A Documentary History of the American Civil War Era: Volume 1, Legislative Achievements

Reconstruction Act [Fourth], March 11, 1868

reconstruction Act [fourtH], mArcH 11, 1868 U.S. Statutes at Large 15:41. This fourth Reconstruction Act amends and clarifies the previous Reconstruction Acts to make clear who could vote and how those votes were to be counted. Although President Andrew Johnson vetoed the previous three Reconstruction Acts, he did not veto this act; instead, he allowed the bill to become law without his signature . He chose not to veto this act and further irritate Congress because of the ongoing impeachment process that Congress had initiated against him. Chap. XXV.—An Act to amend the Act passed March twenty-third, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, entitled “An Act supplementary to ‘An Act to provide for the more efficient Government of the rebel States’ passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixtyseven , and to facilitate their Restoration.” Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter any election authorized by the act passed march twenty-three, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, entitled “An act supplementary to ‘An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States,’ passed march two [second] eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate their restoration,” shall be decided by a majority of the votes actually cast; and at the election in which the question of the adoption or rejection of any constitution is submitted, any person duly registered in the State may vote in the election district where he offers to vote when he has resided therein for ten days next preceding such election, upon presentation of his certificate of registration, his affidavit, or other satisfactory evidence, under such regulations as the district commanders may prescribe. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the constitutional convention of any of the States mentioned in the acts to which this is amendatory may provide that at the time of voting upon the ratification of the constitution the registered voters may vote also for members of the House of Representatives of the united States, and for all elective officers provided for by the said constitution; and the same election officers who shall make the return of the votes cast on the ratification or Documentary History of the American Civil War era 262 rejection of the constitution, shall enumerate and certify the votes cast for members of Congress. Schuyler Colfax Speaker of the House of Representatives. B. F. Wade President of the Senate pro tempore. Indorsed by the President: “Received February 28, 1868.” [Note by the Department of State.—The forgoing act having been presented to the President of the united States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the House of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the united States, has become a law without his approval.] ...