The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-03
REccNsTRUcTIoN.:
Supnlementary to the Stevens-Sherman-
SheIlabarger Bill.

| the rebel States, passed. Marcn z, loo', anu u
| facilitate restoration.
| Re- ~ enacted 6y tile Senate and House Of Repre-
sentaives Of the United States Of AnaertcG IN Con
gress assembled, That before the first day o
| September, 1867, the commanding general in eacl
| district defined by an act entitled an act TO pro
vide for the efficient government OF the rebe
States, approved March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens OF tint
| United States twenty one years of age and up
| wards, resident in each county or parish IN tnt
State or States included in his district which reg
stration will include only those persons VINO are
| qualified to vote for delegates by, the act aiore
said, and who shall have taken and subscribed the
| following oath or affirmation ,
81 -, do solemnly swear, or Affirm, IN the
presence of Almighty God, that am citizen OF
| the State Of, that have resided in said State
for months next preceding this day, and
now reside in the county OF -, or the parish 2
Of, in said State, as the case may be :; that
am 81 years old; that [ have not been dlsfran-
chised Tor participation in any rebellion or civil
war against the United States, nor for felony
the United States; that 1 have never been a
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive judicial office in any State, and at
forwards engaged in Instruction or rebellion
against the United States, and given aid or COM
fort to the enemies thereof; that L have never
taken an oath as member of Congress OF the
United States, an officer OF the United
States, or as member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive or judicial officer of any State
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
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 tC 10. SO help me
God.'
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer.
Sec 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.
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 mem
bers as the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature of such State in the year 1860, to be
apportioned among the several districts, coun-
ties or parishes of such State by the command
ing general, giving to each, representation in the
ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, 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-
lature OF said State i'll the year 1860, to be appOr
toned as aforesaid.
Sec 5. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or againsta con-
vention to form a constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words 'for a con-
vention;' and those voting against such a con-
vcntion 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 conventions
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
convention. If a majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act
POUided, 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 loyal officers or per-
sons may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district. in any State, to make and
complete the registration, superintend 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 proclama-
ton thereof; and if majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for a convention the
commanding general, within sixty DAYS from the
date of election, shall notify the delegates to
semble in convention at a time and place to be
mentioned in the notification, and said Conven
ton, 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
udNc Deeu So Sdlu CONSTITUTION snail DC
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
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. D. That if, according to said returns, the
shall be ratified by a majority of the
votes Of the registered electors qualified as here
in specified, cast at said election, at least one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question ofsuch ratification, the president of the
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 ses-
sion, then Immediately upon its next assembling;
and II 1t snail 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 fraud, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the aD-
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-
stltution shall be approved by Congress- the
State Shall be declared entitled to representation
and Senators and 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 sub
scribe an 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 an oath of oficc;' 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
ed, shall be subject to the pains, penalties and
disabilities which by law are provided for the
punishment of the crime of wiIful 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 uDder
'r by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of shy
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri-
tied.
Sec. g. That the convention for each State shall
prescribe the fees salary and compensation to be
oaid to all delegates and other officers and agents
lereln authorized or necessary to carry into effect
he 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
'tate as may oe necessary to pay the same.
Sec. g. That the word ''artcle'' in the sixth |
ectlon OF the act to which this is supplemental |
y shall be construed to mean 'sectionn
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
LA FAYETTE s. FOSTER,
President of the Senate pro temnoro