Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-08
1tuinu aud dispatch.
TrEsDAY. IANrAnY 5. Isez.
THAD. STEVENS, LAST.

The Measure that g. 60 Heal the Onion
by Crushing the sOuth-Ihe Finished
LabOrs Of the s'BuckshOt'' HerO--The
Essence OF Radical MaIignity and
Hatc--Amendmen ia Ghe Nature Of
Substitute 20 NJ. n. 5f3, Proposed
by Mr. stevens.
Whereas the eleven States which lately
formed the government called the "COnied-
crate States Of America have forfeited all
their rights under the constitution, and can
be reinstlted in the same only through the
action Of Congress: Therefore,
Be il enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That the
eleven States lately in rebellion, except
Tennessee, may form valid State govern
ments in the following manner
Sec. 2 And be il further enacted, That
the State governments now eXistingds t1c'0,
though illegally formed in the midst Of
martial law, and in many instances the
constitutions were adopted under duress,
and not submitted 20 the ratification Of the
people and therefore are not TO be treated
az free republics yet they are hereby ac-
knowledged as valid governments for mu
nicipal purposes until the same shall BE-
duly altered, and their legislative and eE
ecutive officers shall be recognized as such.
Sec 3. And be il further enacted, That
each Of the ten States which were lately
in rebellion, and have not been admitted 10
representation in Congress, shall hold cleo
ti0Ds on the first Tuesday Of May, eighteen
hundred and siEty-scven TO choose dele
gates 10 convention 10 form a State gov
erLment The convention shall consist Of
the same number Of members as the most
numerous branch Of the Legislature Of said
State before the rebellion. II shall meet
at the former capital Of said State on the
FIRST Monday Of June Of said year, at twelve
o'clock, noon, with power to adjourn from
time 10 time, and shall proceed 10 form a
State constitution, which shall be submit
ted to the people at such time as the con-
yention shall direct, and If ratified by a
majority Of legal votes shall be declared
the constitution of The State Congress
shall elect commission for each Of said
States, 10 consist of three persons, who shall
select, or direct the mode Of selecting, the
election Of officers for the several election
districts, which districts shall be the same
as before the rebellion, unless altered by
said commission The officers shall consist
Of one judge and two inspectors Of cleo
tions, and two clerks; the said officers, to-
gether with all the expenses Of the election,
shall be paid by the United States, and
said expenses shall be repaid by said State
or territory. Each ofsaid officers shall re-
ceive five dollars per day for the time ac-
tually employed Each of the members Of
said commission shall receive three thou
sand dollars per annum, and their clerk
two thousand dollars. The commission
shall procure all the necessary books, sta
uonery, and boxes. and make all regula-
tons To effect the objects Of this act. The
President of the United States and the
military commander Of the district shall
furnish so much military aid as the said
commissioners shall deem necessary to pro-
tect the polls and keep the peace at each Of
said election districts IT, by any means,
no election should be held in any Of said
late States on the day herein fixed then
the election shall be held on the third Mon
day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty
seven, in the manner herein prescribed.
Returns Of all such elections shall be made
10 the said commissioners, whose certificates
Of election shall be prima taeie evidence Of
the fact
Sec f. And be it further enacted, That
the person who shall be entitled 10 vote al
both Of said elections shall be as follows
All male citizens above the ace of twenty
one wears who have resided one year in
said State. and ten days within the election
district
Sec. o. And be it further enacted, That
the word citizen, as used in this act, shall
be construed 60 mean all persons Except
Indians not taxed born ia the United
States, or duly uaturalizcd. Any male
citizen above the age Of twenty-one years
shall be competent 60 be elected TO act as
delegate TO said convention.
Sec. G. And be it further enacted, That
all persons who, on the fourth day Of
March, eighteen hundred and siXty-One,
were Of full age, who held Office, either
civil or military, under the government
called the Confederate States of Ameri-
ca or who swore allegiance to said gov
eminent are hereby declared to have
forfeited their citizenship and 30 have re-
nounced allegiance to the United States,
and shall not be entitled to exercise the
elective franchise, OF hold office, until five
| years after they shall have filed their iu-
! tention or desire TO be reinvested with the
right of citizenship, and shall swear ale
/ glance to the United States and renounce
allegiance TO all other governments or pre-
! tenGed governments; the said application
! to be filed and oath taken in the same
courts that by law are authorized TO natu-
ralize foreigners Provided, however, That
on taking the following oath, the party
being otherwise qualified, shall be allowed
| TO vote and hold office:
q. A. B., do solemnly swear, on the
| Holy Evangelist Of Almighty God, that on
| the fourth day Of March, eighteen hundred
| and sixty-four, and at all :imes thereafter
! ] would Willingly have complied with
the requirements of the proclamation o
the President Of the United States issued
on the eighth day Of December eighteen
! hundred and siNty-three, had a safe oppor
! tunitv of SO doing been allowed me; thai
on the said fourth Of March, eighteen hun
dred and siXty-iour and at ali times there
after, ! was opposed 20 the continuance o
the rchalion, and 10 the establishment O
the so-called Confederate government, an,
voluntarily gave no aid OF encouragement
thereto, but earnestly desired the success O
the Union, and the suppression Of all armed
resistance 10 the government of the Unite,
States: and that ! will henceiorth faith
fully support the constitution Of the Unite,
States. and the Union Of the States there
under
See :. And hc il further enacted, Tha
no constitution shall be presented to o
acted ON by Congress which denies TO am
citizen any right, privileges, or immunitie
which are granted to any other citizen II
the State. All laws shall be impartial
without regard TO language, race, or forme
. condition. II the provisions Of this sec
ton should ever be altered, repealed ez
plunged, on IN any way ahrogatcd, this &c
shall become void and said State lose il
right 20 be represented in Congress.
Sec. s. And be IL further enacted, This
whenever the foregoing conditions shall
complied with, the citizens OF said Stat
NAV present said constitution TO Congres
and II the same shall be approved by Cor
sress said State shall be declared eutitle
, to the rights, privileges, and immunitie
and be subject 10 all the obligations ar
liabilities OF "a State within the Uuio
No Senator or Representative shall be a,
mittcd into either House of Congress unit
s. Congress shall have declared the Stale e
IL titled thereto.
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