Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-03-26
The Supplementary Reconstruction Bill.


passed both Houses:
| An act supplemental to an act entitled ON act to
proride for the more efficient government OF
the rebel States, passed March, md, 1867,
| and to facilitate restoration
Be 1T enacted, dc, That before the lst day
of September, 1867, the commanding General
in each district defined by an act entitled an act
to provide for the more efficient government Of
the rebel States approved March, ?, 1867, shall
cause a registration to be made Of the male cit
liens of the United States twenty one years OF
age and upwards, resident in each county or
parish in the State or States included in his
| district, which registration will include only
those persons who are qualified to vote for del
egates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have
taken and subscribed the following oath or afir-
nation:
Il, -, do solemnly swear or affirm, in
the presence of Almighty God, that | am
citizen Of the State of --; that have re-
sided in said State for -- months next pre-
ceding this day, and now reside in the county of
-, or parish of -, in said State, as
! the case may be that am twenty-one years
old that have not been disfranchisedf for partici-
patton in any rebellion or civil war against the
United States, nor for felony committed against
| the laws Of any State or of the U. s.. that l.
have never been a member of any State Legis-
in any State, and afterwards engaged in insur-
rection against the United States, and given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that L
have never taken an oath, as member of Con-
gress of the United States or as an officer of
the United States, or as a member of any State
Legislature, or an Executive or Judicial Off
Ger of any State to support the Constitution of
the United States, and afterwards engaged in
instruction or rebellion against the United
States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof; that [ will faithfully support the Con
stitution and obey the laws OF the United
States, and will to the best Of my ability en-
courage others SO to do-so help me God. y
Which oath Or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer.
Section 2. That after the completion of the
registration hereby provided for in any State at
such time and places therein as the command
ing general shall appoint and direct Of which at
least thirty days public notice shall be given, an
election shall be held ofdelegates to Convention
forthe purpose of establishing Constitution and
civil government for such State loyal to the
Union; said Convention in each State Except
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 several dis
tr.cts counties or parishes of such State by the
commanding general, giving to each represen-
| tation in the ratio OF the voters registered as
aforesaid, as nearly as may be. The Conven-
| ton in Virginia shall consist OF the same num-
| Der of members as represented the territory now
constituting Virginia in the most numerous
branch of the Legislature, of said State in the
year 1860, to be apportioned as aforesaid.
| Section g. That at said election, the regis
| tered voters of each State shall vote for or
against Convention to form Constitution
| therefor under this act. Those voting in favor
of such Convention shall have written or
printed on the ballots by which they vote for dele
gates, as aforesaid, the words for a Conven-
| ton and those voting against such conven-
| ton shall have written or printed ON such bal
| lots the words against Convention. The
persons appointed to superintend said election,
and to make return Of the votes given thereat,
| as herein provided, shall count and make re-
| turn of the votes given for and against con-
vention; and the commanding general, to whom
| the same shall have been returned, shall ascer-
tain and declare the total vote in each State for
| and against convention. If majority of the
votes given on that question shall be for Con-
vention, then such Convention shall be held as
hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said
votes shall be against Convention, then no
| such convention shall be held under this act
| P-ovsded, That such Convention shall not be
held unless a majority Of all such REGISTERED vo-
tiers shall have voted on the question of holding
such a convention.
Section T. The commanding general of each
district shall appoint such loyal officers or per-
sons, as may be necessary. not exceeding three
in each election district in any State, to make
and complete the registration, superlntend the
| election, and make return to him Of the votes,
list of voters, and of the persons elected as del
egates by a plurality Of the votes cast at said
election; and upon receiving said returns he
l chaU ha q
elected as delegates according to the returns Of
the officers who conducted said election, and
make proclamation thereof; and if a majority
of the votes given on that question shall be for
| convention, the commanding general, within
sixty days from the date Of election, shall notify
| the delegates to assemble in Convention at a
| time and place to be mentioned In the notlhca-
| ton; and said convention, when organized,
| shall proceed to frame Constitution and civil
government according to the provisions Of this
act and the act to which it is supplementary,
and when the same shall have been so framed,
said constitution shall be submitted by the Con-
vention for ratification to the persons registered
under the provisions of this act, at an election
| to be conducted by the officers or persons ap-
pointed by the commanding general as herein
before provided, and to be held after the expira-
| ton of thirty days from date of notice thereof,
| to be given by said Convention; and the returns
| thereof shall be made to the commanding gener-
al of the district
Section 5. That if, according to said returns,
the Constitution shall be ratified by majority
of the votes Of the registered electors qualified
as herein specified cast at said election, at least
one half of all the registered voters voting upon
| the question Of such ratification, the President
| of the Convention shall transmit copy of the
same duly certified, to the 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 as
sembling; and if it shall moreover appear to
| Congress that the election was one at which all
the registered and qualified electors in the State
had an opportunity to vote freely and without
restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if
Congress shall be satisfied that such consti-
tuition meets the approval of majority Of
the qualified electors in the State, and if the
said constitution shall be declared by Congress
to be in conformity with the provisions OF the
| act to which this is supplementary, and the 9TH
err provisions of said act shall have been com
piled with, and the said Constitution shall be
approved by Congress, the State shall be de-
clared entitled to representation and Senators
and Representatives shall be admitted there
from as therein provided.
Section g. All elections in the States men
toned in the said ''act to provide for the more
efficient government of the rebel States shall,
during the operation, of said act, be by ballot
and all officers making the said registration of
voters and conducting elections shall, before en-
tering upon the discharge Of their duties, sub