The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-26
..;RECoNsTRUCTION.--
Supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman-
n N 2 ShelIabarger Bill. ---,~,o

ID $fRc45 z Shellabarger Bill. -
AN1cr supplementalito an act Senttied an act te
the rebel States, passed March 3 1867, and to
facilitate restoration.
Ben enacted By the Se n ana Hoase Of hso a.
qress assembled, That before the first day OF
u September, 1867, the commanding general in each
district defined BY an act entitled an act to PRO-
States, approved March q 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens OF the
United States, twentyone years OF aye and up
wards, resident in each county or parish IN the
State or States included in his district, which reg
istration will include only those persons who are
said land who shall have taken and subscribed the
following oath or affirmation: -
81, =, do solemnly swear. or affirm, in the
presence of Almighty 6 3D. that am citizen of
the State Of, that 1 have resided in said State
.or - months next preceding this day, and
now reside in the county of-o or the parish }at
am 81 years old; that have not been dlsfran-
chised for participation in any rebellion or civil
4 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 at
sterwartls sengased in ipsurrection or rebellion
against the United States and given aid or COM
4 fort to the enemies thereof; that l have never
4 taken cath "a member OF Congress OF the
United States, or as officer of the United
| States or as member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive judicial officer of any State,
l.
| and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
bellion against the United States, given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof; that will faith
| 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
| Cod"
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
! by any registering officer.
| Sec 9. That after the completion of the regis
tration hereby provided for In any State at such
| time and place therein as the commanding gen.
eral may appoint and direct, of which at least
thirty days public notice shall be given an cleo
! ton shall be held of delegates to a convention
for the 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 men,
bers as the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature of such State in the year 1861 to be
apportioned among the several districts, coun-
ties, parishes of such State by the command
ING general giving to each representation in the
ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly
as may be. The Convention in 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-
ature OF said State in the year 1861, to be appor
toned as aforesaid. e.. -
Sec g. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or against con-
vention to form a constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such a convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words N'for con-
vention;'' and those voting against such con-
ventiOn shall have written or printed on such
ballots the words against convention" The
persons appointed to superntend 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
Il convention. II majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for a convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act
Pr0cided That such convention shall not be held
unless q 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, superintend the elec-
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 proclama-
ton thereof; and if a majority of the votes given
on that question shall he Tor convention, the
commanding general, within sixty days from the
date of election shall notify the delegates to
semble in convention at time and place to be
mentioned in the notification, and said Couven
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame
Constitution and civil government according to
the provisions of this act, and the act 10 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 oft this
act at an election to be conducted by the Off
GERS, or persons appointed by the commanding
general as hereinbefore provided, and to be held
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
OF notice thereof to be given by said conven-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
the commanding general of the district
Sec. >. That if, according to said returns the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified as here
in specified, cast at said election at least
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question ofsuch 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 SEES
sion, then immediately upon its next assembling;
and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election WlS 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 fraud, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the ap-
proval OF a 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
mentary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with, and the said con-
shall be approved by Congress, the
State shall be declared entitled to representation,
and Senators and Representatives shall beadmit-
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, sub
scribe oath faithfully to perform the duties of
their said effice, and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July 2, 1862, entitled can act to
prescribe oath of Office" Provided That lfany
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
cd, shall be subject to the pains, penalties and
disabilities which by law are provided for the
punishment of the crime of wilful and corrupt
perjury.
Sec. z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
al commanding generals, or by virtue of any or
ders issued or appointments made by them uDder
or by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of shy
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 to carry into effect
the purposes 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
Sec. 9. That the word article in the sixth
section of the act to which this is supplements
nv shall be construed to mean ''SectiOn-"