The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-09
.RHeoNsFRBGFI0N.
Supplementary TO the stevens-sherman-
SheIlabarger Bill. Es

Il
sqss$ s s9
the rebel States, passed. arehy q, 1867, aud to-
L9facilitaterestoration .eaTLT1 a4Iiz
Be It enacted by tie Senate, and House Of Repre-
sentatiaes of the United tStqtes Of America ~ Con-
I gress assembled, That Before the first day of
! September, 1857, the commanding general ip each
/ district defined by an act entitled an act 70 pro,
vide for the efficient overnnent of the rebel
States, approved March 1857, shall cause reg,
istration to be made of the male citizens Of the
United ae eeua or pagsh n 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 aiore-
Said and Who shall have taken and subscribed the
! following oath or affirmation: ,.,,,..s
81, -, do solennly swear, or affirm, in the
presence OF Almighty God, that am citizen OF
the State Of, that have resided in saidState
for ---- months next preceding this day, and
now reside in the county of -, or the p1ilsh
Of, in said State, as the case may be; that
chised for 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 nave never been
member OF any State Legislature, nor held any
executive or judicial Office in any State and at
! forwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion
| against the United States and given aid or COM
| fort to the enemies thereof; that I have never
| taken an oath as member of Congress of the
| United States, or an officer of the United
States, or as member OF any State Legislature,
or executive or judicial officer of any State
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in insurrection or re-
belion 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
God"
Which oath or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer.
Sec. 2. That after the completion of the regis
traton hereby provided for in any State at such
\ time and place therein as the commanding gen.
erai may appoint and direct, of which at least
thirty days public notice shall be given, an cleo
ton shall be held of delegates to Il convention
for the purpose OF establishing a constitution
and civil government fpr such State loyal to the
Union; said convention in each State, except
Virginia, to consist of the same number of mem
bers Us the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature of such State in the year 1860, to be
apportioncd among the several districts, cOun-
ties, or parishes of such State by the command
my general; giving to each, representation in the
ratio of voters registered as aforpsaid as nearly
as may be- The Convention i'll Virginia shall
consist of the same number of members as rep
resented the territory constituting Fir-
ginia in the most numerous branch of the Legis-
lature OF said osa:c lii the year 1861 to be appor-
toned as aforesaid. ...-.-- t..
Sec 3. That at said election the registered vo-
tiers of each State shall vote for against con-
vention to form constitution under this act
Those voting in favor of such a convention shall
have written or printed on the ballots by which
they vote for delegates, the words ''for con-
vention; and those voting against such con-
ballots the words against a convention" The
persons appointed to superintend 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 against
a convention. If majority of the votes given
on that question shall be for convention, then
such convention shall be held under this act
ItOetded, That such convention shall not be held
unless majority of all such registered votes
shall have voted on the question of holding such
Sec 4. That the commanding general of each
district shall appoint such 10 al officers per-
sons as may be necessary, not exceeding three in
each election district in any State, to make and
complete the registration, superihtend the cleo
tion, and MAKE return to him OF the votes, lists
OF voters and ct the persons elected delegates
by plurality of the votes cast at said election;
and upon receiving said returns he shall open
the same ascertain the persons elected az dele
gates according to the returns of the officers
who conducted said election and make procIama-
ton thereof: and if majority of the votes given
on that question shall he tor d convention, the
commanding general, within sixty days from the
date OF election shall notify the delegates to as
senble in convention at time and place to be |
in the notification, and said Conven
ton, when organized, shall proceed to frame u |
Constitution and civil government according to |
the provisions OF this act, and the act to which
il 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 ohi-
GERS, orpersons appointed by the commanding |
general rs hereinbefore provided, and to be held |
after the expiration of thirty days from the date
of notice Thereof to be given by said convcn- !
ton, and the returns thereof shall be made to |
the commanding general of the district.
Sec. D. 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 of such ratification the president of the
shall transmit 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; |
md it 1t shall moreover appear to Congress that
he election was one at which all the registered
md qualified electors in the State had an oppor-
unity to vote freely and without restraint, fear
Or the influence OF fraud, aud if Congress shall |
DC satisfied that such constitution meets the
9roval of a majority of the qualified electors In
he State, and if the said constitution shall be
declared by Congress to be in conformity with
,he provisions of the act to which this; supple
nentary, and the other provisions of said act
titution shall be- approved by Congress, the l.
State shall be declared entitled to representation,
md Senators aad Representative shall beadmit-
ed therefrom as herein provided.
Sec. 9. That all elections in the States NEIL
toned in the said sAct to provide,f for the more
ficient government of the rebel States,'' shall,
Turing the operation of said act, be by ballot;
md all officers making the said registration of
oters and conducting said elections shall, before
nterlnS upon the QtScnarSe OF Cnelr duties, SUBJ
cribe an oath faithfully to perform the duties of
heir said efics, and is oath prescribed by the
ct approved July 2, 1862, entitled ''An act to
Prescribe an oath of oifice' Provided, That lfany
'erson shall knowingly and falsely take and sub
cribc any path in this act prescribed, such per-
on SO offending, and being thereof duly convict
d, shall be subject to the palms. penalties and
disabilities which by law are provided for the
punishment of the crime of wiful and corrupt
'erjury. .,.... ........
Sec. z That all expenses incurred by the sever
commanding generals, or by virtue Of any or
ers issued orappointments made by them uDder
# by virtue of this act, shall be paid out OF shy
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri-
ted.
Sees That the concentration each State shall
rescribe the fees, salaryand compensation to be
aid to all delegates and other officers and agents
erein authorized or necessary to carry into effect
be purposes of this act, not herein otherwise
rovided for and shall provide for the levy and
objection of such taxes on the property in such d.
tate as may he necessary to pay the same
Sec g. That the word narticle'' in the sixth
ection of the act to which this is supplemental
y shall be construed to mean section
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
III Speaker Of the House of Representatives
Sd. g.I-s-.. LA EAYETTE EOSTFR