Smyrna times., 1867-09-18
O Il FIC "A L.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES,
Passed at the First Session of the FOrtieh Con-

[PUBLIC-No. 6.
AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled SAN act to
provide for the more efficient government of the
rebel States," passed March second, eighteen
hundred and sixt seven, and To facilitate restora.
ton.
Be it enacted By the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiues of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That before the FIRST day of Sep.
tenber, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven the com.
general in each district defined by an act
entitled" An act to provide for the more efficient
government of the rebel States" passed March sec-
Ond eighteen hundred and slxty-se shall cause
registration to be made of the male citizens Of the
United States, twentyoDe years of age and upwards
resident IN each county or parish IN the State
States included in his district, which registration
shall include only those persons who are qualified |
to vote for delegates by the act aforesaid and who
shall have taken and subscribed the following oath |
or afhrmatlon Il, --, do solemnly swear, (or |
afiirm) in the presence of Almighty God that am |
citizen fthe State Of; that have resided |
In said State for - months next preceding this
day, and now reside in the county of -, or the |
parish ol--, in said State, (as the case may
be y that am twenty ne yrars old that | have
not been dsfranchiSed tor participation in any re-
beion of evil war against the Unit d States, not
for felony committed against the laws of any Stale
or of the U tied States; that have never been a
member OF anv State Legislature nor held any ex-
ecuve or Judicial office in any State aud afierwar rds
engaged in insurrectiOn or rebellion against the
United States or given aid comfort to the enc.
mics thereof that have never taken an oath as a
member of Congress of the Uni ed States, or as an
fficer Of the United States, OF as a member Of any
State legislature, or as an executive judicial off,
Ger of any Stat, to pOort the Constitution of the
United States, and afterwards engaged in insurrec-
tion or rebellion against the United States given
al or comfort to the enemies thereof; that | will
faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws
of the United States, and will, to the hest of my
ahI l..l- llA
winch oath or affirmation may be administered by
any registering officer.
SEC =. And be 1t further enacted, That after
the completion of the registration hereby provided
for in any State, at snch time and places therein
the Commanding general shall appoint and direct, OF
which al least thirty days public motto, shall be
given, election shall he held Of delegates TO a
convention for the purpose Establishing consti-
tuition and civil government of such State loyal to
the Union, said convention in each State, except
Virginia, to consist Oi the number of members
as the most numerous branch of the State legisla-
ture OF such State in e year eighteen hundred and
sixty, to be apportoned among the several DISTRICTS
counties, or parishes of such State by the command
ing general, giving to- ch representation in the
ratIO Of voters registered aforesaid nearly as
may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist
of the same number OF members represented the
territory now constituting Virginia IN the most nu-
ernus branch of the Legislature o said State in the
year eighteen hundred and sixty, to he apPortOned
s a,Orosad
SEC 3 And be IL further enacted, Thai at said
election the registered votes of each State shall v"te
for or against a convention to form constitution
therefor under this act Those vltlng in favor Of
such convention shall have written or printed
the ballots by which they vote for delegates. as
aforesaid, the words For convention" The per-
sons appointed 10 superntend said election, and to
make return of the votes given thereat, as herein
provided, shall cOnnt and make return of the votes
given for and against n convention and the com-
mandIng gener al To whom the same shall have been
returned shall ascertain and declare the total
each State for and against a convention. il ma
"rty OF the vntes given that question shall be Tor
n convention, then such convention shall be held
hereinafter provided but 1T majority of said votes
shall be held under lhis act Propided, That such
convention shall not be held unless majority of all
snch registered voters snail have voted on the ques-
tlnn of holding such convention.
SIC. a. And he IL fHrthrT endcfed, That the com.
mand'ng general Of each district shall appoint as
many boards Of registration may be necessary,
consisting of three loyal officers persons TO mn
and complete the regslrntinn uperntend the elec.
ton aud make return To him of the votes list OF vo
8 ters and Of the persons elected delegates by y
plurality Of the votes said election; and upon
receiving said returns he shall open the same, as
crrtam the persons elected as delegates, according
TO the returns Of the officers who conducted sait
: election, and make proclamation theren; and if
majority OF the votes given that question sh" b
. for convention. the commanding general, withiT
sixty days from the date of election shall notify th
delegates TO assemble in convention, at a time AM
place to be mentioned in the notification, and sail
convention, when organized shall proceed 10 fram
constitution and civil government according 1
y the provisions of this act and the act to which il
9 supplementary; and when the same shall have bee
- framed, said constitution shall be submitted b.
3 the convention for ratification 10 the per regis
tered under the provisions OF this act at elecIio
conducted nv the officers
l. or to- be appointed by the commanding general, a
herenbefore provided and to be held after the exp
y ration Of thirty days from the date Of notice thereof
a. to be given by said conventions and the return
= thereof Sas: be made TO the commanding genera
y the district. -...
nf SEC. 5. And be il further enacted. That IL, al
10 cording to said retu ns the constitution shall
ratified bya ority of the votes of the registere
electors qualified herein specified, cast at sal
to election, at least 0nehaf of all the registered vote
voting upon the question of such ratification. III
president of the convention shall transmit copy
the same duly certified, to the President Of the Un
IN ted States who shall forthwith transmit the
Congress, if then in session, and IT not IN sessio
- then Immediately upon its next assembling; and
il shall moreover appear to Congress that the ele
ton was one at which all the registered and qua
fled electors in the State had an opportunity 10 vo
ffeey and without restraint, fear, or the influence
fraud, and if the Congress shall he satisfied tn
such constitution meets the approval oil malorl
of all the qualified elect in the State, and 1t q
id constitution shall be declared by Congress TO
n conformity with the provisions Of the act 10 whI
this is supplementary, and the other provisions
ds said shall have been complied with, and the sa
Of consti uton shall be approved by Congress- !
lid State shall be declared entitled to representa-
and senators, and Representatives shall be admit
gs, ther from as therein provided. .,. d "a .
ty1 SEC. g. And be ii further enacted. That all eli
tons in the States mentioned in the said "Act
provide far the efficient government OF the n
on ell States, shall, during the operation Of said act
lies by ballot; and all officers making the said regist
9th ton Of voters and conducting said elections sh
as before entering upon the discharge Of their duti
take and subscribe the oath prescribed by The
'est approved July second, eighteen hundred and six
u two, entitled IAN act to .rescribe an oath Of ofc
as PFocided, That At any person shall knowingly
mp falsely take and subscribe any oath in this act
Saa scribed, such person offending and being ther