The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-27
RECONSTRUCTION.
supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman.
Shellabarger Bill.

|
facilitate restoration.
Be u enacted Gy tie iScndtc and House Of Repre-
satatiues of the United Stctes 81 america IN Con-,
0ress assembled, That before the first day OF
September 1867, the commanding general in each
district defined by act Chilled an act TO pro-
vide for the more efficient government III the rebel
States, approved March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens OF the
United States, twenty ole Years oil age and up
wards resident in each county or parish In the
State or States included in his district, which reg
istraton 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 solen.;iiy swear, or affirm, In the
presence of Almighty God, that am citizen OF
the State Of, that have resided in said State
for r months next preceding this day, and
now reside in the county OF -, or the PARISH
Of, in said State, as Tie case may be; that L
am 81 years old; that | have not been disfran-
chised for 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, held any
executive or 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 1 have never
taken an oath as a member of Congress of the
| United States, or is an officer OF the United
States, or member of any State Legislature,
or as an executive judicial officer of any State,
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
belion against the United States, or given aid o.
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
| 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
hc Gle
ton shall be held of delegates to convention
for the purpose of establishing constitution
and civil government for such State loyal to te
| Union: said convention in each State, except
Virginia, to consist Of tae same number OF mCm-
beers 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, parishes of such State by the command
ing general, giving to each, representation in the
ratio of voters registered 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 Vlr
| ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said State in the year 1862 to be appor
| toned aforesaid.
| Sec g. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or againsta con-
vention to form 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 q con-
vention; - and those voting against such a con-
vention shall have written or printed on such
/
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 a ajority of the votes given
on that question shall be for Il convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act:
POvided, That such convention shall not be held
unless q ma ority OF all such registered votes
cl,o |,
convention.
Sec. 4. That The commanding general of eac,i
district shall appoint such 10 II officers per-
sons as may be necessary, not exceeding three. in
each election district. III any State, make and
complete the registration, supcrntcnd the cleo
tion and make return to him OF the votes, lists
OF voters and OF the persons elected Us 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
that question shall be for convention, the !
commanding general, within sixty DAYS from the
date of election shall notify the delegates as
semble in convention at 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 |
have been 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 ofli-
GERS, or persons appointed by the commanding
general as hereinbetorc 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 5. That If, according TO said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified here
in specified cast at said election, at least one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question of such ratification, the president OF the
hDI
duly certified, to the President Of the United
States who shall forthwith transmit the same to 1
Congress, if then in session, and if not in ses n
sion, then immediately upon Its next assembling;
and if it shall moreover appear TO Congress that
the election was at watch all the registered
and qualified electors in the State had oppor- :
+unity to vote freely and without restraint, fear
Or the influence.Of traul and If Congress shall 4
be satisfied that such constitution meets the ap- !
prevail of majority of the qualified electors IN
the State, and If the said constitution shall be t
declared by Congress to be il conformity with 1
the provisions OF the act to which this is supple
nentary, and the other provisions of said act g
shall have been complied with, and the said con- I
'titutiOn shall be approved by Congress, the S
State shall be declared entitled to representation,
md Senators aHd Representatives shall be admit i
ed therefrom as herein provided. d
Sec. e. That all elections in the States men [
Toned in the said "Act to provide for the more v
Efficient government Of the rebel States' shall, t
Turing the operation of said act, be by ballot t
md all officers making the said registration of
'OterS ana cOnOucIlnS S;lu electlOnS Snal before
entering upon the discharge of their duties, sub
scribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of
heir said et1ice and the oath prescribed by the :
ct approved July 2, 1862, entitled can act to
prescribe an oath of office;'' Provided That any
person shall knowingly and falsely take and sub
cribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
on so offending, and being thereof duly convict
d, 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
l commanding generals, or by virtue of any or S
ers issued or appointments made by them under {
II by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of sny {
moneys in the Treasury Lot otherwise appropri- p
ted. /,
See. s. That the convention for each State shall t
prescribe the fees, salary and compensation 10 be o
aid to all delegates and other officers and agents
erein authorized or necessary to carry into effect
he purposes of this act, not herein otherwise t
provided for, and shall provide for the levy and Il
objection OF such taxes on the property in such t
tate as may be necessary to pay the same. Il
Sec. 9. That the word article in the sixth d
ection of the act to which this is supplemental a
shall be construed to mean section" W
SCHUYLER COLFAX, t
Speaker of the House of Representatives
LA FAIETTE s. FOSTER, Il
President of the Sprofn nro