Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-03-20
Important Bill in the Federal Congress

 destination is unknown.
 ss----
 Important Bill in the Federal Congress.
 We present the reader with tue bill reported by consent, and certainly to be passed in the federal Congress, through which all the South ern States are reduced to the condition of tcrri- tories, and placed under the control of military governments for an indefinite period. It shall be the duty of these military governments to sequestrate, forfeit, lease, and confscate the property of all persons engaged in the rebellion. In fact. we have here the sole law nnder which we have to live in case the Yankees beat us in this war;
 PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE REBEL
 TERRITORIES.
 General Ashley ofOho is authorized by the House committee upon Territories toreport the following bill, which has been agreed to by the Senate committee on Territories. It win be re- ported to the House on the first call Of the com mittee, probably to,morrow
 i dW to egtaj}iyA temporary Pr0risjonal gor-
 e17t75cnt 0cer lie districts 0t country iR Tebei-
 lion qgaiJast tie United States.
 Whereas. conspiracy has been for many years in progress, and has resulted in insurrec- ion and rebellion, in that part of the United States lerej0fore kholcn ant designated 0s Hc States of Aladama, ArtuHSas Eoridd, GeolYta L0uiSiana. Mississippi, A0hb Carotjaa. SoptA CaY0lina, TenneSSee, TcrQs and Eastern TugiR- ia: and whereas, by the act of rebellion against the United States. as well as by an attempted alliance with foreign powers to wage war against said government, and granting letters oi marque and reprisaI, the said States have violated the national constitution, which IS the supreme law Of the land and which declares that "no State shall enter into any treaty, all- ance, or confederation grant letters ot marQne and reprisal" and rhaIi not, without the con sent of Congress lay auy duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war iu time of peacC, enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign powcf and whereas said acts of nulliGcation. rebellion, and Ieyyiue war against the United Statas, and their alliance under Confederate G0yerumeut, have tefuiua- ted, and of right ol9ht to terminate, the legal existence of said State governments: and where as the loyal citizens residing in the aforesaid { rtbeliOu5 districts, On account Oi the overthrow of the State governments, and the tribunals of justice, both state and federal therein, as w,ll as the loyal citizens of other parts of the Unite States, are derived of all adequate redress for injuries u their person or property, and of all civil remedies for the redress ot grievances: and whereas, the sovereignty of the United States over the districts of country nov n rebel lion Is supreme oy the express terms ot the con- stitutiOn: and whereas. the establishment of a hostile dosp0tic government within auv part Ct
 he territory oi the Juited States is ineompari- hle with the stability. safety and dicny ot .Le government Of the n.tel States. also with the principles Of constitutional liberty; therefore.
 Bs ,t ceaefsF bF tle >el9fe uud N,aye ot' Hep 7tf'irr4 of14a juue. @tl5cs W dm4f-a ia Conqress osaeajte5, That the President ne and he hereby, authorized and required v take uos session ald occupy tne iaMrr4c..oua-7 States named, and to institute. establish, and protect, with the military and maya. forces ~. tLa litel Staces, 2 tsmFararr clEi rar-ml..., w.tl such names and such eaaEra Hh aaI boundaries a7 ae may by proclamation des Tnate; .ha- said cIri government shall he maintained and continued tn each ot the districts thus named and de, -na. ted until such time ys rle loyal people residing therein shall form new State governments renub- iiciD in form. a5 prescribed WI the constitution of the United State, and appiy for and obtain ad- mission into the Cuon a5 States which may be erected out of said territory shall De performed with the express stipulation that, after their al- mission, they shall forever remain a part of the American Union, subject to the Constitution of the United States and such amendments IS shall be consttu5ionaily made and to all acts and ar. dinances of the nited States in COngres, as. 8emolei conlormabe thereto.
 SEC. 2. ind te U tj,rtbey. eaacfe7 That the temporary governments hereby authorized for each 0. said districts shall consist of an execu- tive, legislative and judicial department The executive power shall be vested in governor whose powers and duties shall be Inc same as those conferred upon the governor of the Territory of Washington, and in addition he shall during the continuance of tue rebellion have power to do such acts as may De necessa- ry to secure the due enforcement Of tAe laws and decrees of the United States, or Of the bio, visional government; the legislative power shall be vested in council 0f rot less than seven nor more than thirteen, as the President may determine; the judicial power shall Le vest, ed in a superior court and such inferior courts as the council may establish. The superior court shall consist of three judges. a majority of whom shall constitute the provisional court 0feach district and Congress- shall have hover 1t any time- to remove any ono or all oAc created by this act and the term Of the office of the governor and all other officers, whose creation and appointment are hereby author izad, shall continue until otherwise directed by Congress, and each of the officers designated by this act shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of tue Sen ate.
 SEC. 2. ind de t .fttytlcr caacte7, That the Legislative authority of said districts shali be vested iu the governor and legislative council, whose powers and duties shall extend 10 all rightsul subjects of legislation, no. inconsistent wlth the constitution and laws Of ike United States aud the provisions of tdts act Ont lo act Saa2i 5e passed b7 &ajd council esiajliyiuQ. pro- tcctng or rtco4sj.jay tbe ecisfcacs of s}ure37i noF shaH Said temporary qoceHmcnt, 0r anYde. pGTtB3eU ttrre9t. Yiee SdHc5ia4 i1 0rdecit1e f3e rtght of one Rat to property ja Qachej', in either of saU dtsl7cts aud R0 law CT act of said gov ernor or legislative council shall be valid which IS dISapproved ofbv Congress. The Isaislature shall assemble after their first appointment. at such time and place as the governor and l. cis lative council may fix bv law; they shall select from one of their own number a spe lkcr. who shall be presiding officer, and they may elect a clerk and sergeantat-arnS, wb0 shaii hold their offices during the pleasure ol the council and the clerk and sergeant atarmS 50 appointed may be allowed such assIstants as in the opinion of the legislative council may be necessary and the compensation of said clerk and seargeanta at arms ane their assistants, shall be such as the legislative council may by law prescribe, not to exceed four dollars per day. lftrom any cause, a vacancy occurs in any of the offices hereby authorized to be appointed by the president the governor Or acting governor of the district shall forthwith notify the President and an appoint. mont slql ho m ado hV him to + snnb va n,,.