The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-03-08

rulers, who are to have full, complete and
universal authority and control of the peo-
pie and their property. The veto is too
lengthy for our columns-would FL up our
paper entirelY-or we would take great
pleasure in publishing it.
The following is the Bill as passed over
the Presidents veto:
The Reconstruction Bill as Finally Pas
sed.
WHEREAS, No legal State Governments
or adequate protection for life or property
now exists in the rebel States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana,
Texas and Arkansas and whereas, it is
necessary that peace and good order should
be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State Governments can be legal
ly established:
Therefore, be it enacted, etc., That said
rebel States shall be divided into military
districts and made subject to the military
authority of the United States, as hereinaf-
ter prescribed, and for that purpose Yir-
ginia shall constitute the first district,
North Carolina and South Carolina the Sc
cond district, Georgia, Alabama end Flori.
da the third district, Mississippi and Ar
kansas the fourth district, and Louisiana
and Texas the fifth district.
See. 2. That it shall be the duty of the
President to assign to the command Of each
of said districts an officer of the army not
below the rank of brigadier general. and to
detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties aud en-
force his authority within the district to
which he is assigned.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of each
officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all
persons in their rights of person and pro-
perty to suppress instruction, disorder
and violence, and to punish or cause to be
punished all disturbers of the public peace
and criminals and to this end he may al
low local civil tribunals to take jurisdic-
ton of and try offenders, or when, in his
judgment, it may be necessary for the trial
of offenders, he shall have power to organ
ize military commissions or tribunals for
that purpose and all interference under
color of State authority with exercise of
military authority under this act shall be
null and void.
Sec 4. That all persons put under mil
itary arrest by virtue of this act shall be
tried without unnecessary delay, and no
cruel or unusual punishment shall be in.
fioted, and no sentence of any military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty of any person
shall be executed until it is approved by
the officer in command Of the district and
the laws and regulations for the govern
meut of The army shall not be affected by
this act, except in so far as they may con
dict with its provisions.
Sec. 5. That when the people Of any Of
the said rebel States shall have formed a
constitution or government in conformity
with the Constitution Of the United States
in oil respects, framed by a convention o.
delegates elected by the male citizens o.
said States twenty-one years of age and
upward, of whatever race, or condition,
who have been residents in said State fol-
one year previous to the day of such cleo.
ton, except such as may be disfrauchised
for participation in the rebelHono OF for felo.
ny at common law, and when such consti
tuition shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons
as have the qualifications herein stated fol-
election of delegates, aud when such con.
sttution shall be ratified by majority o
the persons voting on the question of rati-
ication, who are qualified as electors fol
delegates, and when such constitution shal
have been submitted to Congress for ex
animation and approval and Congress shal
have approved the same, and when saiG
State, By vote Of it's legislature elected
under the said constitution, shall har,