Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-26
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.

The following is correct copy of the
act to provide for more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States as it passed the
Senate:
WHEREAS, No legal State governments
or adequate protection for life or prop
erty now exists in the rebel States of Vir-
GINA, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisi-
ana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, 1t is necessary that peace
and good order be enforced in said States
until loyal and republican governments
can be legally established therefore,
Be il enacted By the Senate and
House of Representatives. Of the Uni
ted States Of america in Congress As.
sembled, That the said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and
made subject to the military authority
of the United States as hereinafter pre-
scribed 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 Ar
kansas the fourth district, and Louis
lana and Texas the fifth district
Sec. 2. And be ii further enacted, That
it shall be the duty Of the President to
assign to the command of each of the
said districts an officer of the army not
below the rank of brigadier general, and
to detail sufficient military force to en-.
able such officer to perform his duties
and enforce his authority within the dis
trict to which he is assigned.
Sec. 3. And be ii further enacted,
That it shall be the duty of each officer
assigned as aforesaid, to protect all per
sons in their rights of person and
property, to suppress instruction, dis
order, and violence, and to punish or
cause 70 be punished all disturbers OF the
public peace and criminals; and to this
end he may allow local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction Of and to 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 tribunals for that pur-
pose; and ell interference, under color
of State authority, with the exercise of
military authority, under this act shall
be null and void
Sec. 4. And be IL further enacted,
That all persons put under military ar
rest by virtue Of this act shall be tried
without unnecessary delay, and no cruel
or unusual punishment shall be inflicted,
and no sentence of any military commits
sion or tribunal hereby authorized, affect
ing life or liberty Of any person, shall be
executed until il is approved by the Off
Ger 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 conflict with
its provisions; provided that no sentence
Of death under provisions Of this act
shall be carried into effect without the
approval Of the President
That when the people Of any Of the said
rebel States shall have formed a Constr
tuition and Government in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by a convention
of delegates elected by male citizens Of
said State, twenty-one years and upward,
Of whatever race, color, or previous con-
dition, who have been resident in the
State for one year previous 10 the day OF
such election, except such as may be
disiranchised for participation in the
rebellion or for felony at common law
and when such Constitution shall pro
vide 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 a majority Of persons
voting on the question Of ratification VINO
are qualified as electors for delegates,
and when such Constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for examina-
ton and approval, and Congress shall
have approved the same, and when the
sad State by a vote Of It's legislature
elected under said Constitution shall have
adopted the amendment 70 tie Consttu-
ton Of the United States proposed BY the
Thirty-Niuih Congress, and knogn as ar
ticle fourteen, and when the said article
shall become q part Of the Constitution
Of the United States, said State shall be
declared eHtitled 70 representation m
Congress. aud Senators and Representa-
tives shall be admitted therefrom on their