Year: 1867

Tie supplementary Reconstruction Bill


The following is a copy OF the supple


mentary reconstruction bill just passed by


Congress, and which has been sent to the


President for his consideration


An act supplemental to al act entitled act tc


provide for the more efficient government of the


hebcl States, passed March 2, 1867, and to facil-


ltate restoration.


B.. il enacted, DC, That before the 1st


day OF September, 1867, the commanding


general IN each district defined by an act


entitled an act to provide for the more eff


cient government of the Rebel States, ap-


proved March 2, 1867, shall cause q regis


tration to be made Of the male citizens of


the United States, 81 years OF age and up
wards, resident in each county or parish in


the State or States included in his district,


which registration will include only those


persons who are qualified to vote for dele
gates by the act aforesaid and who shall


have taken and subscribed the following


oath OF affirmation :


&, , do solemnly swear, Tor affirm)
IN the presence of Almighty God, that
am citizen of the State of -; that I
have resided in said State for months
next preceding this day, aud now reside in
the county Of -, or the parish Of -


III said State, las the case may be y that
am q years old that | have not been dis
franchised for participation in any rebel
lion 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 q member of any State
Legislature, nor held any executive or iu-
dicial office in any State, and afterwards
engaged in insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, and given aid or COM
fort to the enemies thereof that [ have
never taken all oath, as d member of Con
gress of the United States, or as an officer
of the United States, or as member of
any State Legislature, or as an executive
or judicial officer of any State, to support
the constitution of the United States, and
afterwards engaged in insurrection or re-
| bellion against the United States, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that
[ will faithfully support the constitution
and obey the laws of the United States,
and will, to the best of my ability, encour-
age others so to do. So help me God. -
Which oath or affirmation may be admin
istered by any registering officer.


Sec. 2. That after the completion of the
registration hereby provided for in any
State at such time and places therein as the
commanding general shall appoint and di-
rect, of which at least thirty days public





held of delegates to a convention for the
purpose of establishing a constitution and
civil government for such State loyal to the
Union; said convention IN each State, eX-
cept Virginia, to consist of the same num-
Der OF members as the most numerous
branch of the State Legislature of such
State in the year 1860, to be apportioned
among the several districts, countless 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 members as represented the territory
now constituting Virginia in the most nu-
merous branch of the Legislature of said
State in the year 1860, to be apportioned
as aforesaid.


Sec 3. That at said election the register
ed voters of each State shall vote for or
against convention to form q constitution
therefor under this act Those voting in
favor of such convention shall have writ
ten or printed on the ballots by which they
vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words
g for convention;" and those voting
against such a convention shall have writ
ten or printed on such ballots the words,
" against o convention" The persons ap-
pointed to superintend said election, and
10 HIKE ICIuIu VI Gl1C NOLCS gwen GI1CACoG,
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 return
ed, shall ascertain and decide the total vote
in each State for and against a convention.
# ma jority of the votes given on that
question shall be for a convention, then
such convention shall be held, as hereinaf-
ter provided; but if majority Of said votes
shall be against q convention, thea no such
convention shall be held under this act:
Provided, That such convention shall not
be held unless majority of all such regis
tered voters shall have voted on the ques-
tion of holding such convention.


Sec l. That the commanding general of
each district shall appoint such loyal Off
GERS or persons as may be necessary, not
exceeding three in each election district, IN
any State, to make and complete tie regis
tration, superintend the election, and make |
return to him Of the votes, lists Of voters,
and of the persons elected us delegates by
O plurality of the votes cast at said election;
and upon receiving said returns he shall
open the same, ascertain the persons cleo
ted as delegates according to the returns OF
the officers who conducted said election, |
and make proclamation thereof; and II a
ma jority of the votes given Oh that ques-
tlO1 S0dIt De IDr COW cublObs tuc COllLldlt~
ding general, within sixty days from the
date of election, shall notify the delegates
to assemble III convention at a time and
place to be mentioned III the notification,
and SAID convention, when organized, shall
proceed to frame Il constitution and civil
government according to the provisions Of
this act, and the act to which it is supple
mentary; and when the same shall have
been so framed, said constitution slall be
submitted by the convention for ratitict
ton to the persons registered under the
provisions of this act, at an election to be
conducted by the officers, or persons APP
pointed by the commanding general as
hereinbefore provided, and to be held af-
ter the expiration of thirty days from the
date of notice thereof, to be given by said
convention, and the returns thereof shall
be made to the commanding general of the
district.


SEC. s. That if, according to said returns
the constitution shall be ratified hy ma
iority of the votes of the registered electors
qualified as herein specified, cast at said
election, at least one-half of all the regis
tered voters voting upon the question OF
such ratification, the president of the con-