The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-01
-Rac CON,

prepared at his request by North Carollnlans'
| was referred to the Committee on Territories,
of which Mr. Ashley is Chairman. But mean-
while Mr.. Stevens has amended former
bill of his, by engrafting on it the main 1ea-
lures of the North Carolina bill, so as to give
his bill thus amended, which we publish DE-
low, precedence on the calendar. 1t WILL
| thereto come up at once as soon as Con
eress re-assembles. 1t is probable the Com
n,ittee on Territories will report bill SINH
| lar to the one below.
It will be observed that the amended bill
differs in several respects from the North
Carolina bill, in its machinery, but the oath,
which is the gist Of the measure, is preser-
we'd. We trust the oath aoiU not, IN any event. be
altered or omitted We are satisfied, from our
knowledge of the South, that it is the best
oath yet devised. Provision should be made,
however, in the bill for Furnishing those who
may succeed in taking it falsely.
| Another very important improvement IS,
that Mr. Stevens amended bill extends the
oath not merely to office-holders but to 0Oters.
We have conversed with many Unionists, and
heard from others, since our return from
Washington, and it seems to be the general
wish of our loyal people that unrepentant
rebels should be excluded from the ballot
box, and that loyal men only, without re-
| gard to color, should be invested with the
ballot. If Congress would do its work
thoroughly, and would extend adequate pro-
lection to the loyal whites and blacks of the
South, let it by no means omit this oath;
but let the oath be test of suffrage, with
out regard to color. This we believe to be
the unanimous wish of the Unionists of this
State, as well as of the cotton States, as
shown by the Address of the Southern Re
publican Association, which we publish to-
day.
MR. STEVENS BILL READMISSIoN OF
SOUTHERN STATES.
CBy Telegraph to the Iribuae.l
WAsH1NGToN, Dec. 2l.-The following bill, in
troduced into the House last session by Mr.. Ste
vens "To enable the States lately in rebellion to
regain their privileges in the UniOn," has been
amended considerably, and in its amended form
will be called up for action by Mr.. Stevens in
few days:
A Bill to enable the States lately in rebellion to
regain their privileges in the Union.
Whereas, The eleven States, which lately formed
the Government called the ''Confederate States
of America" have forfeited all their rights under
the Constitution, and can be reinstated in the
same only through the action of Congress there
fore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep,ese,s-
tatiues Of the United States Of AnaericG in Congress
assembled, That the eleven States lately in rebel
lion, except Tennessee, may form valid State
Governments in the following manner:
SECTION 2. Aasd be it further enacted, That the
State Governments now existing de .tacto, though
illegally formed in the midst of martial law, and
in many Instances the constitutions were adopted
under duress, and not submitted to the ratifca-
ton of the people, and therefore not to be
treated as free republics, yet they are hereby
purposes until the same shall be duly altered and
their legislative and executive officers shall be
recognized as such.
SEC g. And be it further enacted That the ten
States which lately in rebellion, and have not
been admitted to representation in Congress, shall
hold elections on the first Tuesday of May, 1867,
to choose delegates to convention to form
State Government. The Convention shall con-
numerous branch of the Legislature of said State
before the Rebellion. 1t shall meet at the former
capital OF said state on the frss Monday Of June
adjourn from time to time, and shall proceed to
form a State Constitution, which shall be submit
ted to the people al such time as the Convention
shall direct and if ratified by majority of legal
votes shall be declared the Constitution of the
State. Congress shall elect a Commission for
each of said States, to consist of three persons,
who shall select or direct the mode of selecting
the election of officers for the several election dis
tricts, which districts shall be the same as before
the Rebellion, unless allotted by said Commits
sion. The officers shall consist of one Judge and
two inspectors of elections and two clerks. The
said officers, together with all the expenses of
the election shall be paid by the United States,
and said expenses shall be repaid by said State or
Territory. Each of said officers shall receive S.
per day for the time actually employed. Each of
the members of said Commission shall receive
So, 900 per annum, and their clerks $4,000 The
Commission shall procure all the necessary books,
stationery and boxes, and to make all regulations
to effect the objects of this act The President
of the United States and the military comman-
der of the district shall furnish so much mil
itary aid as the said Commissioners shall deem
to protect the polls and keep the peace
at each of the election districts. If by any means
no elections should be held in any of said late
States the day herein fixed, then said election
shall be held on the third Monday of May, 1867
in the manner herein prescribed. Returns OF ali
such elections shall be made to the said Commits
sioners whose certificates OF election shall be pri
ma flcie evidence of the fact
Sec. 4. Ayed be it further enacted, That persons
who shall be entitled to vote at both of said cleo
tons shall be as follows: All male citizens above
the age of 81 years, who have resided one year in
said State and ten days within the election dis
trict
SEC 5. And be it further enacted That the word
citizen, as used in this act, shall be construed to
mean all persons Except Indians not taxed) born
in the United States, or duly naturalized. Any
to be elected to act delegate to said
SEC. 6. And be 1t farther enacted That all per-
sons who, on the 18th day of March, 1864 were of
full age, who held office, either. civil or military
under the government called the Confederate
States of America" or who voluntarily swore al
egiance to said government, are hereby declared
to have forfeited their citizenship and to have re-
nounced allegiance to the United States and shalg
not be entitled to exercise the elective franchise.
Or hold Office until five years after they shall have.
filed their intention or desire to be reinvested
with the right of citizenship, and shall swear al
egiance to the United States and renounce ale
glance to all other governments or pretended gov
the said application to be filed and
oath taken in the same courts that by law aEeau-
thorized to naturalize foreigners. Provided, how
ever, that on taking the following oath the party
being otherwise qualified, shall be allowed to vote
and hold office:
az, A B., do solemnly swear, on the Holv
Evangclis.s of Almighty God, that on the 18th day
Of March, 1864, and at all times thereafter
would willingly have complied with the require
nents of the Proclamation of the President of the
United States issued on the Sth day of Decem-
Der, 1863, had safe opportunity of so doing been
allowed; and that on the said 18th of March, 1864,
and all times thereafter, I was opposed to the
continuance of the Rebellion, and to the estab-
ishment of the so-called Confederate Govern
nent, and voluntarily gave no aid and comfort
thereto but earnestly desired the success of the
Union and the suppression Of all armed resistance
70 the Government of the United States: and that
will henceforth faithfully support the Constitu-
ion of the United states and the Union of the
States Hereunder
Sec. z. Ind be it further enacted, That 10 con-