The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-13

1t is probable that Congress will adjourn
soon over to May or October. No day has
yet been fixed Meanwhile enabling acts
supplemental TO the Sherman act are under
consideration, and it seems probable that
some act of the sort will be passed. We do
not know that such an act is necessary for
this State, but it may be that Congress
should aid some of the other States.
On motion of Mr.. Kelley, the committee
on the Judiciary Of the House has been in
structed to report an enabling act.
We have received from Hon. Charles Sum.
ner printed copy of bill introduced by
him, and read twice In the Senate, ito guar
antee republican form of government in
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Lou
isiana, Arkansas, and Texas, and to provide
for the restoration of those States to practi-
cal relations to the Union.n We shall pub
fish this bill in our next.
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts, has also in
troduced an enabling act, in substance as fol-
lows:
Section one directs the commanding off
Ger of each district to cause registration to
be made before September 1. 1867, in each
county or parish in his district, of the male
citizens over twenty-one years of age resi-
dent therein, to include only those qualified
to vote by the act to which this is supple
ment, and who shall take and subscribe the
following oath: u, -4-, do hereby SOL
EMMY swear Tor afirm) that I am sincerely
and earnestly attached to the Union and
Government of the United States; that
will steadfastly support the Constitution and
obey the laws of the United States; and
that will, to the best of my ability, engage
all others to such support and obedience; SO
help me God"
Section two directs the commanding gen.
eral, as soon as the registration is completed,
to cause an election for delegates to Con-
vention to be held on a day not less than
thirty days from proclamation of election,
for the purpose of amending the existing or
framing new Constitution, of firmly estab-
fishing loyal civil governments, and passing
needful ordinances to put the same into op-
Grafton.
Section three directs that the said Conven-
tions shall be called on the basis of represen-
tatiOn on which the number of members of
Congress is apportioned.
Section four provides for the appointment
by the commanding general of officers or
persons to make the registration, preside at
the election, receive, sort, and count the
votes, and make return thereof, and of the
persons elected, and he then shall make
proclamation of the persons elected, and no.
tify within sixty days when and where they
shall assemble to organize the convention !;
and when the said convention shall have
amended the existing or framed new Con-
stitution in accordance with the act to
which this is supplement, it shall be sub
mitted to the people at an election to be
held after the expiration of thirty days from
notice thereof given by the convention.
Section five provides that if the said Con-
stitution is ratified by majority of the
votes cast, the President of the Convention
shall transmit the same to the President of
the United States. who shall transmit 1T to
Congress, if in session, and if not in session,
then upon its next assembling; and if it be
declared by Congress to be in conformity
with the provisions of the act recently pass
ed by Congress known as the military pill,
the State shall be declared entitled to rep
resentation, and senators and representatives
shall be admitted as provided in said act.
Section six provides that the duties and
powers delegated and conferred upon the
commanding general may, with his consent,
be transferred to the acting governor of the
State upon his taking an oath faithfully
L. e - H.