, 1865-12-01

| There can be but little doubt TINT Coneres
Wiu regard the Provisional Governments
| established by the President in the souther,
States, as police aids merely, and will adop
some general enabling act, prescribing gene
rally What requisites must be adopted intt
the State constitutions, and what kind o
men must be elected to Federal Office beto1,
the State Governments can become estab
1tshed BY tho admission Of their Representa-
| tlEes to Congress. The Philadelphia Nort2
Ameraeap publishes the following proposed
enabling act, with most Of the provisions
which We heartily concur:
eEcT1oN !. Be il enacted, fte. That when.
ever any State lately In rebellion against the
sovereignty and power Of The United States
| loyalty formerly existing, aud Of regarding
those State rights under The authority of The
National Constitution to which said State
had been entitled before the late war, the
State shall present 10 the President Of the
United States proof showing that the cpnsti-
Ing material guarantees for the liberty Of nll
the people Of the eaid State, as well Is Of i'm
munlty from outrags of the people of other
States or countries soJourntng or having busf-
ness within their borders, for the future peace
and.Eood order Of the country aud for. the
continued loyalty Of the said State, to-wit:
l. Ihat slavery Or involuntary sesvitude,
except for crime, shall be forever prohibited
within the boundaries OF the State.
=; That tull civil and religions liberty
shall be guaranteed alike to all the people Of
the said State, Of whatever race or color, md
no distinction Of civil rights shan be made
eetxeen any portion Of the people of the said
State On account Of race or color.
=; That tie government ot the Slate
shall be forever thoroughly Republican in It's
character, nccErdlrg to the Constitution Of
the united stsAes, y. being based on the re-
eoennlon o. lpe right Of the majority Of the
people to goFetn, and that no laws shall ever
be made ca1culated to Interfere with this
right, to which end the right of suffrage shall
be secured to clear and inlisputablc mafor-
lty Of the male adults Of the said people.
4. That the sud State Is aud shnll remain
part Of the Republic Of the United States Of
amcrica that all acts Of secession, past or
inture, are In themselves null and void, and
that every act done or obligation contracted
In pursuance Of said secession Is In itself null
aud void. and that no legislative body or con
renti0n shall ever hare power to change this
provision or 70 give validity or force to any
such act Or obligation and that any citizen
Of the said Slate attempting to give effect 10
such act, obligation or debt, whether of this
State, or Of any other State or States. or Cor
fedcEatc treasonable body, shall be forever
disqualified from holding office under tho gov
eInment Of the State, Or Of representing the
State in Congress, and that all votes cast for
any candidate known to sustain such treason
able act, debt or obligation, shall be null and
void.
s. That the State shall make adequate pro-
vision for the education Of all lts people, If
eycry race and color, by means Of q system
Of free schools supported By general taxa-
tion, and accessible to all.
8. That the State shall make adequate pro-
vision for the maintenance Of all Its paupcrs,
whether white or negro, at the public ex-
pense, and BY some humane and charitable
system.
=. That the State shall never permit any
monument TO be erected within lis borders,
the purpose Of which is to do honor to trca-
son or render that crime respected by the
people; that Il shall never grnnt any pension
or other compensation to any one for Services
rendered Ia the cause Of rebellion nor pay
for property or money given to aid treason,
pated by the war, nor allow her members OF
Congress to ask the Eatfonnl Government for
such compensation.
s. That the oath Of loyalty provided by
act Of Congress to be taken by members Of
Congress, and by all holding Office under the
National Government, shall 1e preliminary
requirement Of all State or local officers In
the said State.
y. That any person committing m offence
against the freedom OF speech or the press In
dcpriyfng any other person in the State of the
free enjoyment Of such sacred immunit1cs,
shall be thereafter, on conviction In court OF
justice, forever Ineligible to vote Or hold office
in the State.
SEC. That upon the receipt Of such proof
BY the President Of the United States from
any rcorganized State, be shall transmit II to
Congress, who shall thereupon declare the |
said State fully restored to its former rights,
and at once readmit Its members to Congress.
That Immediately upon being thus restored,
tho State ahall be relfeyedot martial law,
nnd the President shall issue his proclamation |
the said State entitled to ali lis /
former rights, privileges and immunities.
SEC. 3. That II within the period Of one |
year from the date OF this act, any |
State lately in rebellion shall be found to |
hare refused or neglected TO comply With the
provisions OF this act, tho President shall
issue his proclamation declaring the pro-
rfslonn1 State organization null and void, and
shall appoint provisional Governor to or
,aniZc the said State anew and ut the cleo
ion called by said provisional Governor, cy-
IT male adult, of whatever race or color,
hall be entitled TO vote; aud that no person
sho has in any way been engaged in the re-
'ellion shall be allowed to- hold any office
afu