Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-07-19

lresluent Johnson ana ali his irlendS Norm
and South, with a fair prospect of the rebel
candidacy for the next Presiieu, OF the
United States.
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.
The declaratory bill passed by both houses
Of Congress is as follows. 1t is supposed
that il will be vetoed by the President, BUT
passed over his head by the requisite con-
stitutional majority.
SECTION /. That il is hereby declared to
have been the true intent and meaning of
the act Of March ,, ls6I, that the Govern
nlents then existing in the rebel States of
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi.
Arkansas and Texas were not legal Cow
ernments. and that thereafter said Govern
ments. if continued at all were TO be con-
tinuei subject in all respects to the Military
Commanders Of the respective districts, and
to the paramount authority Of Congress.
SEC >. Tha, the Commander of any dis
tric,s named in said &C. shall have power.
subject to the approval Of the General of
the army of the United States, and have
.tieo. till disapproved, whenever, in the
opinion of the Commander. the proper adj
ministraiion Of Official duties and the exer-
else of official powers, any officer or person
holding or exercising. or protesting to hold
or exercise, any civil or military office or
duty in such military district, under any
power, election, appointment or authority
derived from, or granted by, or claimed I'M
der, any so>called State. or the Government
tLcrcof, and upon such suspension or re
moval. such Commander. subject 10 the app
prevail of the General aforesaid. shall have
power to provide, from time to time, for the
performance OF said duties Of such officers
or persons suspended or removed, by the
detail Of some competent officer or soldier
Of the army, or hy appointment of some
other persons, to perform the same, and to
| I'll vacancies occasioaed by death resignation
| or otherwise.
SIC. The General of the army of the
| United States shall be intrusted with full
powers OF suspension or removal of the ap>
| poiutment granted in the proceeding section
| to the Dis;ric. Commanders.
| SEC. 4. That the acts of the officers OF
| the army already done in removing, in said
| districts. persons exercising the functions
OF evil officers, and appointing others III
| their stead, are hereby confirmed; pro
viled, any person heretofore or hereafter
appointed by any District Commander tc
exercise the functions Of any civil Office
NAV be removed, either by the nili.ar,
officer in command Of the district. or b,
the General OF the army; aud j. shall b
til. duty OF such Commander to remove
from Office. as aforesaid, all persons whC
are disloval to thek Government Of tbs
United States or who use their influence
in any manner 10 hinder, delay, prevent o.
obstruct the due and proper administration
Of this act. and the act to which il is supple
mentaTv.
SIS. ). That the Board Of Registration
provided in the act entitled An act sup
pierlentary to an act entitled an act to pro
vide for the more efficient government o.
the rebel States passed March 23d, 1867
shall have power. and it shall be their dot,
before allowing registration Of any person
to ascertain, upon such facts or information
as they can obtain, whether such person j,
entitled to be registered under such act, ant
the oath to be required under such act shal
not be conclusive under such act, and sacl
Board shall also have power to examine
under the oath, to be administered by an,
member cf such Board, any one touchin.
the qualification OF any person claiming
1
o; such Board TO register an applicant, aud
in every case If striking his name from tbs
list. as hereinafter prescribed, the Boar
shall make note OF memorandum. wLict
shall lie returned with the registration lis
to the commanding General, for the ground
OF such refusal or striking from list, proyi
ded 10 person shall be disqualified as q
member OF any Boari Of Registration By
reason of race or color.
SEC. 6. Tha, the true inten. and mean
ing Of the oath prescribed in said supple
meatary act among other things, tina; nc
person who has been a member Of the Leg.
islature of any State, or has held any exec.
u.ive or Judicial Office in any State, whether
be has taken an oath 10 support the Consti
ion of the United States or not. or who,h-
er he was holding such office at the com.
mercemeI OF the rebellion. or had held /,
| before, and who had afterwards engaged in
| rebellion against the United States, or given
aid and comfort 10 the enemies 81 the United
| States, IS entitled TO be registered or vote,
and the words executive or judicial in
Iany State, in said oath mentioned, shall be
construed to include all civil offices created
By law for the administration of any general
law of tie State, or for the administration
Of justice.
SEC. !. And be it further enacted, that
the time fer completing TIE original regis
tration provided for in said act may, in the
discretion of the Commander of any dis,
trict, be extended to the first day Of Octo-
Der, 1867, and the Boards of Registration
shall have power, and it shall be their duty.
commencing fourteen days prior to any
election under said act, and upon reasonable
public notice Of time aud place thereof, 10
revise FOR period of five days, the registra
ton OF lists, and upon being satisfied that
any person not entitled thereto has been
registered, to strike such name from the list.
aud such person shall nos be allowed to vote !:
aud such Board shall also, during the same
period, add to such register the names of all
pei sons who, at that time, possess the quail
iica.ons required by said act, who have no:
already been registered; and no person
shall al any t..ne be entitled to be register
ed, or vote, by reason Of any Executive par
don or amnesty for any act or thing which,
without such pardon or amnesty would
disqual:fy him from registration or voting
SEC. s. That all members Of said Boards
Of Registration, and all persons hereinafter
elected or appointed to Office 10 said military
districts under every so-called State or mu-
nicipal authority, or by detail or appoint
ment Of the District Commander, shall be
required TO take and subscribe 10 the oath
Of Office prescribed by law for officers Of the
United States.
SEC. 9. That no District Commander or
member Of the Board Of Registration, or
any officer appointed under them, shall be
bound in his action by any opinion Of auy
civil officer in the United States.
SEC. TO- That section f9ur Of last
named act Shall be construed 10 authorize
the commanding General named therein,
whenever be shall deem il neeiful, to re,
move any hqmber Of q Board Of Registra
ton, and APPOINT another il his stead, and
FIJI any vacancy in such Board
SIC. IL. That ali provisions Of this act
and Of the acts TO which this is supplement.
tary, shall BE- construed literally, to the end
that all The intent thereof may iull and per.
fecllF be carried out.