The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-16
supplementary % the s,erens-shermaln-

| SheIlabarger Bill" ---~'---->@---
AN ACT supplemental to an act entitled an act to
provide for the more efficient government of
the rebel States, passed March Z, 1867, and to
i facilitate restoration.
Be !, enacted 6y the Senate and House Of Repre-
serstatives of the United States Of America in Con-
| gaess assembled That before the first day of
| September 1857, the commanding general in each
district defined by an act entitled an act to pro-
vide for the efficient government of the rebel
States, approved March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens of the
| United States, twenty one years of age 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
qualified to vote for delegates by the act afore-
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 a 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
| Of, in said State as the case may be; that
am 81 years old; that have not been distran-
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 1 have never been
member OF any State Legislature, nor 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 | have never
taken an oath as member of Congress of the
| United States, or as an officer of the United
| d
or as an executive judicial officer of any State,
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in insurrectioD or re-
| bellion against the United States, or 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
| Cod"
| Which oath or affirmation may be administered
| by any registering officer
Sec. 2. That after the completion of the regis
la6
time and place therein as the commanding gen.
eral may appoint and direct, of which at least
thirty days public notice shall be given, cleo
| ton shall be held of delegates to convention
| for the purpose of establishing a 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 1860, to be
apportioncd 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
may be. The Convention in Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members rep
resented the territory now constituting Vir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
ature of said State in the year 1860, to be appor-
toned as aforesaid
Sec 3. That at said election the registered vO-
tiers of each State shall vote for or against
vention to toIin 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 'fOr a n
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
a convention. If a majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act
P'Onided, 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 +. That the commanding general of each
district shall appoint such 10 al officers per-
sons may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district. in any State, to make and
complete the registration, supcrintend 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 AZ dele
gates according to the returns of the officers
who conducted said election and make proc!ama-
ton thereof; and if 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
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 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
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. ). 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 one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question of such 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
sion, then Immediately upon its next assembling;
and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was 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 fraul, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the APP
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
mentary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with, and the said con-
stitution shall be approved by Congress, the
State shall be declared entitled to representation,
and Senators aid Representatives shall be admit
ted therefrom as herein provided.
Sec. 8. That all elections in the States men
toned in the said "Act to provide for the More
elnclenI government OF the TeDel States, Silal,
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 effce, and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July 2, 1862, entitled can act to
prescribe an oath of Office" Provided, That lfany
person shall knowingly and falsely lake 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 provided for the
punishment of the crime of wiful and corrupt
perjury.
Sec Z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
al commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or
ders issued appointments made by them upder
or by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of shy
in the Treasury not otherwise appropri-
atcd
Sec. 8. 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 necessary 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 may he necessary to pay the same.
Sec. Q. That the word "article'' in the sixth
If no of To ic