The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-12
HOUSE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.

Tho following Is tho text Of the bill re-
ported to the House by Mr.. Stevens, Of the
Reconstruction Committee, and passed on
Tuesday by vote Of ITO to 81: ,
Sxc. !. II 10 hereby declared to have
been the true intent and meaning OF the act
Of the I'd day Of March, 1867, entitled IAN
act to provide for the moro efficieut govern
ment Of the rebel States" and OF tho act
supplementary thereto, passed on the 23d
Of March, in the year 1867, that the gov.
ernments then existing In the rebel Stntcs-
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas-were illegal and void,
and that thereafter said governments, if con-
tinued, were to be continued subject in all
respects to the military commanders Of the
respective districts and to the authority Of
Congress- ....
SEC. 2. The said acts to which this is a
supplement shall be construed to authorize
the officer assigned to the command OF any
military district under said acts, wherever
he shall deem il necessary to the due per.
Torrance or his duties under said acts, TO
remove or suspend from Office any munich
PAL or State officer, " person exercising au.
ihority under or by virtue Of any 90 called
State governments existing in his district !;
aud the said officer 30 assigned to command
as aforesaid is hereby empowered to appoint
another person in the stead Of the officer or
person 50 removed, IL he shall deem proper
so to do and when he may deem Il neces-
sary. as aforesaid, to prohibit, suspend or
set aside any act or proceeding OF any one
such State or municipal government, or any
act or thing done under or by virtue OF its
authority and acts heretofore done by such
officer, in accordance herewith. shall be
deemed valid.
SEC. 3. Tho Boards Of Registration Of
the several military districts, established by
the acts TO which this Is supplementary,
shall admit to registration only such persons
~ they deem entitled to I've registered by the
acts aforesaid. They shall not regard the
taking Of the oath prescribed in the act OF
March %. 1867, conclusive evidence Of the
right Of persons taking il to be registered,
but primd .Jaeis only, and may receive such
evidence under oath relating thereto, as they
may deem proper. either from the person
applying to be registered or others and
either OF the members Of said Board is hero
by authorized TO administer oaths or affirm.
aiions, and examine witnesses, touching the
right Of any person TO be registered. Such
Board Of Registration may strike from the
list Of voters the name Of any one already
registered, who in their Judgment improper
ly took tho oath prescribed in the acts to
which this is supplementary, or was not
entitled by said acts to he registered; record
evidence shall not be required by said Boards
To prov. participation in the rebellion, but
parole evidence shall be sufficient to estab-
lish the hct OF such participation; and said
boards Of Registration shall not be bound
or governed in their action by amy opinion
Of any officer Of the United Suites Govern
mcnt.
SEc. 4. No civil court Of the United States
shall have Jurisdiction Of any notion or pro-
ceeding, civil or criminal. against any such
district commander, or any officer or person
acting by his authority, for or on account OF
the discharge OF the duties imposed upon him
by this act or the sct 10 which this 10 supple
usatAry. st j
Sac. S. No district commander shall Do re-
lieved from the command assigned to him un-
der the Aforesaid acts, unless the Senate shall
have first advised and consented thereto, or
unless by senteace Of court-martiAl no shall be
csshiercd or dismissed nom the army, OF on
arrest for an oHense punishable by dismissal
from the army. or disqualified BY siokues mon
the perfbrmsose q his dnty. - 81. - "a
Sac. {. The time for the completion Of the
registration VI persona properly qualified to
vote, may be extended by orders Of the said
several district commanders, 10 any day prior
10 The lss day OF October, A. ID. 1867.