Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-20

iGUFy - lie Suprlgnentary Recon.
stTuctiOn Bill.
We print below the bill supplementary e
tho military recoustructiOn act, q it passed
the Senate last week. The bill had pre-.
viously passed the House, though the SEN
ate amendments changed it in some par
ticulars. It will be agreed to by both Houses
substantially, in its present form, and after
being returned with his objections by the
President, will be passed over the veto by
the necessary thirds vote and become 9
law. The bill is as follows
Be il enacted, de-, That before the first day
of September, eighteen hundred and sixty
seven, the Commanding General in each dis
| trict defined by an act entitled IS An act to
provide for the more efficient government of
the rebel States,' approved March second
eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause
a registration to be made of the male citi-
zens of the United States, twenty-one years
of age and upward, resident in each county
or parish in the State or States included in
his district, which registration shall include
only those persons who are qualified to vote
for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who
shall have taken and subscribed the following
L" l do solemnly swear or affirm in the pres
ence of Almighty God that l am a 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
parish of - in said State Gas the case may
beg that l am twenty-ohe years old ; that L
have not been disfranchised for 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 have never taken an
oath a member Of Congress of the United
States, or as 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 afterward engaged in insurrec-
tidn or rebellion against the United States, or
given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof !;
that l will faithfully support the Constitu
ton 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.
Section 9. And be 1t further enacted, That
after the completion of the registration here
by provided Tor in any State at such time and
places therein as the Commanding General
shall directs of which at least thirty days
public notice shall be given, an election shall
purpose of establishing a constitution and
civil government for such State loyal to the
Union, said convention in each State, except
Virginia, to consist of the same number of
members as the most numerous branch of the
State Legislature of such State in the year
eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportion-
ed among the several districts, counties
parishes of such State by the Commanding
General, giving to each representation in the
ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, as
nearly as may be. The convention in Nir
ginia shall consist of the same number of
members as represented the territory now
constituting Virginia in the most numerous
branch of the Legislature of said State in the
year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be ap
portioned as aforesaid
Section 3. And be 1t further enacted, That
at said election the reg stcred voters of each
State shall vote for or against Convention
to form Constitution therefor under this
act Those voting in favor of such Con-
vention shall have written or printed on the
ballots, by which they vote for delegates as
aforesaid, the words g For a Convention
and those voting against such Convention
shall have written or printed on such ballots
the words {. Against Convention The per-
son appointed to superintend such election,
and to make return OF the votes given thereat
as herein provided shall count and make re-
turn of the votes given for and against Con-
vention, and the Commanding General to
whom the same shall have been returned shall
ascertain and declare the total vote in such
State for and against a Convention. If
majority of the votes given on that question
shall be for a Convention, then such Conven-
ton shall be held as hereinafter provided
but if majority of such votes shall be against
Il Convention, then no such Convention shall
b<h alI I..rt at I,d hot mob
Convention shall not be held unless a major
itv of all such registered voters shall have
voted on the question of holding such Con
vention.
Section T. And be II further enacted, That
the Commanding General of each district
shall appoint such loyal officers persons
may be Necessary, not exceeding three in each
election district in any state, to make and
complete the registration, superintend the
elect on and make return to him of the
votes. list of voters, and of the persons elect
ed 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 delegates according to the
returns of the officers who conducted said
election, and make proclamation thereof. and
within sixty days from the date of election
he shall notify the delegates to assemble in
convention at time and place to be men,
toned in the notification and said conven-
ton, when organized, shall first determine
by vote whether it is the wish of the peo-
pie of such state to frame constitution and
civil government according to the provisions
of this act and the act to which it is supple
mentary, and, if SO, shall proceed to frame
such constitution and when the same shall
have been SO framed, said constitution shall
be submitted by the convention for ratifica
ton to the persons registered under the pro-
visions of this act, at an election to be con-
Quoted by the officers or persons appointed
by the Commanding General as hereinbefore
provided, and to be held after the expiration
of thirty days from the date of notice there
of, to be given by said convention, and the
returns thereof shall be made to the Com
handing General of the district.
Section 5. And be 1t further enacted, If,
according to said returns the constitution
shall be ratified by majority of the votes of
the electors qualified as herein specified, cast
at said election, at least One-half of all the
registered voters voting upon the question OF
such ratification, the President Of the con-
vention shall transmit copy of the same to
Congress if then in session, and if not in
session then Immediately upon its next as
sembling, and if the said constitution shall
be declared by Congress to be in conformity
with the provisions of the act to which this
is supplementary and the other provisions of
said act shall have been complied with, and
the said constitution shall be approved by |
Congress, the state shall be declared entitled |
to representation, and Senators and Repre-
sentatives shall be admitted therefrom as
therein provided.
Section 6. And be 1t further enacted, That
all elections in the states mentioned in the |
said act g to provide for the efficient govern
ment of the rebel states" shall, during the !
IF said act no, nv no and all !