The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-09
KkcoNsrRUCrIoy OF rHEgUsIeN.

AACONSA AOCAAOA W Il RE u 01VNs
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio, has introduced q
bill in Oongress providing for the re,on-
struction Of the Union in accordance with
the suggestions Of the Presidents Mes
sage. The preamble of the bin sets forth
that conspiracy of several years stand
ing-fnally resulting in rebellion and
civil war by certain States against the
Government of the Union-during which
the State Governments, by their acts of
treason in forming foreign alliances and
waging.war against the Government of
the Union, have renounced their allegi.
ance and abrogated the Republican Gov
eminent secured by the Constitution of
the United States; and therefore, as the
people of those States, however loyal
some of them may still remain, cannot
comply with the provisions of the Con-
stitution and send Senators and Repre-.
sentatives to Congress, it is the duty of
Congress to provide by law such govern
ment for the States aforesaid as is guaran-
teed by the Constitution And prelimi-
nary thereto. it is the duty of Congress to
provide for the exercise of the authority
ofthe Government in said States. and in or
der to do this slavery, which is ncompati-
bic with Republican Government, and the
cause of the original aud continued hos
tlity to our Republican institutions, shall
be forever abolished.
The first section provides that the
President shall take possession of the in.
surrectionary States and organize military
governments in them till such time as
certain proportion of the people shall
signify their loyalty, and hold elections
in accordance with the provisions of the
laws and Constitution OF the United
States.
The Cd, Sd and 4th sections provide
for the appointment of various officers of
government by the President. The fifth
prescribes the manner of proceeding in an
election of delegates to frame new State
Constitutions.
The sixth provides as follows:
SEC. g. And be it further enacted,
That the members of the Convention thus
elected, shall meet at the time and place
designated by the Governor, and after
organizing, shall first declare its assent
on behalf of the people Of said State to
the adoption of the Constitution of the
United States, whereupon the said Con-
ven,ion shall be and is hereby authorized
to form a Constitution of State govern
ment for said district, provided that the
Constitution shall be Republican, and not
repugnant to the Constitution of the
United States and the Presidents proc
'lsmasion of Jan. /, 1868, and, provided
further, that said Convention shall pro-
vide BY an ordinance forever iTreyocabIe
without the consent of Congress.
lst. That no person who held Office,
civil or military, under the usurping
Government, State, or Confederate, shall
be allowed to vote at any election for
Governor or member of the legislature,
or mold any Office of honor or profit under
said State Government until the lie gisla-
ture thereof, by special act in each case,
shall have granted a full and uncondi-
tional pardon to such persons.
Cd. That no debt contracted By the
rebel States or Confederate Government
shall be recognized or paid by said State.
Sd. That the freedom Of all persons
heretofore held TO service or labor in such
State, who shall have been declared free
by act of Congress or Proclamation OF
the President, shall be recognized and
guaranteed by the Constitution. sas
4th. That, from and after the adoption
Of said State Constitution. slavery or in
voluntary servitude, except in punishment
of crime, whereof the party ehall have
been duly convicted, shall be forever pro-
hibited in said State.
If the delegates thus elected shall com
ply with these provisions the States will
resume their position in the Union, and
under the 9th section when such Conven
ton refuse to frame such Constitution
the military government is to continue.
The 10th and i1th sections provide al
follows:
SEQ. 10. And be it further enacted
That all persons held to service or labo
10 the States declared by the preamble t
be in rebellion shall be, and they ar,
hereby discharged from such service o.
labor. and they and their posterity shall
be forever free and if any such person
or the ppsterity of such person, shall be
deprived Of their freedom under pretenc'
of any claim to service or labor, the courts
or judges of the United States shall OIL
habess corpus discharge such person.
) SEc.11 And be it further enacted
That If any person, or the posterity o
any such persons, as have been or may
be freed by any act Of Congress or proc
! lamation of the President, shall be de
prived of liberty under any claim to ser
vice or labor of such person, or shall b,
sued and arrested on claim of indebted
ness in the nature Of peonage, the person
40 attemntinn to dopriye Of their freednn