The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-20
CHARLEST TON.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1867.

CHI A RI E S TON.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 20, 1867.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.
The Supplemental Bill, after an interchange OF
amendments between the House and the SENATE
has at length passed both branches Of Congress,
and the machinery by which the Military Recon-
struction Act is to be put in operation is now,
therefore, complete.
l.. The Military Commander OF the District
must before September, 1867, cause to be made a
registration Of qualified voters.
3. He must provide the means and mode OF reg
istration.
8. After the completion Of the registration,
which may be earlier but must not be later than
September, an election Of Delegates for the Con-
yention must be ordered-the time and place of
the meeting Of the said Convention being appoint
ed by the said Military Authority.
When the qualified voters vote for delegates to
the Convention, they will also vote whether they
wish Convention at all. If upon ascertaining the
result o that vote, it found that The people of
the State have voted against Convention, the Be-
lection of delegates is void IT, on the contrary the
majority Of votes cast are for Convention, the se
lection is valid, and the delegates so chosen will
assemble at the time and place which either has
been or will be ordered by the Commanding Gen
eral. : 90. ~. -. -
The ratio Of representation in the Convention
will be--with the exception Of Virginia the same
as in the House Of Representatives in the State.
The only variation between the requirements of
this Act and the Reconstruction Act is this: By
the. Reconstruction Act no, member Of the state
Legislature who had taken an oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States, land afterwards
sgiven aid or comfort" to the ConfederacN Gin hold
Office or vote. Undor this provision all the mem
bers of the Legislature who had been members
only since accession, would have been capable
both Of holding Office and votne because after the
establishment OF the Confederacy members Of
the Legislature no longer took an oath to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States But
it appears that in Virginia, for many years
past members Of the Legislature have not
taken the oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States, but only the Constitution Of the
State, and that large class was therefore exempt
from the exclusion of this clause. This having
been brought to the notice Of Congress, an amend
tended to all members of the State Legislature who
have esgiven ai@ and comfort" &C., whether they
had taken the oath Of support to the United States
Constitution or not In this State, therefore, it
follows that thof who we're members Of the State
Legislature sin e the war, but who had never been
before, and who were, therefore, not included un-
der this disabling clause, are now, by the amend
ment, excluded both from voting and holding Of
ce Practically, the difference is small, but with
in that limit it is ON extension Of the disfranchse-
melit.
The most important practical point Of this Act
is, of course, the registration clauses:
1. Who is entitled to register.
2. The manner Of registration.
It is Of the utmost consequence that we should
have clear idea Of what class or classes have the
right TO register as voters uIder this Act.
Every male citizen has that right who con and
does take an oath that he meets three require
ments.
1. That he is citizen Of the State, who has re-
sided for-months (12 months we believe is the
time) in the State, is at the time residing In the
District or Parish where he registers and has not
been DISTINGUISHED for any participation in any re-
belion or civil war against the United States nor
for felony against the State or the United Statos
and that he is twenty-oue years of age.
Upon this it is only necessary to remark that at
present there is no legal iisranchisement for par
ticpation in any rebellion, &C., such as is effected
by the third clause Of the Constitutional Amend
ment, and the extension Of the exclusion is mem
bers Of the Legislature.
g. That he has never taken an oath as member
Of Congress Of the United States, or as an officer
thereof or as member Of any State Legislature,
OF executive or judicial officer Of any State, to sup
port the Constitution of the United States, AND
afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or given aid and COM
fort to the enemies thereof.
The citizen to be disabled under this clause
must have done two things. He must have taken
an oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States in certain official character, and after
wards he must have given aid and comfort, &C., &C.
If he has taken the oath and afterwards has not
given aid and comfort, &C.; or, if he has given aid
and comfort and has not taken the oath, then he is
not excluded from the right Of registration.
g. That he will faithfully support the Constitu-
ton and obey the laws of the United States, and
will to the best Of his ability encourage others so
to do.
The next question is the manner OF registration.
It is the duty of the commanding officer to ap-
point three persons in each Election District, to
make complete registration and superintend the
elections, &c.
These three persons mast be either '9oyal OIL
GERS or persons" who before entering upon their
duties, shall take what is popularly known as the
test oath.
Whether '.loyal officers or persons means off,
GERS of the army or loyal citizens who can take
this oath, we can scarcely determine, llor do We
think it necessary as the Interpretation Of the
Act will, doubtless, be soon placed beyond doubt
by the issue Of the orders requisite to carry it into