The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-13
Supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman'
ShaIIa haroer RiII.


Shellabarger Bill.
| AN ACT supplemental to an act entitled an act tc
provide for the more efficient government o.
the rebel States, passed March 2, 1867, and to
facilitate restoration.
Be it enacted, &C., That before the first day o.
September, 1867, 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 2 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
stration will include only those persons who are
qualified to vote for delegates by the act afore-
said and who shall have taken and subscribed the
| following oath or affirmation:
81 -, do solemnly swear, or affirm, in the
presence of Almighty God, that am 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 the parish paris 2
of -, in said State, as the case may be; that L
| am 81 years old; that 1 have not been dlstrall-
chised tor 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 been
member OF any State Legislature nor held any
executive or judicial office in any State, and al
forwards engaged in Instruction or rebellion
against the United States, and given aid or COM
fort to the enemies thereof; that I have never
taken an oath as 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 afterwards engaged in insurrecton or re-
belion against the United States, or given aid or
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.
See 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 NAV 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 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,
bers 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 as nearly
as NAV be- The Convention in Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members as rep
resented the territory now constituting Vir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis
lature OF said State in the year lSOU to be appOr
toned as aforesaid.
Sec 3. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or against con-
vention to form a constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such q convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words "for con-
vention;" and those voting against such a con-
venton shall have written or printed on such
ballots the words against 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
hall hay returned e.
clare the total vote in each State for and against
q convention. If a majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act:
PoUided 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
ton, and make return to him OF the votes, lists
of voters and of the persons elected 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 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 Tor convention, the
commanding general within sixty days from the
date of election shall notify the delegates to as
sembe in convention at a time and place to be
mentioned i'll the notification, and said Conven-
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame d
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 framed, said Constitution shall be
submitted by the convention for ratification to
the person registered under the provisions ofth
act, at an election to be conducted by the Off
GERS or persons appointed by the commanding
general rs hereinbefore provided, and to be held
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
of notice thereof to be given by said conven-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
the commanding general of the district.
Sec ). That if, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes Of the registered electors qualified as here
in specified, cast at said election, at least one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question ofsuch ratification, the president of the
convention shall transmit a copy of the same,
duly certified to the President of the United
States who shall forthwith transmit the same to
Congress- if then in session, and if not in ses-
sion, then Immediately upon its next assembling;
and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was one at which all the registered
and qualified electors in the State had an oppor
tunity to vote freely and without restraint, fear
or the influence OF fraud, and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the ap-
proval of majority of the qualified electors In
the State, and if the said constitution shall be
declared by Congress to be in conformity with |
the provisions of the act to which this is supple
mentary, and the other provisions of said act
SudL have Dccu COH pllcu Will, anu Tue Sdlu COLI
shall be approved by Congress, the |
State shall be declared entitled to representation
and Senators and Representatives shall be admit
ted therefrom as herein provided
Sec 6. That all elections in the States men,
toned in the said "Act to provide for the more |
efficient government of the rebel States,' shall,
during the operation of said act, be by ballot; |
and all officers making the said registration of |
voters and conducting said elections SHALL before |
entering upon the discharge of their Duties sub
scribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of |
their said office, and the oath prescribed by the |
act approved July 2, 1862 entitled can act to !
prescribe oath of ofice;'' Provided, That lfany
person shall knowingly and falsely take and sub !
scribe any oath in this act prescribed, such per-
son so offending, and being thereof duly convict
ed, shall be subject to the pains, penalties and |
punishment of the crime of wilful and corrupt |
perjury. |
Sec. Z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
al commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or |
ders issued or appointments made by them under |
or by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of shy
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri- |
ated. |
Sec g. That the convention for each State shall |
prescribe the fees, salary and compensation to be |
paidto all delegates and other officers and agents
herein authorized necessary to carry into effect
the purposes of this act, not herein otherwise |
provided for and shall provide for the levy and |
collection of such taxes on the property in such
State may be necessary to pay the same.
Sec. 9. That the word ''article'' in the sixth |
section of the act to which this is supplemental |
~ shall be construed to mean ''scction."