Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-01-18
golfifal.
SPEECH OF THADDEUs STEVENS
Delieered Januuy3, 3, 1867, on the follo,eiag
Amendment IN the nature Of Substi-
tltte to II. Il. Bill 543, proposed Jy
VI. Ntcr N

WHEREAS, the eleven States which lately
formed the government called the Confed-
crate States of America, have forfeited all
their rights under the Constitution and can
be reiustated in the same only through the
action of Congress- therefore
BE Il enacted By the Senate and House of
ReDrescntatires Of the United States Of
america dt Congress assembled, That the
eleven States lately in rebellion except Ten
nessee, may form valid State governments
in the following manner
SECTION ,. Be At further enacted, That the
State governments now existing de tdctO,
though illegally formed in the midst of mar
tial law, and in many instances the constitu-
tions were adopted under duress, and not
submitted 20 the ratification Of the people,
and therefore are not TO be treated as free
republics, yet they are hereby acknowledged
as valid governments for municipal purposes
until the same shall be duly altered, and their
legislative and executive officers shall be rec
ognized as such.
SEc 3. ind be 1t further enacted, That
each Of the ten States which were lately in
rebellion, and have not been admitted to rep
reseutaG0n in Congress, shall hold elections
en- the first Tuesday Of May, eighteen humid
red and sixty seven, to chose delegates to a
convention to form q State Governments The
/ convention shall consist Of the same number
Of members as the most numerous branch Of
/ the Legislature Of said State before the re-
! belliou. IL 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 to time, and shall pro
ceed 10 form a State constitution, which shall
| be submitted to the people at such time rs the
convention shall direct, and if ratified by a
majority Of legal votes shall be declared the
constitution of the State. The Supreme
Court Of the District Of Columbia shall ap-
point commission for each Of said States,
to consist Of three persons, who shall select
or direct the mode Of selecting, the election
officers for the several election districts,
which district shall be the same as before the
rebellion, unless altered by said commission.
| The officers shall consist Of one Judge and
two inspectors Of elections; and two clerks
the said officers, together with all the expen-
ses Of the election, shall be paid by the Uni
ted States, and said expenses shall be repaid
by said State or Territory. Each of said
officers shall receive FIVE dollars per day, for
the time actually employed. Each of the
members of said commission shall receive
three thousand dollars per annum, and their
clerk, two thousand dollars. The commits
sion shall procure all the necessary books,
stationery and boxes, and make all regula-
! tions to effect the objects of this act. Ihe
President OF the united states ana the mil
tary commander Of the district shall furnish
so much military aid as the said commission
ers shall deem necessary to protect the polls
! and keep the peace at each of said election
districts If, 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 Monday of May, eigh-
teen hundred and sixty y-seven, in the manner
herein prescribed Returns Of all such elee-
tions shall be made to the said commission
ers, whose certificates of election shall be
prima facie evidence of the tact
SEC. 4. Ind be IL further enacted, That
the persons who shall be entitled to vote at
both Of said elections shall be as follows: All
male citizens above the age Of twenty-one
years, who have resided one year in said