The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-09

ANDREW JOHNSON, President. BENJAMIN F.
WADE, President of the Senate. SCHUYLER
COLFAX, Speaker House Representatives.
{PUBLIC-No. 81
AN ACT supplemental to an act entitled an act to
provide for the more eficiCnt government of
the rebel States, passed March q 1867 and to
facilitate restoration.
BE it enacted by tile Senate and House Of Repre-
sent1tiues Of the United States Of Aneefica In Con-
greSS assembled, That before the first day of
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 !, 1867, shall cause reg
stration to te 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 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 -, the parish
of -, in said State, as the case may be; that
am 2l years old; that have not been distran-
chiscd Tor participation in any rebellion or civil
war against the United States, for felony
committed against the laws of any State or of
the United States that L have never been
member OF any State Legislature nor held any
executive or judicial office in any State, and al
terwards 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 Cf the
United States, or an officer of the United
States, Il member of any State Legislature,
executive or judicial officer of any State,
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in insurrection
belion against the United States, or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof; that l 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 2. That after the completion of the regis
tration hereby provided for in any State at such
| time and place therein us the commanding gen
! eral may appoint and direct, of which at least
| thirty days public notice shall be given, clec
| ton shall hc held of delegates to u convention
| for the purpose of establishing constitution
| and civil government for such State loyal to the
| Union: said convention i'll each State, except
Virginia. to consist of the same number of mem
| 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, 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 Fir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said State in the year lSGO to be appOr
TONED as aforesaid.
Sec 8. That at said election the registered
tiers of each State shall vote for or agansta con-
Yention 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
vention;' and those voting against such con-
yention shall have written or printed on such
ballots the words against couvention' The
! persons appointed to superintcnd 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 .gainSt
i a convention. If majority of the votes given
| on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act
IfO1tded, 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. +. That the commanding general of each
! district shall appoint such loyal officers per-
! sons Us may be necessary not exceeding three in
each election district. in any State, to make and
complete the registration, superintcnd the elec-
| 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 dele
gates according to the returns of the officers
who conducted said election and make procIama-
tlon thereof; and if majority of the votes given
on that question shall be tor q convention, the
| commanding general, within sixty days from the
date OF election, shall notify the delegates to
| semble in convention at time and place to be
mentioned in the notification and said Conyen
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame a
Constitution and civil government according to
the provisions of this act, and the act to which
iii supplementary; and when the same shall
have been so framed, said Constitution shall be
submitted by the convention for ratification to
the person registered under the provisions of this
! act, at an election TO be conducted bv the Off
GERS, 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 thereof to be given Dy said convcn-
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to
| the commanding general of the district.
! Sec. 5. 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 at which all the registered
and qualified electors i'll the State had an oppor-
tunty to vote freely and without restraint, fear
or the influence OF fraud and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the APP
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
mcntary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with, and the said con-
State shal! be declared entitled to representation
and Senators and Representatives shall be admit
ted thcrefrom 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 efice, and the oath prescribed by the
I'll, -
prescribe oath of Office Provided, That 1fany
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
disabilities which by law provided for the |
punishment of the crime of wlful and corrupt |
perjury.
Sec. T. That all expenses incurred by the sever
al commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or |
ders issued orappointmcnts made by them under |
or by virtue of this act shall be paid out of sny
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 !