Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-19
The Supplementary Bill.

The following is copy of the bill which
passed the House on Monday, supplementary
Of the act ITO provide for the more efficient
government Of the rebel States -
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives OF the United Suites of Amer
lea III Congress assembled, That the com.
handing general i'll each district defined nv
the act entitled AN act to provide for the
more efhcieu; government OF the rebel States"
passed March second, eighteen hundred and
sixty seven. shall cause registration to be
made before the first day OF September. eigh-
teen hundred anu sixty seven, IN each county
or parish in the several States included in his
district, Of the male citizens of the United
States twenty-one years of age and upwards,
resident In each county or parish, which reg
lstratlon shall include only those persons who
are qualified to vote for delegates by the said
Act to ProvI &c for the more efficient GOV
eminent Of the rebel States. aud who shall
have taken and subscribed the following oath
IT formation Il, --, Of -, in the
county or parish of ---, in the State Of
-, do hereby s9tcmn'y swear Cor affirm)
that am not excluded from the right TO vote
5y the provisions Of the fifth and sixth sec
lions OF the act passed March two. eighteen
hundred aud siXty-sGven. entitled An act to
the rebel States that am sincerely and car
nestIy attached to the Union aud govern
ment Of the United States, that | will stead
lastly support the Constitution and obey the
laws Of the United States, aud that will to
the best OF my ability, engage all others to
support and obedience. Sn help me Cod"
Sec 2. aud be it further enacted, That
whenever the registration hereby provided
shall be completed, aud copies thereof re-
turned to the commanding general, he shall
cause to be held in each State of his district,
ON day not less than thirty days from the
date OF his proclamation thereof an election
of delegates to convention for the purpose
of framing constitution FOR said State. and
OF firmly re establishing "a civil government
loyal to the Union therein, and of passing all
needtul ordinances for putting said coustitu,
ton and government into operation
See 3. Ands9e it further enacted, That
the convention in each State shall consist of
the number of members OF the most numerous
branch of the Legislature of such State, I'M
der the Constitution thereof existing January
one, eighteen hundred and sixty and the
election districts existing on the said first dav
of january shall be observed in the elections
and in the assignment Of delegates The
commanding general to each military district
shall assign, as near as may be, to the several
election districts in each State within his iu-
risdiction, the number of delegates to which
it may be entitled, according to the number
of registered voters within its limits: Pro
vided, That each district shall be entitled to
at least one delegate.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted. That the
commanding general of each district shall APP
point such loyal officers or persons as may be
necessary, not exceeding three in each cleo
ton district, to make and complete a regis
tration, to preside at the election To- receive
sort. and count. and to 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 delegates according to the
returns of the officers who conducted said
election, and make proclamation thereof, and
within sixty days of the date of election he
shall notify the delegates to assemble, at
time aud place to be mentioned in the Motif
cation, to proceed to the organization of Il
convention and when the said convention
shall have framed constitution in accordance
with said 50 Act to provide for the more eff
Gent government OF the rebel States" said
constitution shall be submitted By the con-
ventlon to the persons registered under the
provisions of this act at an election to be con-
Quoted by the officers or persons appointed
by the commanding general, as hereipbef0re
provided, aud to be held after the expiration
of thirty days from the date of notice thereof,
to be given by said convention; and the re-
turns thereof shall be made to the command
ing general of the district
Sec. 5 And be it further enacted, That
if, according to said returns: the constitution
shall be ratified BIZ majority of the votes of
: the electors qualified as herein specified the
prari1an+ re -,
copy of the same, duly certified to the Presi-
dent of the United States, who shall forth
with transmit the same to Congress, if then
in session, and if not in session, then imme-
diately upon its next assembling; and if the