te at elections held for the purpose of
selecting delegates to the conventions for framing constitutions for
the States.

A majority of voters so qualified shall determine whether
constitutional conventions shall be held in the several States, and
shall vote for delegates who shall be as numerous as the members of
the most numerous branch of the Legislature of such State in the year
1860. This convention having framed a constitution, it shall be
submitted to the people, and if ratified by a majority of the
qualified voters, it shall be forthwith transmitted to Congress. If
this constitution is satisfactory to Congress, and found to be in
accordance with the provisions of the act of which this is
supplementary, the State shall be declared entitled to representation.
All elections are required to be by ballot, and all officers acting
under the provisions of this act are required to take the test oath.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OTHER IMPORTANT ACTS.

Equalizing Bounties -- The Army -- The Department of
Education -- Southern Homesteads -- The Bankrupt Law -- The
Tariff -- Reduction of Taxes -- Contracting the Currency --
Issue of Three Per Cents. -- Nebraska and Colorado -- Tenure
of Office.

The great national measures, whose progress through Congress has been
given in detail, occupied the attention of that body continuously,
from the first days of its existence to the closing hours of its last
session. No day passed which was not rendered important by something
said or done upon questions which concern not only the nation, but
humanity, and which are of interest not only for the present, but for
all time to come. While these great measures were passing through
Congress, making it memorable, and absorbing the public attention,
there was a constant undercurrent of patient, laborious legislation
upon subjects of less interest to the public, but of real importance
to the country.

One of the first duties devolving upon the Thirty-ninth Congress was
the great work of disbanding the vast volunteer army which had
suppressed the rebellion, saved the country, and earned the undying
gratitude of the nation. The soldiers of the republic were to be paid
for their distinguished services, their reasonable demands for
equalization of bounty were to be met, and a suitable number retained
in the service for the necessities of the nation on a "peace footing."
Near the close of the first session, a bill to e