, 1864-01-06

And tread down rebellion, oppression aud wrong
81 aoPf q Tnon hy an
I'm mustered out.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE
UNION.
Mr. Aehlcy,s Eli Providing Proy1s-
for Reconstruction of Loyal
State Governments
ABILL-
To provide for the establishment of Provisional
Military Governments over the districts Of coun-
try declared by the. Presidents Proclamation to
be IN rebellion against the Government Of the
United States, and to authorize the loyal citizens
the1sof to osa9aizs stste repub
WHEREAS, A conspiracy of many years.
duration, developing into wide spread In
surTection and rebellion, dhd finally ctlMiao-
ting IN teri itorial ci,n .ear agdiasa Ue United
States, In that part Of the national domain
known and designated as the States Of Ala
Sama ATkansas, Ferida GeeIgia tSuisiana
Tennessee, Texas and Eastern Virginia: and
,cAc,ras the constituted authorities and State
Governments, by their acts Of treason and re-
bellion against the Governments of the Uni
ted States, by an attempted alliance with for
cisn powers, to wage war against the United
States, and, br granting letters Of marque and
teprisal, hare violated the National Con-
stitution, which Is the supreme law of
the land, and which declares that s'no State
sbnll enter into any treaty, alliance, or con-
federation, grant letters Of 1narque and re-
p1isals," or, without the consent of Congress,
''lay any duty on tonnage, keep troops or
ships Of var in time Of peace, enter into any
agreement or compact with another State or
with foreign power, or engage In war, un-
less actually invaded or In such imminent
danger as will not admit of dclny;'' and
whereas, by said acts Of notification and re-
belllon and 1evying war against the United
States on the part of the constituted Govern
ment and people Of the States aforesaid, they,
the said States, have rcuouuced their allegi-
and abrogatcd the republican form Of Gov
ernment heretofore established therein; and
whereas, the loyal people Of the States
named, excepting those Of East Virginia,
have organized no Government therein, re-
cognizing the Constitution Of the United
States; and whereas, the Constitution Of the
United States requires the electors in each
State to have the qualifications Of an elector
for the most numerous branch Of the State
Legislature, In order to vote for men,
bers Of the House Of Representatives, and
t1mt the Senators from each State shall be
chosen by the Legislature thereof, and that
the electors in each State for President and
appointed in such manner as the Legislature
thereof shall direct, therefore the States
which hare nbrogated the State Governments
recognized by Congress can elect no Repre-
sentatiycs or Senators, or electors for Prc6i-
dent or Vice-President, until the loyal citi-
zens thereof establish State Governments,
republican In form, and elect Senators and
Representative to the Congress Of the United
States who shall be admitted to seats By each
House; and .rheTtus, the Constitution declares
that the United States shall guarantee to ey-
cry State Of the Union republican form Of
government, aud 1t is the duty Of Congress,
after the rebellious States have been reduced
willing to establish State Governments un-
der the Constitution, to provide By law for
cleciting the will Of the loyal people
Of said States, aud to make such
provisions and conditions as may be
necessary to defend and perpetuate the Union
ct these states, and to establish and maintain
in the States SO organized, Governments, Re-
Constitutional State Governments, and until
the loyal people thereofshall have established
Governments which Congress shall recognize,
it is the duty Of Congress to provide by law
for the internal Government Of such States !;
and
republican form Of government, and the ex-
istence Of slavery III the insurrectionary
Etatcs has caused nnd maintained the rebel
lion therein, and the emancipation Of said
slaves ,and q constitutional guarantee Of their
perpetual freedom is essential to the perma-
Dent restoration Of State Governments, ,rcpub-
ncan in form, therefore, in order to @lrry In
Constitution Of the United States on Con-
gross to secure the rights Of the States and
the liberties Of the people
&c it enacted ~ The Senate and Home Of RF-
ycsenfotixs 81 Tie United States in Congress as
se7n11td: That tie President be, and is hereby
behalf Of the people Of the United States, to
take possession Of, and occupy the insurrec-
tionaTy districts, which, BY his Proclamation
of the 10th Of August, 1861, were declared to
be In rebellion against the United States, and
to establish and maintain thsrein, with the
military and naval forces Of the United States,
such temporary military Governments as he
be instituted and continued In the districts
thus named and designated BY the President
until such time rs the loyal people residing
therein shall, in compliance with this oct and
under the direction Of the temporary Govern
ment hereby authorized, organize State Cor
ernments, republican IN form, as prescribed
BY the Nationa1 Constitution, and elect Sena-
tors and Representatives, who shall be duly
admitted to seats by the Senate and House Of
Representatives OF tie United States.
SEC. 9. -and be it further rnacfAd, That in
addition to the Federal officers now allowed
by law, in each Of the districts designated
by the President, he shall appoint, By and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate, q
provisional military governor, in each, Nth
The Tank, tile ai'd pay II Briyodie' or GNafor-
Gentau{ 81 Vo}uuftsrs, tie r. eaiIcHt may elect,
who eball be charged with the civil admins
tration Of such district until State govern
nlents, republican in form, aEe organized as
>, nf$o $EFH
SEC. 5. -Astd be it further t7,aeted, That each
Of tho provisional Governors SO appointed
shall be authorized, when in his opinion It
may be necessary, to appoint council OF
five and such clerks as may be required to
aid him III the civil administration Of his de-
partment, and he sha see that the Constitu-
tion and laws of the United States, and the
obeyed, and that the Proclamations of the
President are duly enforced in this district
SEC. 4. And Dc il further enacted, That
whenever the military authority Of the United
States shall be established over any district
for which military governor shall be ap-
pointed, as herein provided, and the people
thereof shall have signi6 cd to the Governor
Constitution Of the United States, the pro-
yision:l governor, under the authority and
direction Of the President Of the United
States, shall order an enrolment of oil loyal
male citizens Of the age Of twcnty-one years
in his district, and Whenever their number
shall equal ten per cent. Of the aggregate
vote Of 1850, be shall appoint day and des-
ignate place or places In eacn county with
ii our military lines for the election OF dele
gates charged with the duty of declaring the
will Of the people respecting the formation
of Constitution Of State Government, sub
jcct to tbs Constitution Of the Q. s,
SEC. 5. And tt Il further enacted, That the
election for said delegates shall be held By
two commissioners, appointed by the Cover
nor for each place Of voting, and said Com
missioncrs shall select two clerks, who with
the Commissioners shall, before proceeding
to receive the votes, take and subscribe m
crnor, faithfully to perform their duty Us
Judges aud clerks Of said election, and it shall
be {lc dnty Of said clerks to make and keen
a poll-book, and transmit to the Governor
within. three days after said election certi.
Fed copy thereof duly authenticated by the
Commissioners, nnd Ill msle citizens Of the
United States Of the age Of twenty-one ycara
stall be entitled to vote at said election, ex-
cept those persons who have voluntarily
borne arms agaln6t The United States, or held
any Office, civil or military, whcthtr under
and every person, whether known BY tue
Commissioners to be loyal or suspected BY
them Of disloyalty, shall before voting take
the oath of Allegiance, ,sprescribc1 BY the Pres
i1ent of the United States, aud the Governor
shall open and inspect the election returnt
In the presence OF not less than three Loyal
citizens, and he shall declare the person hav
Ing the inrgcs. nnmber Of Totcs duly elected
to the Convention, and his certificate Thereof
shall cutitle the holder to 4 seat In tho Con
vcution. Immediately after such election
hal $ecn liam Inn 1T.