The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-03
The Supplemental Bill.
From the New Orleans Crescent.


The supplemental reconstruction, or military bill
as 1t is called not the originally intro
duced into the House, and which, having passed that
body, was sent to the Senate Tor concurrence The
bill which finally adopted, originated in the Sen
ate as a substitute for the House bill. Il differs from
the first in several very important particulars
In particular the oath be administered is
very much modified in form. In order that the diff
ference may be seen, gire the two forms. The
House bill proposed the following:
Il -, of-, in the county or parish of -,
in the State Of, do hereby solemnly swear Tor
AFFIRM that am sincerely and earnestly attached to
the Union and Government Of the United States that
will steadfastlv support the Constitution and obey
the laws OF the United States and that will, the
best of my ability, engage all others such support
and obedience; SO he P me God"
This was, obviously intended to work the disfran-
chisement Of the greater portion OF the Southern
whites, by imposing condition to which it sup
posed they could submit. 1t surpassed even the
ron-clad OATH" for, whereas, that oath required
men only to their acts, this attempted
search their conscienees and punish them for even
their concealed opinions The Senate struck this
form Of oath and substituted the following, which is
simple oath Of allegiance, such any citizen
scieuti0usy take:
- do solemnly swear or affirm in the presence of
Almighty God, that am a citizen of the State of
- that have resided in said State for months
next preceding this day. and reside in the county
of - or the parish OF -, in said State; am
enyo years old have not been dlsiranchsed for
participation in any rebellion civil against the
United States, for felony committed against laws
Of the State or the United States; have never taken
an oath as member of the Congress of the United
States or as officer of the United States and after
wards engaged in any insurrecton or rebellion against
said United States given aid comfort thereto ;
that will faithfully support the Constitution and obey
the laws of the United States, and will, to the best OF
my ability, encourage others SO to Go; SO help me
God"
In the House this was subsequently amended by
adding clause that the person proposing to vote
~ has never been member Of any State Legislature
or held any executive judicial Office in any State
and aferward engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, given aid or comfort to
the enemies thereof
Another amendment made by the House was one
pretxing the word Registered to the word "e cleo
tors in the sixth section; still another adding to the
sixth section that "any person knowingly taking and
subscribing to the oath falsely should be subject TO all
the pains and penalties of perjury; and finally another
striking the clause requiring that the votes cast
be at least onehaf Of all the registered voters voting
on the question OF ratification. All Of these amend
ments except the last adopted by the Senate
when the bill came back to that body. The last be-
ing disagreed to, committee of conference was ap
pointed. That committee reported that "a majority
Of voters shall be sufficient to ratfy a constitution
provided majority of registered voters do actually
vote, with an additional clause that Congress must be
satisfied that registered voters do actually Vote had
nnrestrained libery>o vote and that the constitution
adopted meets the approval! of a majority of the quail
fed electors Of the S;ae.n This Recommendation of
the conference committee was adopted br both houses
aud in this shape the bill finally passed Ia another
column Of this mornings Crescent we give the bill as
passed the Senate The reader, bY bearing in mind
the amendments which we haze referred can easily
gain accurate idea Of It's provisions Oh It's final
passage
The debates this bill in the Senate throw some
light on the objects aud opinions of its authors and
indicate the difficulties in which the radicals viii find
themselves involved when their doctrine Of coercion is
pushed to lis logical consequences Among the
amendments offered one by ,Er. Drake to tue eff
feet that State constitution should be valid unless
it provided for election by close ballot and agreed
that such mode OF voting shoaid noS be changed with
out the assent OF Congress- raised all important cues
tion whether the States alter admission to the Union
would not have the legal right 10 strike such provision
from their constitutions MI Drake defended his
amendment the ground that such provision would
be an express contract with the Government and that
the emulsion of its REPRESENTATIVES, NV, C~,r,'o
He was opposed liz Mr. Conklinp who ona+oS - t4ooj
sion Of the Supreme Court that a,y cond,o,' ax,',
as condition for the admission Of Stata co,sad -,
Hid ,c,o, A.. g.. .N-1 ~ $3.50" :"