Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-12-18
Reducing the Southern States TO a
Territorial Status.

hus Bauo IVA iSNuSh's1 'ho 9''eA
ern States to territorial condition
has been opened in Congress. Large
bodies are said to move slowly, ergo,
the Republican party being Of volu-
minous dimensions, may, perhaps, at
least t.hasten slowly in this nice
tea party arrangement, especially as
there promises to be good many
aspiring cooks engaged in the bust
ness, and "too many cooks are apt
to spoil the BROTH" Various pet
schemes are on tho tapis, and there
will doubtless be an endless multi
pllcation OF them presented soon to
be turned over to that august "1m-
per5um IN 1mpcrao THE "Recon-
struction Committee" Julian aud
Thad. Stevens are among the first
prominent entries in the arena. as
contestants for glory in the grand
work of nm construction, ad mtfnatum,
and reconstruction ab aniti0. SO we
60. Rare developments are in store,
showing how easy it is to make the
world move backward or forward,
where its destipiss are confided to
the hands Of magnanimous politicians
Of the Radical stamp.
Washington kilograms of the 18th
inform US that Juiian's bill providing
civil governments for the districts
lately in revolt against the United
States, and for the restoration Of said
districts to their forfeited rights as
States in the Union, is in substance
az follows:
Whereas, The people Of tho dis
tricts late in revolt against the Uni
ted States by their acts of treason
and rebellion against the same, have
destroyed all.civil government within
their borders, and have no power to
restore such governments without
the Intervention Of Congress.
Whereas, The governments inau-
gurated in said districts by the
President are de 1acto and pro
visional only, having no validity
whatever, save in the continued &C
quiescence Of Congress; and,
Whereas, The restoration Of civil
governments in, said districts on
Just principle and by authority Of the
nation, is imperatively demanded by
the lawless disposition Of those PEG
Pile and the best interests Of the
whole country therefore, etc.
Section | provides that North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, Louisiana, Texas and Vir-
GINA, be and are hereby created into
temporary and territorial govern
ments, under the names by which
they have heretofore been known as
States.
Section two vests the executive
power in each of said territories, in a
Governor, who shall hold office -
years, and till his successor is ap-
pointed and qualified, unless sooner
removed by the President; the Gov
ernors of said territories to reside
within the boundaries Of the same,
to command the militia thereof, and
exercise generally all the powers Of
Governors of territories, including
the pardoning and veto powers.
Section three provides for the APP
pointment of a Secretary for each Of
said territories, with the usual duties
and authority.
Section 4 provides that the legis-
lative power be vested in a Governor
and Legislative Assembly, to con.
sist of a Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, the members of which are
to possess the qualifications pre-
scribed for voters. Previous to the
first election the Governor shall cause
q census of the inhabitants to be
made; fix the time and places for
the election; the Legislature to meet
within ninety days after the first
election.
Section provides that the Sena-
tors and Representatives shall be
elected by the loyal male citizens Of
the United States over twenty one,
and residents of the county, parish,
township or ward in which they Of
fer to vote, who shall take the oath
Of allegiance prescribed by Congress
on July Cd, 1862; but no person