The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-02
Reconstruction.

u.
It will be remembered that the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Stevens on the 18th December,
prepared at his request by North Carolinians,
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 ENGRAVING on it the main fea-
lures of the North Carolina bill, SO as to give
his hill thus amended, which we publish be-
low. precedence on the calendar. 1t will,
therefore, come up at once as soon as Con-
gress re-assembles 1t is probable the Com
mittee 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 must the oath soiU not, in any ecent, 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 voters.
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 FOR THE READM1SslON OF THE
| SOUTHERN STATES.
rBy Teleqraph to the Tribune
WAsH1sGToN, Dec 2l.-The following bill, in
troduced into the House last session by Mr. Ste
vens, To enable the States lately IN re6elion 70
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:
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 Represen-
tatives of the United States Of America in Congress
assembled That the eleven States lately in rebel
| lion, except Tennessee, may form valid State
Governments in the following manner:
| SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That the
| State Governments now existing de Jdcto 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 are not to be
treated as free republics, yet they are hereby ac
knowledged as valid governments for municipal
purposes until the same shall be duly altered, and
their legislative and executive officers shall be
recognized as such.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the ten
States which were 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 q
! State Government. The Convention shall con-
sist of the same number of members as the most
numerous branch of the Legislature of said State
before the Rebellion. 1t shall meet at the former
capital of said State on the first Monday of June
of said year, at II o'clock noon, with power to
adjourn from time to time, and shall proceed to
form State Constitution, which shall be submit
ted to the people at 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 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
trcts, which districts shall be the same before
the Rebellion, unless allotted by said Comnis-
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 IS
per day for the time actually employed Each of
the members of said Commission shall receive
s., 600 per annum, and their clerks 81 600. The
Commission shall procure all Unnecessary 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
necessary 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 on the day herein ixed 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
siopers whose certificates OF election shall be pri
| mn facie evidence of the fact
SEC. 1. And be it further enacted. That persons
who shall be entitled to vote at both of said cleo
tions shall be as follows All male citizens above
the age of q 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