The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-03
Reconstruction.


bill of his, by engrafting on 1t the main lea
lures of the North Carolina bill, so as to give
his bill thus amended, which we publish be
low, precedence on the calendar. 1t Will
therefore, come up at once as soon as Con
srress re-assembles. 1t is probable the Com
mittee on Territories will report bill SINH
lar to the one below.
It will be observed that the amended bill
differs in several respects from the North
Carolina bill, in its machinery, but the oath
which is the gist OF the measure, Is preser
we'd. We trust the oath aciU not, IN any eDeat, b
altered or omitted We are satisfied, from oul
knowledge of the South, that it Is the best
oath vet devised Provision should be made
however, in the bill for Furnishing those who
NAV succeed in taking it falsely.
Another very important improvement IS
that Mr.. Stevens amended bill extends the
oath not merely to office holders but to coters
We have conversed with many Unionlsts, and
heard from others, since our return from
Washington, and it seems to be the general
wish of our loyal people that unrepentant
rebels should be excluded from the ballot
box, and that loyal men only, without re,
gard to color, should be invested with the
ballot, IF Congress would do its work
thoroughly, and would extend adequate pro
lection to the loyal whites and blacks of the
South, let it by no means omit this oath ;
buC let the oath be test of suffrage, with
out regard to color This we believe to be
the unanimous wish of the Unionists of this
State, as well as of the cotton States, as
shown by the Address of the Southern Re
publican Association, which we publish to-
day.
MR. STEVENS BILL. FOR THE READMISSION OF THE
SOUTHERN STATES.
TBy Telegraph to lie Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l.-Thc following bill, i'll
PRODUCED into the House last session by MIR. Ste
vens, "To enable the States lately in rebellion to
regain their privileges in the Union," has been
amended considerably, and in its amended form
will be called up for action by Mr.. Stevens in a
few days:
A Bill to enable the States lately i'll rebellion to
regain their privileges in the Union.
Whereas, The eleven States which lately formed
the Government called the ''Contcderate States
af America have forfeited all their rights under
the Constitution, and can be reinstated i'll the
same only through the action of Congress; there
fore,
Be it enacted BY tie Senate and House Of Rsprescn-
idtiges of the United States Of Anaertcd IN Congress
assembled, That the eleven States lately in rebel
lion, except Tennessee, may form valid State
Governments in the following manner:
SECTION 2. Ind BE- it ,ttJf!ter enacted, That the
State Governments now existing DC .Jucto, though
ILLEGALLY formed in the midst Of martial law, and
many Instances the CONSTITUTIONS were auUpieu
under duress, and not submitted to the ratiiica-
ton of the people, and therefore are not TO be
treated as free republics, yet they are hereby ac-
knowedgcd as valid governments for municipal
purposes until the same shall be duly altered ;and
their legislative and executive officers shall be
recognized rs SUCH
SEC >. And be it further enacted, That the ten
States which were lately rebellion, and nave not
been admitted to representation III Congress, shall
hold elections on the Iirst Tuesday of May, 1867,
1 n UpiplrltpS Il
State Government The Convention snail con-
siSt of the same number of members as The most
numerous branch of the Legislature of said State
before the Rebellion. 1t shall meet at the former
capital of said State on the first Monday of June
of said year, at u O'Clock noon, with power to
adjourn from time to time, and shall proceed to
form Il State Constitution. which shall be submit
ted to the people al such time as the Convention
shall direct, and if ratified by majority of legal
votes shall be declared the Constitution of the
State. Congress shall elect d Commission for
each of said States, to consist of three persons,
who shall select or direct the mode OF selecting
the election OF officers for the several election dis
tricts which districts shall be the same lis before
the Rebellion, unless allotted by said Commits
sion. The officers shall consist of one judge and
two inspectors of elections and two clerks. The
said officers, together with all the expenses of
the election shall be paid by the United States,
and said expenses shall be repaid by said State or
Territory Each of said officers shall receive 50
per day for the time actually employed. Each of
the members of said Commission shall receive
s., 900 per annun, and their clerks g, 900. The
Commission shall procure all the necessary books,
stationery and boxes and 10 make all regulations
10 effect the objects OF this act. The President
of the United States and the military comman-
der of the district shall furnish so much mil
itarv aid as the said Commissioners shall deem
necessary to protect the polls and keep the peace
at each of the election districts. IT. by any means
no elections should be held in any of said late
States OH the day herein fixed, then said election
shall be held on the third Monday of Nav 1861
N he ma ht.rti he'd Rpju pt all
such elections shall be made to the said Commits
sioncrs, whose certificates of election shall be pr-
M ti,cie evidence OF the TACT.
SEC. 4. And Gt 1t FURTHER e,tdctGd That persons
who shall be entitled to vote at both of said cleo
tons shall be follows: All male citizens above
the age of p years, who have resided one year in
said State and ten days within the election district
SEC. 5. 1nd5e .jttrtIc,' enactel, That the word
citizen, used in this act, shall be construed to
mean all persons Except Indians not taxed born
in the United States, OF duly naturalized. ANY
male citizen above the aye of u years shall be
competent TO be elected to act as delegate to sid
SEC. &. ind be it further enacted, That all per-
sons who, on the 4th day of March, 1864, were of
full age, who held office, either civil military,
under the government called the Confederate
States of America, +" or who voluntarily swOrc al
legiance to said government, are hereby declared
to have forfeited their citizenship and to nave re-
nounced allegiance to the United States, and shall
not be entitled to exercise the elective franchise
or nOl0 ONCE until nVe years AFTER tfcy snail nave
filed their intention or desire to be rcinvested
with the right of citizenship, and shall swear al
legiance to the United States and renounce allie
glance to all other governments or pretended gov
the said application to be filed and
oath taken in the same courts that by law are au-
thoriZed to naturalize foreigners. Provided, how
ever that on taking the following oath the party,
being otherwise qualified, shall be allowed to vote
and hold office:
81, A. B., do solemnly swear on the Holy
Evangelists of Almighty God, that on the 4th day
of March, 1864, and at all times thereafter, l
would willingly have complied with the require
ments of the Proclamation of the President Of the
United States, issued on the 9Th day of Decem-
Der, 1858, had safe opportunity Of so doing been
allowed; and that on the said 4th of March, 1864,
and all times thereafter, l was opposed to the
continuance of the Rebellion, and TO the estab-
lishment of the so-called Confederate Govern
ment, and voluntarily gave no aid and comfort
Union and the suppression of all armed resistance
to the Government of the United States; and
that will henceforth faithfully support the Con-
of the United States and the Union of
the States Hereunder"
SEC z. And be it further enacted, That no con-
stitution shall be presented to or acted on by
Congress which denies to any citizen any rights,
privileges or immunities which are granted to
any other citizen in the State. All laws shall be
impartial without regard to language, race or
former condition. If the provisions of this Sec
ton should ever be altered, repealed, eXpunged,
or in any way abrogated, this act shall become
void and said State lose its right to be represent
ed in Congress.
SEC. s. And be it further enacted, That when
ever the foregoing conditions shall be complied
with, the citizens of said State may present said
constitution to Congress, and if tie same shall be
approved by Congress, said State shall be
declared entitled to the rights privileges and