The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-13
RECONSTRUCTION.
Supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman-
ShelIabarger Bill.

ShelIabarger Bill
AN ACT supplemental to an act entltled an aet y
provide for the more efficient government o.
the rebel States, passed March q loo'' anu u
facilitate restoration.
Ben enacted BIZ the Senate and House OF Lfepre
sentatipes of the United States Of America IN Con
oress assembled. That before the first day o.
September, 1861 the commanding general ID eacf
district defined by an act cnltled an ACT 10 pro
vide for the more efficient government OF the rebel
States approyed March 2, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens OF the
United States, twenty one years Vi age anu p
wards resident in each county Or parish IN the
State or STATES included in his district, which reg
istration will include only those persons who are
qualified to vote for delegates by the act alore'
said, and who shall have taken and subscribed the
following oath or affirmation:
81 do solemnly swear, or affirm, IN the
presence of Almighty God, that am citizen OF
the State Of, that have resided in said State
for months next preceding this day, and
now reside in the county Of, or the parish
Of in said State, as the case may be; that
am 81 years old that nave not GGen alsIra ran
war against the United States, nor Tor felony
committed against the laws OF any State or OF
the United States; that have never been
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial office in any State, and aft
forwards engaged in insurrection Or rebellion
against the United States, and given AID OF COM
fort to the enemies thereof; tnat nave never
United States, or an officer OF the United
States, or as 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 Instruction or re-
beilion 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, % 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
tration hereby provided for in any State at such
time and place therein as the commanding gen
eral may appoint and direct Of which at least
thirty days public notice shall be given, an cleo
ton shall be held of delegates to Il convention
for the purpose of establishing a constitution
and civil government for such State loyal to the
Union: said convention i'll each State, except
Virginia. to consist of the same number OF mem
beers is the most numerous branch OF the State
Legislature of such State i'll the year 1850, to be
apportioned among the several districts, coun-
ties, or parishes OF such State by the command
ing general giving to each, representation in the
ratio of voters register ! as aforesaid, as nearly
as may be. The Convention in Virginia shall
consist OF the same num-, of members as rep
resented the territory now constituting VIZ
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said State in the year $780, to be appor-
toned as aforesaid.
Sec g. That at said election the registered vo
tiers of each State shall vote for or againsta con-
vcntiOn to form Il constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such q convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words ''for con-
yention;' and those voting against such Il con-
vention shall have written or printed on such
ballots the words against convention" The
persons appointed to superintend said election,
and to make return of the votes given thereat,
rs 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 Stale for and against
convention If d majority Of the votes given
on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be lpld under this act:
P'0gided, That such convention shall not be held
unless a majority of all such registered votes
shall have voted on the question of holding such
convention.
Sec 4. That the commanding general of each
district shall appoint such 10 al officers or per-
sons as may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district. i'll any State, to make and
complete the registration, superintcnd the cleo
ton, and make return to him OF the votes, lists
of voters and OF the persons elected as delegates
by plurality of the votes cast at said election;
and upon receiving said returns he shall open
the same, ascertain the persons elected as dele
gates according to the returns of the officers
who conducted said election and make proclama-
ton thereof; and ifa majority of the votes given
on that question shall be tor a convention, the
date of election, shall notify the delegates to as
semble in convention at q time and place to be
mentioned III the notification and said COnven
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame
Constitution and civil government according to
the provisions of this act, and the act to which
it is supplementary; and VIXEN 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
general as herenbefore provided, and to be held
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
OF notice thereo to be given by said cOnvCn-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
the commanding general of the district
Sec. 5. That il, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified as here
in specified cast at said election, at least one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question ofSuch ratification, the president of the
convention shall transmit q 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 ses-
sion, then immediately upon its next assembling;
and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was one at which all the registered
and qualified electors in the State had an OppOr-
tunity to vote freely and without restraint, fear
Or the influence OF fraud, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the ap
prevail OF a majority OF the qualified electors In
the stare, anu IL the SalU constitution snail De
declared by Congress to be in conformity with
the provisions Of the act to which this is supple
mentary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with and the said con-
stitution shall be approved by Congress, the
State shall be declared entitled to representation,
and Senators aad Representatives shall be admit
ted therefrom as herein provided.
See. g. 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 oath faithfully to perform the duties of
their said etfice, and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July 3, 1862, entitled can act to
an oath of Office" Provided, That lfany
person shall knowingly and falsely take and sub
scribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
ed shall be subject to the pains, penalties and
disabilities which by law are provided for the
punishment of the crime of wilful and corrupt
perjury.
Sec z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
al commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or
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-
ated.
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 De necessary to pay the same.
Sec. 9. That the word 'article'' in the sixth
section of the act to which this is supplemental
Y shall be construed to mean section"