LIST OF THE PROCLAMATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME. No. 4. Correcting an error in proclamation of August 20, 1866. October 7, 1867 No. 6. Proclaiming and declaring full pardon to all persons participating in the late rebellion, those under indictment for treason or felony excepted. July 4, 1868 No. 1. PROCLAMATIONS.-CERTIFICATES.APPENDIX. Cancelling a contract with one Bernard Kock. April 16, 1863.. No. 2.- Warning all persons against obstructing the execution of the Constitution and laws, enjoining obedience thereto, and directing the officers of the army and navy to assist the courts and civil authorities. September 3, 1867... No. 3. Offering and extending full pardon to all persons participating in the late rebellion, and restoration of rights to all, excepting three classes. September 7, 1867.. No. 5.- Appointing a day of national thanksgiving and praise. October 20, 1867 Page 697 697 699 701 701 702 ........ No. 7.- Announcing the ratification of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution by North Carolina. July 11, 1868 .. 703 No. 8. — Announcing the ratification of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution by South Carolina. July 18, 1868...... 704 No. 9. —Announcing the ratification of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution by Louisiana. July 18, 1868.. 704 No. 10. Announcing the ratification of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution by Alabama. July 20, 1868...... No. 11. Certifying that the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution has been adopted, if, &c. July 20, 1868... 706 No. 12. —Announcing the ratification of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution by Georgia. July 27, 1868... 708 No. 13. Certifying that the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution has been adopted. 28, 1868.... July 708 No. 14. Recommending Thursday, November 26, 1868, as a day of public Thanksgiving. tober 12, 1868.. Oc 711 No. 15.― Granting full pardon and amnesty to all persons engaged in the late rebellion ... 711 Passed at the First Session, which was begun and held at the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia, on Monday, the fourth day of March, A. D. 1867; was adjourned on Saturday, the thirtieth day of March, A. D. 1867, to meet on Wednesday, the third day of July, A. D. 1867; met on the said third day of July, and continued in session until Saturday, the twentieth day of said July, on which day it adjourned to meet on Thursday, the twenty-first day of November, A. D. 1867; met on the said twenty-first day of November, and ended the second day of December, A. D. 1867. ANDREW JOHNSON, President. BENJAMIN F. WADE, President of the Senate. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. CHAP. I.—An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to amend an Act entitled 'An Act to incorporate a National Military and Naval Asylum for the Relief of the totally disabled Officers and Men of the Volunteer Forces of the United States,' approved March twenty-one, eighteen hundred and sixty-six. March 12, 1867. 1866, ch. 21, § 3. Vol. xiv. p. 10. Members of elected mana Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section third of the act to incorporate a national asylum for disabled officers and men of the vol- Congress may be unteer forces of the United States, approved March twenty-first, eighteen gers of the Nahundred and sixty-six, be amended by striking out the words "not mem- tional Asylum bers of Congress." APPROVED, March 12, 1867. for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. CHAP. II. — An Act making Appropriations for the Expenses of Commissioners sent by March 14, 1867. the President to the Indian Country. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of twenty thou sand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay the expenses of commissioners sent by the President to the Indian country. APPROVED, March 14, 1867. Appropriation for commissioners to the Indian country. CHAP. III. - An Act to repeal a Joint Resolution entitled "A Resolution to provide for March 16, 1867. the Removal of the Wreck of the Steamship Scotland," approved January twenty-ninth, Vol. xiv. p. 564. eighteen hundred and sixty-seven. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the joint resolution entitled "A resolution to provide for the removal of the wreck of the steamship Scotland," approved January twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. APPROVED, March 16, 1867. CHAP. IV. - An Act to clothe the maimed and destitute Soldiers. See post, p. 249. Resolution for the removal of the wreck of the steamship Scot land from the entrance to New York harbor repealed. March 22, 1867. Secretary of one complete suit of clothing soldier, an in War to furnish Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and is hereby, authorized and required to furnish one complete suit of clothing to each invalid soldier who is an inmate of any regularly constituted "Soldiers' Home" in the United States, out of the stock on hand mate of any in the quartermaster's department. VOL. XV. PUB.-1 to each invalid regularly constituted "Soldiers' Home." Clothing, how to be delivered. March 22, 1867. An ordinance adopted by the city council of Burlington, Iowa, made le gal. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That such clothing shall be delivered to the managers of such institutions upon their requisition therefor, accompanied with such certificates as to numbers and condition as the Secretary of War may prescribe. APPROVED, March 22, 1867. CHAP. V. — An Act in Relation to a certain Tract of Land in Burlington, Iowa. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a certain ordinance adopted by the city council of the city of Burlington, in the State of Iowa, of date of December tenth, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-six, entitled "An ordinance devoting Market Square to certain public purposes, and providing for the location of certain railroad tracks upon certain streets, and for other purposes," is hereby ratified, approved, and made legal and valid, so far as relates to said public square; and that said ordinance shall operate to convey to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company all right and interest of the United States in the premiSquare, Burling- ses known as Market Square, in the said city of Burlington, upon the ton, conveyed to terms and conditions and for the purposes and uses therein designated, the Burlington and Missouri and shall have the same force, operation, and effect as if the fee-simple title to said Market Square and streets were owned by said city at the Idate of said ordinance. Interest of the United States in Market River R. R. Co. March 23, 1867. 1867, ch. 153. Vol. xiv. p. 428. Post, pp. 14, 29, 30, 41, 72, 73. Registration certain male citi to be made of zens of each one years of age, and upwards, qualified to vote for delegates, and who have taken the oath. Form of the oath. Post, p. 15. APPROVED, March 22, 1867. CHAP. VI.— An Act supplementary to an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the more efficient Government of the Rebel States," passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate Restoration. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding general in each district defined by an act entitled "An act to provide for the more military district efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, eighteen before September 1, 1867; hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a registration to be made of the to include resi- male citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age and upwards, dents of twenty- resident in each county or parish in the State or States included in his district, which registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to vote for delegates 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 I am a citizen of the State of ; that I have resided in said State for months next preceding this day, and now reside in the county of or the parish of in said State (as the case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been disfranchised 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 I have never been a member of any State legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any State and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a 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 rebellion against the United States, or given aid or comfort 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 so to do, so help me God"; which oath or affirmation may be administered by any registering officer. Who to alminister th oath SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the tion of registra the time and to a convention registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and places. After completherein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of which at tion, and upon least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election shall be held of at least thirty delegates to a convention for the purpose of establishing a constitution days' notice of and civil government for such State loyal to the Union, said convention in places therefor, each State, except Virginia, to consist of the same number of members an election to be as the most numerous branch of the State legislature of such State in the held of delegates year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned among the several to establish a districts, counties, or parishes of such State by the commanding general, constitution. giving to each representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid tion to consist of as nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the what number of same number of members as represented the territory now constituting members in certain States, and Virginia in the most numerous branch of the legislature of said State in how apporthe year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as aforesaid. The conven tioned; of what num At the elec vention and return the votes. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the registered ber in Virginia, voters of each State shall vote for or against a convention to form a con- and how appor stitution therefor under this act. Those voting in favor of such a con- tioned. vention shall have written or printed on the ballots by which they vote tion, a vote to for delegates, as aforesaid, the words " For a convention," and those voting be taken for or against such a convention shall have written or printed on such ballots against a conthe 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 a convention; 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 a convention. If a majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention shall be held jority of the as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said votes shall be against votes cast are for a convention, then no such convention shall be held under this act: Pro- a convention; but not unless vided, That such convention shall not be held unless a majority of all a such registered voters shall have voted on the question of holding such convention. See pos!, p. 41. Convention be held if a ma voters vote on make returns to election and to ascertain and proclaim the persons elected majority of all the registered the question. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of Commanding each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be ne- general to appoint boards of cessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and com- registration to plete the registration, superintend the election, and make return to him superintend the of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon receiving said re- him; turns 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 if a majority of the votes given on that as delegates; question shall be for a convention, the commanding general, within sixty to notify deledays from the date of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in ble, if a majority convention, at a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and of the votes are said convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and civil government according to the provisions of this act, and the act to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for ratification to the per-ons registered under the provisions of this act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as hereinbefore provided, and to be held after 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. gates to assem for a convention. Convention to meet and frame a constitution which shall be submitted to the registered voters Election therefor how to be notified and for ratification. when to be held, &c. See Post, p. 15. If constitution is ratified by a majority of the votes cast, half SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast at said election, at least one half of all the registered voters voting upon the question of such rat- voting, a copy ification, the president of the convention shall transmit a copy of the of the voters thereof to be |