The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-23
The Reconstruction Act.

| = 1kO CkSO4S44 1ASOs
! offence shall be deprived of his office, and rem
dered incapable forever after, of holding any Of
| flee or place under the United States.
4pproued July 2, 1862.
Supplementary to the Stevens-Sherman-
Shellabarger Bill.
| AN ACT supplemental to an act entitled an act to
| provide for the more efficient government OF
the rebel States, passed March q 1867, and to
facilitate restoration.
Be if enacted, &C, That before the first day OF
Septembel, 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
istration 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 solennly swear, or affirm, in the
presence of Almighty God, that l 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
of -, in said State, as the case may be; that
am 81 years old; that have not been disfran-
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 at
forwards engaged in instruction or rebellion
| against the United States and given aid or COM
| fort to the enemies thereof that L have never
| taken an oath as a member of Congress of the
| United States, or officer of the United
! States, member OF any State Legislature,
or us executive judicial officer of any State,
to support the Constitution OF the United States,
| and afterwards engaged in instruction or re-
bellion 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
| Cod
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
| by any registering officer.
Sec 2 That afterthe completion of the regis
tration hereby provided for in any State at such
time and place therein rs 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 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 MEM
bcrs 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
inc general, giving to each, representation i'll the
ratio of voters registered us aforesaid, rs nearly
as NAV be. The Convention in Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members rep
resented the territory now constituting Vir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the legis
lature OF said State in the year 1850, to be appOr
toned rs aforesaid.
Sec 3. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for or against 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 con-
ynntinn M those VOtjnu 1D1inSt
vention shall have written or printed such
ballots the words against convention' The
persons appointed to superintend said election,
and to make return of the votes given thercat,
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 majority of the votes given |
on that question shall be for convention, then |
such convention shall be held under this act |
POpjded, That such convention shall not be held !
unless Il 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 10 al officers or per-
sons as 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 rs dele
gates according 10 the returns of the officers
who conducted said election and make procama-
ton thereof; and II Il majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for a conventions the
commanding general, within sixty DAYS from the
date of election, shall notify the delegates to as
scmble 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
1t IS 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 by the off
general as 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.
See: >. That if, according to said returns, the
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
votes of the registered electors qualified rs here
in specified, cast at said election, at least one
half of all the registered voters voting upon the
question offs such ratification, the president of the
convention shall transmit Il 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;
ana II II shall moreover appear to Congress that
the election was one at which all the registered
and qualified electors in the State had an ODDOr-
tunity to vote freely and without restraint fear
or the influence OF fraud and if Congress shall
be satisfied that such constitution meets the an
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 simple
mentary, and the other provisions of said act
shall have been complied with, and the said con
stitution shall be approved by Congress, the
State shall be declared entitled to representation
and Senators and Representatives shall be admit,
ted thercfrom as herein provided.
Sec. g. 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 SUBJ
scribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of
their said effice, and the oath prescribed by the
act approved July 2, 1862, entitled can act to
prescribe an 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 are provided for the
punishment of the crime of wiiful and corrupt
perjury.
Sec. Z. That all expenses incurred by the sever
Al commanding generals, or by virtue of any Or
lcrs issued OF appointments made by them under
Dr. by virtue of this act, shall be paid out of sny