The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-19

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firmation may be administered by any reg
istering officer
Sec. =. That after the completion of the
registration hereby provided for, in any
State, at such time aud place therein as the
commanding general shall appoint and di-
rect, of which at least thirty days public
notice shall be given, an election shall be
held of delegates to a convention for the
purpose of establishing a constitution and
civil government for such State loyal to the
Union said convention in each State, ex-
cept Virginia, to consist of the same number
of members as the most numerous branch of
the State Legislature Of such State in the
year 1860, to be appOrtioned among the sew
era1 districts, counties, or parishes of such
State by the commanding general giving to
each representation in the ratio of voters
registered as aforesaid, as nearly as NAV be
The convention in Virginia shall consist of
the same number of members as represented
the territory now constituting Virginia in
the most numerous branch of the Legisla-
ture of said State in the year 1860 to be APP
pOrtioned as aforesaid.
See. 3. That at said election the registered
voters ofeaeh State shall vote for or against a
convention to form a constitution therefor I'M
der this act. Those voting in favor Of such con-
Ycntlon shall have written or printed on the
ballots by which they vote for delegates. a.
aforesaid, the words ''for a c0nyenton;'' and
those voting against such convention, shall
have written or printed on such ballots the
words against convention The persons
appointed 10 superintend said election, and TO
make return Of the votes given thereat, a.
herein provided, shall count and make return
Of the votes given for and against a convention:
and the commanding general, To whom the
same shall have been returned, shall ascertain
and declare the total vote in each state for and
against a convention. Ii majority Of votes
given ON that question shall be for a conven-
ton, then such convention shall be held, A.
hereinafter proyided but if majority Of said
votes shall be against nVcutiOn, then no such
convention shall he beld under this act: Pro
yided, That such convention shall not be
held uulcss majority Of all such registered
voters shall have voted on the question Of hold
ing such convention.
Sec T. That the commanding general of
each district shall appOintsuch loyal officers
OF persons as may be necessary. not exceed
I ing three in each election district, in any
State to make and complete the registration,
superintend the election, and make return
! to him of the votes lists of votes and of the
/ persons elected as delegates by a plurality
! of the votes cast at said election; and upon
! receiving said returns he shall open the
same, ascertain the persons elected as dele
gates according to the returns of the officers
who conducted said election, and make
proclamation thereof; and if majority of
the votes given on that question shall be for
a conventions the commanding general with
r
shall notify the delegates to assemble in
convention at a time and place to be men
toned in the notification, and said cOnven-
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame
a Constitution and civil government accord
ing TO the provisions of thisact, and the act
to which it is supplementary and when the
same shall have been so framed, said COnsti-
tuition shall be submitted by the convention
for ratification to the persons registered IN
der the provisions of this act, at an election
to be conducted by the officers, or persons
appointed by the commanding general as
hereiubeforc provided, and to be held after
the expiration of thirty days from the date
of notice thereof to be given by said CON
vention, and the returns thereof shall be
made to the commanding general of the
district.
See 5 That if, according to said returns,
the Constitution shall be ratified by ma
iority of the votes of the registered electors
qualified as herein specified, cast at said
election, at least one half of all the register
ed voters voting upon the question of such
ratification, the President Of the convention
shall transmit copy of the same, duly Ger
tilted, to tt e President of the United States
who shall forthwith transmit the same to
Congress, if then in session, and if not in
session, then Immediately upon its next
assembling; and If it shall, moreover, appear
to Congress that the election was one at
which all the registered and qualified cleo
tors in the State had an opportunity to vote
freely and without restraint, fear, or the in
fiucnce of fraud, and if Congress shall be
satisfied that such constitution meets the
approval of IA majority of the qualified cleo
tors in the State, and If the said constitution
shall be declared by Congress to be in con
formity with the provisions of the act to
which this is supplementary, and the other
provisions of said act shall have been
complied with, and the said constitution
shall be approved by Congress, the State
shall be declared entitled to representation
and Senators and Representatives shall be
admitted therefrom as herein provided
Sec +. That all elections in the States
mentioned in the said Act to provide for the
efficient government of the rebel States"
shall during the operation of said act be by
ballot; and all officers making the said regis
tration ofvoters and conducting said elections
shall before entering upon the discharge
of their duties, subscribe an oath faithful
~ to perform the duties of their said Office
and the oath prescribed by the act approved
July ,, 1862, entitled An act to prescribe an
oath of office" Provided, That if any per
son shall knowingly and falsely take and
subscribe any oath in this act prescribed,
such person so offending, and being thereof
duly convicted, shall be subject TO the pains,
penalties aud disabilities which by law are
provided or the punishment of the crime of
wilful and corrupt perjury.
Sec 7. That all expenses incurred by the
several commanding generals, or by virtue
of any orders issued or appointments made
by them under or by virtue of this act. shall
be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
See :. That the convention for each State
shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compen-
sation to be paid to all delegates and other
officers and agents herein authorized or ne
ceSsary to carry into effect the purpose of
this act not herein otherwise provided for, /
and shall provide for the levy and collection
of such taxes on the property in such State
as may be necessary to pay the same
See 9, That the word article in the sixth
section of the act to which this is supple
mentary, shall be construed to mean 'sec- /
ton