The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-03-26
Supplementary Reconstruction
Bill.

AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled
San act to provide for the more eff
cient government Of the rebel States"
passed March 2, 1867, and to facilitate.
restoration, - --sa
Be IT ENACTED, &C., That before the
first day of September, 1867, the com.
mandiDg general in each district defined
by an act entitled can actsto provide for /
the more efficient government Of the rebel
States.n approved March q, 1867, shall
cause a registration to be made of the
male citizens Of the United States 21
years of age and upwards, 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 aforesaid, and who shall have ta-
ken or subscribed the following oath or
affirmation:
do solemnly swear, or affirm, in the
presence of Almighty God, that I am a
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 parish Of =AA,in said State
] Gas the case may bed that [ am II years
old; that / have not been disfranchised
for participation in any rebellion or civil
war against the United States, ,nor>fo fell
ony against the laws Of any State or Of
the United States; that I have never ia
ken an oath as a member of Congress of
the United States, or as an officer Of the
United States, or as a member Of any
State Legislature or as an executive or
judicial officer of any State, to support
the Constitution of the United States,
and afterward engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or
given aid and comfort to the enemies
thereof that I will faithfully support
I 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 ad-
ministered by the registering officer.
SEC. 2. That after the completion of
the registration hereby provided for in
any State at such time and place therein
as the commanding general shall appoint
and direct, of which at'least thirty days
/ public notice shall be given an election
Shall be held Of delegates to Conyen-
ton for the purpose Of establishing a
Constitution and civil government, for
each State, loyal to the Union. Said
convention in each State, except Virginia,
to consist Of the same number of mem
bers as the most numerous branch Of the
State Legislature in such State in the
year 1860, to be spportioned among the
) several districts, counties, or parishes OF
such State by the commanding general,
giving to each representation in the ratio
of voters registered as aforesaid as nearly
as may be. The convention in Virginia
. shall consist of the same number Of mem
bers as represented the territory now con-
stituting Virginia in the most numerous
branch of the Legislature Of said State
in the year 1860,to be appointed as afore.
said.
Sec. 3. That at said election the regis
, tered voters of each State, shall vote. for
or against a convention to form Consti-
tuition therefor under this act Those vo-
; ting in favor of such convention shall
: have written or printed on the ballots by
! which they vote for delegates asaforesaid,
the words "for Convention" and those
voting against such Convention, shall
have written or printed on such ballots
the words against Convention" The
persons appointed to superintend said
election and 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 declare the total vote in such State
! for and against 4 Convention. IF ma
!, jority of the votes given on that question
4 shall be for Convention, then such Con-
vention shall be held, as hereinafter pro-
vided; but if majority of said votes shall
be against Convention, then no such
Convention shall be held under this act
Provided; that such Convention shall moi
be held unless majority of all such reg
istered voters 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 persons as may be necessary
not exceeding three in each election dis
e trict in any State, to make and complete
: the registration, superintend the election
and make return to him Of the votes and
/ lists of returns 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 position of the persons elected as del
, egates according to the returns Of the Of.
! fcers who conducted said election, and
, make proclamation thereof, and within
sixty days from the date of the election
he shall notify the delegates to assemble
, in Convention, at time and place to be
!, mentioned in the notification; aud said
Convention, when organized, shall first
) determine by vote whether it is the wish
of the people Of such State to frame a
Constitution and civil government accord
ing to the provisions of this act and the
act to which it is supplementary, and il
SO, shall proceed to frame such Constitu-
ton; and when the same shall have been
J SO framed, said Constitution shall be sub
mitted by The Convention for ratification
to the persons registered under the pro-
visions Of this act, at an election to be
conducted by the officers or persons ap-
pointed by the commanding general as
, hereinbefore proyided and to be held af.