The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-19
RECONSTRUCTION.
ySuDplemen fary to the Steyens-Sherman-
/ TT 81 ) Shellabarger Bill.


Il iii fS Il Shellabarger Bill.
AN ACT supplelnentai to an act entitled anact to
provide er the more efficient sR1 end t oi
facilitate restoration.
senatiyes Of the United States Of Asneicd iat Con-
aiess assembled, That before the first day OF
| September, 1867 the commanding general IN each
district defined by an act entitled an act to pro
vide for the more efficient government of the rebel
States, approved March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made Of the male citizens Of me
United States, twenty one' years OF age and up
wards, resident in each county OF parish In the
State or States included in his district, whichre
/ istration will include only those persons who are
Iqualifed to vote for delegates by the act afore
said, and who shall haye taken and subscribed the
| following oath or affirmation: "a
l. = Il, -, do solenlnly swear, or affirm, In the
presence of Almighty God, that am citizen of
| the State Of, that have resided in said State
now nor reside in }ile e county Of , or the arsh
! of -, in said State, as the case may be- tnat
| am 81 years old that have not been distran-
chisedlor 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 I have never been
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial Office in any State, and al
forwards engaged III Instruction or rebellion
against the United States, and given aid or COM
fort to the enemies, thereof; that Il have never
taken lin oath as a member of Congress of the
United States, or as an officer of the United
States, or member OF any State Legislature,
or as an executive or judicial officer Of any State,
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in insurrecton or re-
belion 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
ability, encourage others so to do. SO help me
God"
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer.
Sec. 2. That after the completion of the regis
traton hereby provided for in any State at such
time and place therein as the commanding gen.
thirty days public notice shall be given, an cleo
ton shall be held OF delegates TO convention
for the purpose of establishing constitution
, and civil government for such State loyal to the
I Union; said convention in each State, except
! Virginia, to consist of the same number of men,
/ bers the most numerous branch Of the State
! Legislature OF such State in the year 1860, to be
! apportioncd among the several districts, coun-
ties, or parishes OF such State by the command
| ing general, giving to each, representation i'll the
ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly
may be- The Convention in Virginia shall
! consist of the same number of members us 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 g. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers ri each State shall vote for against con-
! vehtion to form constitution under this act
: Those voting in favor of such convention shall
| have written printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words ''for Il con-
| vention; and those voting against such
vcntion shall lave written printed such
| ballots the words against a conTention.' The
persons appointed to superintcnd 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
| convention. II majority of the votes given
that question shall DC for a convention, then
| such convention shall be held under this act
PrOrided, 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 tie commanding general of each
S not exe oGgrs three GT pG in
each erection y in;s1sJ State, to make and
| complete sln. superntend the cleo
ton, and mdEs Tto HIN OF the votes, lists
OF voters and OF ft persons elected as delegates
by a plurality of theTotes cast at said elections
and upon receiving s:id returns he shall open
the same, ascertain the persons elected a> dele
gates according to the returns Of the officers
who conducted said election and make proclama-
ton thereof; and if u majority of the votes given
on that question shall he for conventions the
commanding general, within sixty days from the
date OF election, shall notify the delegates to as
scmble in convention at time ard place to be
mentioned i'll the notification, and said Conyen
ton, when organized, snail proceed to frame q
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 10y the commanding
general as hereinbeiorc provided, and to be held
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
of notice thcreo to be given by said convcn-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
the commanding general of the district.
See. .. That if, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified here
in specified, cast at said election, at least one
halt of all the registered voters voting upon the
question ofsuch ratification, the president of the
convention shall transmit Il 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 scs-
sion, then Immediately upon its next assem- bling
and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was one at which all the registered
and Qualified electors il the State had 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 ap-
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
mcntary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with, and the said con-
stitutlon shall be approved by Congress, the
State shall be declared entitled to Representations
and Senators AID Representatives shall be admit
ted therefrom as herein provided.
Sec q. That all elections in the States men
toned in the said "Act to provide for the more
efficient government of the rebel States" shall,
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 ettice, and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July ,, 1862 entitled can act to
prescribe oath of office;'' Provided, That 1fany
person shall knowingly and falsely take and sub
scribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
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
ders issued or appointments made by them under
or by virtue OF this act, shall be paid out of shy
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri-
atcd.
Sec. s. 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 or necessary TO 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 as may be necessary to pay the same.
Sec. 8. That the word ''article'' in the sixth