trans
mitted to Congress, and if approved by Con-
gress the State shall be admitted to full rem
reseDtation in that body. The other proyis
ions of the bill are formal, and not of sufficient
general Importance to render their reproduc-
ton in this connection necessary.
What the fate ofMr. Trumbulrs bill NAV be
will be known very soon; ifpassed and the
President approves it, the work of reconstruc-
ton will no doubt go forward speedily; if We
tOed it is believed Congress will not remain in
session to pass it over the Executive objections,
but adjourn till October, meantime allowing
the rebel States to remain as they are, thank
ing their friend, "A. j." for compelling them
to stay out in the cold for a season longer.