The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-28
RECONSTRUCTION.
AM ACE TO PROVIDES FOR THE MORE Eft
GENT GovERNMENToF THE REBEL STATES.

Il ,AN7 AUT TO RR0YIDEs FOR THE MORE Eff
GENT GovERNMENTQF THE REBEL STATES.
za WHEREAS no legal tateggovernments or ade-
for 81 y q now EXISTS
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas, tits necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legally es
| tablished; therefore, -
I Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
seatatives Of the United States Of America in Con-
grcss assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
ject to the military authority OF the United States,
as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district North
Carolina and South Carolina the second district ;
Georgia, Alabama and Florida the third district ;
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district, and
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district.
Sec. 2. Aad be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand of each of said districts an officer OF the
army not below the rank OF brigadier general
and to detail a sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he is
SEC. 3. Aaad be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as afore-
said to protect all persons in their rights of per-
son and property, to suppress insurrection, dis
order, and violence, and to punish or cause to be
punished all disturbcrs of the public peace and
criminals and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try
offenders, or when in his judgment it may be
necessary for the trial OF Offenders he shall have
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all interference
under color of State authority with the exer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void. i--- u. -.1!i-'' 80 80 ~ ~'i...
SEC. 4. And be it, .fserthe,. enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue OF
this act shall be tried without unnecessary delay
and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be in
Hfcted; and no sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person, shall be execu-
ted until it 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.
d. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That when
the people of any of the aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed a constitution of government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects framed by
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twenty one years old and
upward, OF whatever race, color, or previous
condition, who have been resident in said State
for one year previous to the day of such election
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partici-
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common
law; and when such constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons as have the qualifications herein |
stated for election of delegates and when such |
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
persons voting on the question of ratification who
are qualified as electors for delegates and when
such constitution shall have been submitted to !
Congress for examination and approval and |
Congress shall have approved the same; and |
when said State, by vote ofits Legislature elect
ed under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and hnoWn as article IA, and when said article
shall have become part of the Constitution of
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
and Representatives shall be admitted thercfrom
)n their taking the oath prescribed by law, and |
hen and thereafter the preceding sections OF
! is act shall be imperative in said State Povi
ted, That no person excluded from the privilege
If holding Office by said proposed amendment to
he Constitution of the United States shall be
ligible to election as member of the convention
o frame a constitution for any of said rebel
tates, nor shall any such person vote for menu
ers of said convention. ....-...E .-'
SEC. o.. And be it further enacted, That until
he people of said rebel States shall be- by law ad-
1ltted to representation in the Congress of the 8
United States, any civil governments which may +
xist therein shall be deemed provisional on&s, .
nd in all respects subject to the paramount au- :
hority of the United States at any time to abol- f
III modify. control OF supersedc the same and r
all elections to any office under such provis- r
'nal governments all persons shall be entitled to i
nder the provisions of the filth section of this n
IT and no person shall be eligible to any office +
nder any such provisional governments who {
ould be disqualified from holding office under | r
provisions of the third article of said copsti-
ltional amendment. ........