The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-22
REORGANIZATION.
Civil Government in North. Carolina.

Carolina, to enable it to resume its former rela-
tions as one of the constituent States OF the
American Union He stated that he did so at the
request of several gentlemen from North-Caro-
lima Read twice, referred to the Committee on
Territories, and ordered to be printed.
The following is the bill:
A Bill to establish civil government In
North-C Carolina, and enable it to resume
its former relations as one of the con-
stituent States of the American Union.
WHEREAS, On the Goth day of May, 1861, the
citizens of North Carolina, one of the United
States of America, did rebel against the Govern
ment of the United States, and on the said 2Oth
day of May and thereafter, did violently set aside
and destroy the organized Constitutional Govern
ment of the said State and did engage with Others
in armed hostility and warfare to maintain their
said action and
WHEREAS, After the lapse of more than four
wears the United States by force OF arms, having
succeeded in quelling said rebellion and disarm-
ing such insurgent citizens, did lind i'll said dis"
trict formerly comprising the State OF North
Carolina, no government organized or officers
qualified according to the require .nents Of the
Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The President of the United States
by virtue of his power Commander-in-Chief OF
the Army and Navy under the operation OF mar
tial law, for the purpose OF preserving peace and
order and of relieving his subordinate military oti-
GERS from executing the details of civil regulations
in the several and widely separated localities in
the district, did, under forms and rules by him
prescribed authorize certain citizens OF the dis
trict to assume the execution of said purpose OF
preserving peace and order under the protectlon
and sanction of the military authority; and
WHEREAS, 1t is the duty of the Congress of
the United States to preserve the said district,
and the loyal citizens thereof us one of the Uni
ted States of America, and by law to cause to be
organized therein 4 government republican in
hasa on the civil and law making
of the nation; therefore,
Be it enacted, etc., That on the Goth day of May,
1867, at the hour of II o'clock, meridian, there
shall be assembled at the State House in the city Of
Raleigh, Convention of the loyal citizens of the
district formerly comprising the State Of North
Carolina composed of 120 delegates, to be chosen
by voters qualified as hereinafter provided; and
each county in said district shall be entitled to
send to said Convention the same number of del
egates that it was enttledto send members to the
House of Commons of the State of North Carroll
ma prior to the both day of May, 1861; and a ma
jority of the delegates elected to said Convention
shall constitute quorum, and be invested with
the sovereign power of the people of the district
to frame State Constitution, which shall be
submitted to the Congress of the United States
for approval, modification or rejection, prepare
tory to the establishment of the said State and
the re-nvesting its loyal citizens with all of the
rights, privileges and immunites appcrtaining to
the citizens OF the other States OF the Union;
and the said Convention shall have power and au-
thOrity to do all other acts which by the recOg-
niZed principles of republican government SOW
ercign Conventions OF the people Of the States
may of right do; provided that in case no quorum
shall assemble Oh the said goth day of May, any
less number of delegates assembled may adjourn
from day to day until such time as a quorum may
assemble for the transaction of business.
Second: That, in the election of delegates to
said Convention there shall be al wed to vote all
male resident citizens of the district formerly
comprising the State of North Carolina, of the
aye of twenty-one years, without distinction of
race or color, who can read or write, or may own
in fee real estate OF the assessed value of 500,
more: Provided, That no one who has heretofore
exercised the right of suffrage in said district
shall be disqualified from voting in said election.
Third: That the qualifications for the dele
gates to the said Convention shall be the same as
were required for members of the House of Com
mons of the State of North Carolina immediate
ly previous to the Goth of May, 1851, upon the
taking and subscribing, before the Judge of tie
District Court of the United States for the Dis
trict of North-Carolina, or some other officer of
the United States authorized to administer oaths,
the following oath, to wit:
do solemniy swear on the Holy Evangclsts of
Almighty God Cor affirm as the may bc) that
on the fourth day of March, 1864, and at all times
thereafter, would willingly have complied with
the requirements OF the Proclamation OF the Pre-
sident of the United States issued on the eighth
day of December, 1868, had 4 safe opportunity OF
doing so been afforded me- That the said
fourth day of March, 1864, and at all times there
after, l was opposed to the continuance of the
Rebellion, and to the establishment OF the social
led Confederate Government, and voluntarily gave
aid or encouragement thereto but earnestly
desired the success of the Union and the suppress
sion of all armed resistance to the Government of
the United States; and that will henceforth faith
fully support the Constitution Of the United
States and the Union of the States hereunder
And no person shall be allowed to sit or act as
delegate in said Convention, or hold any office
or appointment hereunder, until he shall
have taken and subscribed the above oath in the
manner and form as above provided.
F0uJth: That it shall be the duty of the Judge
of the District Court, other officer before whom
such oath is proposed to be taken, Whenever he
may suspect it is about to be taken falsely by any
person, to put to such person any question under
oath, and to hear any other evidence that NAV
tend to satisfy him as to the propricty OF admin
istering it. And ii, in his Judgment, the person
cannot truthfully take the oath, he may refuse to
administer it. And should any person falsely take
said oath, ne shall be indicted and prosecuted in
the Circuit Court of the United States held in the
district in which the oifense may be committed,
for the crime OF perjury, and upon conviction
thereof shall be sentenced TO and receive such
punishment now attaches to the crime of per
jury. And in the trial ofsuch indictment, no per-
son shall be qualified to sit npon the jury until
he shall have taken said oath, and the Court may
require any juror to take it, unless he shall swear
that he cannot truthfully do so.
Fifth: That it shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent of the United States to direct and require
the United States Marshal for the District of
North Carolina to appoint for each county in said
district one Deputy Marshal, and the Deputy Mar
shal so appointed shall, each in his respective
county, appoint keepers and inspectors of polls
and other necessary assistants, and on the first day
of May, 1857 the said Deputy Marshals shall each
open polls in their respective counties for the
election of delegates to said Convention at such
places, and shall conduct the election and give
certificates of election, under such rules and reg
ulations, except as herein otherwise provided, as
were prescribed for the election of members of
the House of Commons by the laws of the State
of North Carolina Immediately previous to the Goth
day of May, 1861 and any person who shall be
appointed Deputy Marshal, or Inspector, or In
spector, or Keeper of the Polls, as aforesaid and
who shall refuse neglect to perform the duties
required of him under this act, shall be guilty
Of misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
before the United States Circuit Court, held in
the district of North Carolina, shall be fined such
sum, or imprisoned for such time as the Court in
its discretion shall fix.
Sirth That the said deputy marshals, keepers
and inspectors of polls, and other necessary
sistants shall receive the sum of five dollars per
day, for every day they may be engaged in the
discharge of their duties under this act, to be as
cCrtained and paid by the United States Marshal
of the district under the order of the District
Judge. And the United States Marshal in ad-
dtion to his present salary and fees, shall receive
such compensation for the discharge of his duties
under this act, as Congress may hereafter allow
and the Treasurer of the United States shall pay
tothe United States Marshal of said District upon
the order or requistion OF said Judge, out of any
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri
ated, such sums of money from time to time, as
may be necessary for carrying out tie forego-
ing provisions.
Seventh. That the present organization set up
under martial law by the military power of the
President, and all officers in said district charged
with the execution ofcivil regulations therein, ex
cept the regular officers of the United States,
shall cease to be such, and their functions and
powers shall terminate at such time as NAV be