Year: 1867

THURSDAY. MARCH 81 1861
The Supplementary Reconstruction
Bill.


The following is copy Of the bill as 1t
finally passed both Houses:


An act sspplenental to an act entitled an


act to- provide for the more efficient go


vernment of the rebel States, passed


March Q, 1867, and to facilitate restora-


ton.


Be II enacted, &c., That before the 1st
day Of September, 1861, the commanding
general in each district defined by
an act entitled an act to provide
for the more efficient government
Of the rebel States, approved March
2, 1867, shall cause registration to be
made Of the male citizens Of the United
States twenty one 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 or affirmation


"I,-, do solemnly swear, or affirm, in
the presence of Almighty God, that am
q citizen of the State of -; that Ihave
resided in said State for - months
next preceding this day, and now reside in
the county of -, or parish of -, in said
State, as the case may be; that | am
twenty-one years old; that l have not
been dsfranchised for participation
in any rebellion or civil war against
the United States, nor for felony COM
mitted against the laws of any State or of
the United States; that have never been
member of lany State Legislature,
nor held any executive or judicial office
in any State, and afterwards en-
gagged in insurrection against the United
States, and given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof; that / have never taken
an oath as member of Congress of the
United States, or as an officer of the United
States, or as member of any State Legis-
lature, or as an executive or judicial Off
Ger Of any State, to support the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, and afterwards
engaged in insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, or given aid or COM
fort to the enemies thereof; that I will
faithfully support the Constitution and
obey the laws Of the United States and
will, to the best Of my ability, encourage
others to. do $3.50 help me God" Which
oath or affirmation may be administered
by any registering officer.


SECTION 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, Of which
at least thirty days public notice shall be
given, an election shall be held of dele
gates to convention for the purpose of
establishing constitution and civil govern
ment for such State loyal to the Union ;
said convention in each State except Vir-
ginia) to consist of the same number 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, counties, or parishes OF
the State by the commanding general, CIV
ing to each representation in the ratio of
the voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly
as may be. The convention in Virginia
shall consist Of the same number of men,
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 apportioned as afore-
said.


SECTION 3. That at said election the re-
gistered voters Of each State shall vote for
or against convention to form a constitu-
tion therefor under this act. Those
voting in favor of such q convention
shall have written or printed on the
ballots by which they vote for dele
gates, as aforesaid, the words "for a
convention; and those voting against
such convention shall have written or
printed on such ballots the words "against
a convention" The persons appointed to
superintend said election, and to make re-
turn of the voters given thereat, a. herein
provided, shall count and make { urn of
the votes given for and against conven-
ton; and the commanding general, to
whom the same shall have been returned,
shall ascertain and declare the total vote
in each State for and against convention.
If majority Of the votes given on that
question shall be for q convention, then
such convention shall be held, as herein
after provided; 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 not be held unless majority of all
such registered voters shall have voted on
the question Of holding such convention.
SECTION 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
trict in any State, to make and complete
the registration, superintend the election,
and 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, as
certain the persons elected as delegates
according to the returns Of the officers who
conducted said election, and make pro-
clamation thereof; and if majority of the
votes given on that question shall be for
convention, the commanding general,
within sixty days from the date of election,
shall notify the delegates to assemble in
convention at time and place to be
mentioned in the notification; and said
convention, when organized, shall proceed
to frame constitution and civil govern
ment 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 shall be
submitted by the convention for ratification
to the persons registered under the proyi-
sions of this act, at an election to be con-
Quoted by the officers orpersons appointed
by the commanding general as hereinbefore
provided, and to be held after the expira-
tion of thirty days from the date Of notice
thereof, to be given by said convention; and
the returns thereof shall be made to the