The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-24
RECONSTRUCTION,
supplementary to the Stevens.Sherman.
Shellabarger Bill.

provide for the more efficient government OF
! the rebel States, passed March 2, 1867, and to
| facilitate restoration.
Be,t enacted by The Senate and House of Repre-
seatatiyes of the United States Of america in Con-
| oress assembled, That before the first day of
September, 1857, 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 9, 1867, shall cause reg
istration to be made of the male citizens of the
! United States, twenty one years OF age and up
wards, resident in each county or parish in the
State or States included in his district, which reg
! istration will include only those persons VINO 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 solennly swear, or affirm, IN the
presence OF Almighty God, that am citizen OF
the State Of, that lave 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 have not been disfran-
war against the United States, nor for felony
| committed against the laws of any State or of
| the United States; that l have never been a
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial office in any State, and af-
| forwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, and given aid or COM
| fort to the enemies thereof; that l have never
| taken an oath as member of Congress of the
United States, or as an officer of the United
States, or member of any State Legislature,
or executive or judicial officer of any State,
and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
bellion against the United States, given aid
| 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 g 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 a convention
for the 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 men,
beers as the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature of such State in the year 1860, 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 registered as aforesaid, nearly
may be. The Convention in Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members as rep
resented the territory now constituting Vir
gina in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said State in the year 1861 to be appOr-
toned as aforesaid.
Sec 8. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or againsta con-
vention to form constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words "for a con-
vention;" and those voting against such con-
vention shall have written printed on such
ballots the words against a convention" The
persons appointed to superintend 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
a convention. If Il maj rity of the votes given
on that question shall be for a convention, then
oh chal1 hn hal NM nt
P0pided, 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. 4. That the commanding general of each
district shall appoint such LOYAL officers or per-
sons as may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district in any State, to make and
complete the registration, superintend the cleo
tion and make return to him OF the votes, lists
of voters and of the persons elected IS delegates
by plurality of the votes cast at said election;
and upon receiving S; id 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 if majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for a convention, the
general within sixty days from the |
date OF election, shall notify the delegates to as
semble in convention at time and place to be
in 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 when the same shall
have been so framed, said Constitution shall be
by the convention for ratification to
The person registered under the provisions of this
let, at an election to be conducted by the Off
GERS, or persons appointed by the commanding
general as hereinbe provided and to be held
liter the expiration of thirty days from the date
If notice thercoi to be given by said conven-
ion, and the returns thereof shall be made to
he commanding general of the district.
Sec s. That if, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
7otes of the registered electors qualified mere
n specified, cast at said election, at least one |
lalf of all the registered voters voting upon the
question of such ratification the president of the
convention shall transmit copy of the same, I
July certified, to the President of the United
states who shall forthwith transmit the same to l
Congress- if then in session, and if not in ses- n
ion, then Immediately uponits next assembling;
nd if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
he election one at which all the registered
nd qualified electors in the State had an oppor-
unity to vote freely and without restraint fear d
II the influence oil traul, and if Congress shall n
e satisfied that such constitution meets the ap-
roval of majority of the qualified electors In u
he State, and if the said constitution shall be t
eclared by Congress to be in conformity with L
he provisions of the act to which this is supple
lentary, and the other provisions of said act Q
hall have been complied WITH and the said con- t
tit shall l be approved by Congress the
nd Senators and Representatives shall be admit Il
ed therefrom as herein provided.
Sec. 6. That all elections in the States men, t
oned in the said "Act to provide for the more v
ffcient government of the rebel States" shall, t
uring the operation of said act, be by ballot; t
nd all officers making the said registration of
oters and conducting said elections SHALL before t
ntering upon the discharge of their duties, sub
eribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of
leir said effice and the oath prescribed by the =
It approved July g. 1862, entitled can act to
rescribe an oath of Officer Provided, That 1fany
erson shall knowingly and falsely take and sub T
tribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
IN so offending, and being thereof duly convict
l, shall be subject to the pains, penalties and ,,
liabilities which by law are provided for the L
of the crime of wilful and corrupt
erjury. I
Sec. Z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or s
ers issued or appointments made by them under
by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of sny c
oneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri- p
ed. Il
Sec s. That the convention for each State shall Il
'escribe the fees, salary and compensation to be
lid to all delegates and other officers and agents
erein authorized necessary to carry into effect
e purposes of this act, not herein otherwise f
divided for and shall provide for the levy and IL
election of such taxes on the property in such Il
ate as may be necessary to pay the same II
Sec. 9. That the word ARTICLE in the sixth d
elton of the act to which this is supplemental al
shall be construed to mean ''section'' "
SCHUYLER COLFAX t.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
La FAYETTE S. FOSTER tt
Of tha