The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-27
Supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman'
ShelIabarger Bill.

|
Shellabarger Bill.
An ACT supplemental to an act entitled an act t.
provide for the more efficient government o
the rebel States, passed March 2, 1867, ana u
facilitate restoration.
Be it enacted, &C, That before the first day o
September, 1867, the commanding general IN eacl
district defined by an act entitled an act 10 pro
vide for the more efficient government OF the rcDe
States, approved March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
stration to be made OF the male ctxes oU I'd n u
| wards resident in each county or parish IN the
State or States included in his district which reg
istration will include only those persons VINO arc
qualified to vote for delegates by the act atore
| said and who shall have taken and subscribed the
following oath or affirmation: ,
! 81 -, do soemnly swear, or affirm, IN the
presence OF Almighty God, that am cltlzen o.
! the State Of, that have resided in said State
| for months next preceding this day, ana
| now reside in the county Of, or the parish !
| Of, in said State, as the case may be that
am 81 years old; that l have not been dlsfran,
chised tor participation in any rebellion or civil
war against the United States, nor for felony
| committed against the laws OF any State or OF
| the United States; that have never been
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial office in any State and al
| forwards engaged in Instruction or rebellion
against the United States, and given aid or COM
fort to the enemies thereof that 1 have never
| taken an oath as member of Congress OF the
United States, an officer OF the Onlted
States, Il member OF any stare
or as an executive judicial officer OF any State
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
bcion against the United States, or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof; that Will 1iltn-
fully support the Constitution and obey the laws
of the United States, and will, to the best OF my
ability, encourage others so to do. SO help me
God"
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer
See 2 That after the completion of the regis
tration hereby provided for in any State at such
time and place therein as the commanding gen,
cral may appoint and direct, of which at least
thirty days public notice shall be given, an cleo
ton shall be held of delegates to Il convention
for the purpose of establishing constitution
and civil government for such State loyal to the
Union: said convention in each Stute, except
Virginia, to consist Of the same number OF mem
beers as the most numerous branch Of the State
Legislature of such State in the year 1861, to be
apportOned among the several districts, c0un-
ties or parishes of such State by the command
inc general giving TO each, representation in the
ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly
as NAV be. The Convention i'll Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members as rep
resented the territory now constituting Vir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said State in the year $780, to be appOr
toned as aforesaid.
Sec 8. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or against con-
venton to form constitution under this act
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words 'for a con-
ventOn;' and those voting against such con-
yenton shall have written or printed on such
ballots 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 return
of the votes given for and against convention;
and the commanding general, to whom the same
shall have been returned, shall ascertain and de-
clare the total vote in each State for and against
a convention. If majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for a convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act:
PiOVided, That such convention shall not be held
unless majority of all such registered votes
shall have voted on the question of holding such
convention
Sec. 4 That the commanding general of each
district shall appoint such 10 al officers or per-
sons as may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district. in any State, to make and
complete the registration, superintcnd the cleo
ton, and make return to him OF the votes lists
OF voters and of the persons elected as delegates
by 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 pro clama-
ton thereof; and ifa majority of the votes given
on that question shall be tor a convention, the
commanding general, within sixty DAYS from the
date of election, shall notify the delegates to as
semble in convention at time and place to be
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame a
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 convention for ratification to
the person registered under the provisions of this
act, at an election to be conducted by the Off
GERS, or persons appointed by the commanding
general as hereinbcfore provided, and to be held
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
OF notice thereo to be given by said conven-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
the commanding general of the district.
Sec. D. That if, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by MA Ority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified as here
in specified, cast at said election, at least or :
half OF all the registered voters voting upon .
question OF such ratification, the president of the
convention shall transmit a 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 SEES
sion, then Immediately upon its next assembling:
and II 1t shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was one at which all the registered |
and qualified electors in the State had an Oppor-
tunity to vote freely and without restraint fear
or the influence OF traul, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the ap-
proval 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 supple
lueutalS, anu lue QUEER provisions OF SAID act I
shall have been complied with, and the said con |
stitution shall be approved by Congress, the !
State shall be declared entitled to Representations
and Senators a.d Representatives shall be admit.
ted therefrOm as herein provided
Sec. 6. That 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 said elections shall before |
entering upon the discharge of their Duties s,lb-
scribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of
their said etfice and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July 2, 1862, entitled ''An act to +
an oath of Office" Provided, That Isany
person shall knowingly and falsely take and sub +
scribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
son so offending, and being thereof duly Convict
ed, snail be subject to the pains, penalties and
disabilities which by law are provided for the T
OF the crime of wlful and corrupt /
perjury.
Sec. z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
IL commanding generals, or by virtue of any or |
1ers issued or appointments made by them under |
Or by virtue o. this act shall be paid out of sny
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri- !
ated.
Sec. s. That the convention for each State shall |
prescribe the fees salary and compensation to be |
paid to all delegates and other officers and agents
herein authorized or necessary carry into effect
The purposes of this act not herein otherwise
provided for, and shall provide for the levy and
CORRECTION NJ such taxes on the property in such
state as may oe necessary to pay the same.
Sec. g. That the word "article" in the sixth
section of the act to which this is supplemental
no nod To,