The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-08
Reorganization.

Civil Government in EOrth.CarOlina.
Mr.. Stevens (Rep., Pa. introduced bill on the
18th inst, reinstating Civil Government in North
Carolina, to enable it to resume its former rela-
lions of the Constituent States of the
American Union. He stated that he did so at the
request of several gentlemen from North-Caro-
lima. Read twice, referred to the Committee on
Territories, and ordered to be printed.
The following is the bill:
Bill to establish civil government in
North-Carolina, and enable it to resume
its former relations as one of the con-
stituent States of the American Union.
WHEREAS, On the Goth day of May, 1861, the
citizens of North Carolina, one of the United
States of America, did rebel against the Govern
ment of the United States, and on the said Goth
day of May and thereafter, did violently set aside
and destroy the organized Constitutional Govern
ment of the said State and did engage with others
in armed. hostility and warfare to maintain their
said action and
WHEREAS After the lapse of more than four
years the United States by force of arms having
succeeded in quelling said rebellion and disarm-
ing such insurgent citizens, did find in said dis
trict formerly comprising the State of North
Carolina, no government organized or officers
qualified according to the requirements of the
Constitution of the United States and
WHEREAS, The President of the United States
by virtue Of his power as Commander-in- Chief of
the Army and Navy under the operation of mar
tial law, for the purpose of preserving peace and
order, and of relieving his subordinate military Off
from executing the details of civil regulations
in the several and widely separated localities in
the district, did, under forms and rules by him
prescribed, authorize certain citizens of the dis
trict to assume the execution of said purpose of
preserving peace and order under the protection
and sanction of the military authority; and
WHEREAS, It is the duty of the Congress of
the United States to preserve the said district,
aud the loyal citizens thereof as one of the Uni
ted States OF America, and by law to cause to be
organized therein government republican in
torn, based on the civil and law making power
of the nation; therefore,
Be it enacted, ETC., That OF the goth day of May,
1867, at the hour of IL o'clock, meridian there
shall be assembled at the State House in the CITY of
Raleigh, Convention of the loyal citizens of the
district formerly comprising the State Of North
Carolina, composed of 120 delegates, to be chosen
by voters qualified as hereinafter provided; and
each county in said district shall be entitled to
send to said Convention the same number of del
egates that it entitled to send members to the
House of Commons of the State of North Carroll
ma prior to the 10th day of May, 1861; and ma
jority OF the delegates elected to said Convention
shall constitute quorum, and be invested with
the sovereign power of the people of the district
to frame a State Constitution, which shall be
submitted to the Congress of the United States
for approval, modification or rejection, prepare
tory to the reestablishment of the said State and
the re-investng its loyal citizens with all Of the
rights, privileges and immunitics appertaining to
u Il
and the said Convention shall have power and au-
thority to do all other acts which by the recog-
nized principles of republican government SOW
ereign Conventions of the people of the States
may of right do provided that in case no quorum
shall assemble ON the said Goth day Of May any
less number of delegates assembled may adjourn
from day to day until such time as quorum may
assemble for the transaction of business.
Second That, in the election of delegates to
said Convention there shall be allowed to vote all
male resident citizens of the district formerly
comprising the State of North Carolina, of the
age of twenty-one years, without distinction of
race or color, who can read or write, or may own
in fee real estate of the assessed value of $780, or
more: Provided, That no one who has heretofore
exercised the right of suffrage in said district
shall be disqualified from voting in said election
Third: That the qualifications for the dele
gates to the said Convention shall be the same as
were required for members of the House of Com
mons of the State of North Carolina immediate
ly previous to the goth of May, 1861, upon the
taking and subscribing, before the Judge of the
District Court of the United States for the Dis
trict of North Carolina, some other officer of
the United States authorized to administer oaths,
the following oath, to wit:
do solemnfy swear on the Holy Evangelists of
Almighty God Cor Affirm as the may be), that
on the fourth day of March, 1864, and at all times
thereafter, would willingly have complied with
tne requirements OF the Proclamation of the Pre-
sldent OF the United States issued on the eighth
day of December, 1868, had sale opportunity of
DONG SO been afforded me. That on the said
after, was opposed to the continuance of the
Rebellion. and to the establishment of the social
led Confederate Government, and voluntarily gave
no aid or encouragement thereto, but earnestly
desired the success of the Union and the suppress
sion OF all armed resistance to the Government of
the United States and that will henceforth faith
dnlly support the Constitution of the United
states, and the Union of the States Hereunder
ana no person shall be allowed to sit or act as
delegate in said Convention, or old anv office
or appointment Hereunder, until he shall
have taken and subscribed the above oath in the
manner and form as above provided
Fourth: That it shah be the duty of the ,Judpe
such oath is proposed to be taken, whenever he
may suspect it is about to be taken falsely by anv
person, to put to such person any question under
oat9 and to hear any other evidence that NAV
:eno 10 satisfy him as to the proprety of admin |
lstenng it. And if in his Judgment, the person
cannot truthfully take the OATH he NAV refuse to
administer it. And should any person falsely take
saad OATH he shall be indicted and prosecuted in
Circuit Court of the United States held in the
district in which the offense may be committed
ZOE the crime of perjury, and upon Conviction
punishment as now attaches to the crime of ner
jury. And in the trial of such Indictment. no her
son shall be qualified to sit npon the iury nptil
ne snail have taken said oath, and the Cont NAV
require any juror to take it, unless he shall sweat
1naI ne cannot truthfully do So -'
rye: That it shall be the duty of the Pres; |
fba aI Oh the United States to direct and reomre
NJ Htco states Marshal for the District Of |
district @ ma TO appoint for each county in said
e o SO appointed SHALL each in his resTeot;1ro
county, appoint keepers and insnector f @
NJ" oIner necessary assistants and on the A. Sn