The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-03-08
RECONSTRUCTION.
The Bill as 10 Finally Passed,

The following is correct copy Of the act
~to provide for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States" as it passed both
houses OF Congress over the veto:
WHEREAS, No legal State Governments Or
adequate protection for life nr property now
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, North
Uarolins, South Carolina, Gaorgia, Mississ-
ippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, 1t is necessary that peace and
good order should be enforced in said States,
until loyal and republican State Govern
ments can be legally established therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of
America, in Congress assembled, That said
rebel States shall be divided into military
districts, and made subject to the military
authority of the United States, ss hereinafter
prescribed; and for that purpose, Virginia
shall constitute the First District; Worth Oar
oliua and South Carolina the Second Dis
trict; Georgia, Alabama and Florida the
Third District; Mississippi and Arkansas the
Fourth District, and Louisiana and Texas
the Fifth District
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the President to assign
to the command of each Of ssid districts an
officer of DC army, not below the rank Of
Brigadier 6esersl, and to detail sufficient
military force to enable such officer to per-
form his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as
aforesaid, to protect all persons in their
rights of person and property, to suppress in
surreetion, disorder and violence, and to pun
ish or cause to be punished, all disturbers Of
the public peace and criminals; and 10 this
end he may allow local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction Of and try Ofenders; or
when, in his judgement, it may be neces-
sary for the trial Of offenders, he shall have
power 10 organize military commission or
tribunals for that purpose. and all interfer-
ence under color OF State authority with the
exercise of military authority under this act
shall be null and void.
SIC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue
of this asf shall be tried without unnecessary
delay, and no cruel or unusual punishment
shall be inflicted, and no sentence of any
military commission OF tribunal hereby au-
thorized, affecting the life Of liberty of any
verson, shall be executed until il is approved
by the officer in command of the district; and
the laws and regulations for the government
of the army shall not be affected by this act,
EXCEPT in SO far as they may conflict with its
provisions. Provided, That no sentence OF
death, under the provisions Of this act, shall
be carried into effect without the approval Of
the President.
SEe.> ) And be it further enacted, That
when the people of anv one Of said rebel
States shall hRre formed a constitution Of
-, fho
tuition of the United states in all respects,
framed by convention OF delegates elected
by the male citizens of said State twenty y-One
years old and upward, Ofwhatever race, color,
or previous condition, who have been resi-
dent in said State fos one year previous to
the day of such election. except snch As IDay
he disfranchised for participation 10 the re-
heliiOu, or for felony at common law, ana
when such constitution shall provide that
the elective franchise shall be enjoyed BY all
such persons as have the qualifications here
IN stated for the election of delegates, and
when such constitution shall be ratified by
a msjority Of the persons voting On the ques-
tien of ratification, who are qualified as eiec-
f6rs for delegates, and when such cOnstltu-
aioa shall have been submitted 10 Congress
dor examination and approval and Congress
shall have approved the same, and when SD
State, by vote ofits Legislature elected un-
der said Consultation, shall have adopted the
amendment tothe Constitution OF the Unlted
States, proposed by the Thirty in'h Con;
gress, and known as article fourteen, ana
when said article shall have become pssi OF
the Constitution of the United States, said
State shall be declared entitled TO nepresen-
tation in Congress. and Senators and Repre-
sentstives shall be admitted tberefrom on
their taking the oath prescribed by law, and
then and thereafter the preceding sections Of
this bill shall be in-opsTstivs in said Ststsi