The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-03-07
RECONSTRUCTI0N.
The Law as u Passed over the
Veto.

merits or adequate protection for life
or property now exists in the rebel
States of Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Arkansas and
WHEREAS, 1t is necessary that peace
and seod order should be enforced iu
said States, until loyal and Republi.
can State Governments can be legally
established therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate House
of Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled
That said rebel States shall be divided
into military districts, and made sub
ject 10 the military authority of the
United States, az hereinafter prescrib.
cd 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; Mis-.
sissippi and Arkansas the Fourth Dis.
trict; and Louisiana and Texas the
Fifth District.
SEC. 2 And be II further enacted,
That it shall he the duty of the Presi-
dent TO assign to the command of said
districts an officer Of the army, not be-
low the rank of Brigadier General and
to detail a sufficient military force to
enable such officer to perform his du.
ties and enforce his authority within
the district to which he is assigned.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted
That il shall be the duty of each off
Ger assigned as aforesaid, to protect all
persons in their rights of person and
property, to suppress insurreclion.
disorder and violence, and punish or
cause to be punished. all disturbers of
the public peace and criminals and
to this end bo may allow local civil
tribunals to take jurisdiction and try
offenders, he shall have power to or.
ganizo military commissions or tribu-
nails for that purpose, and all'interie-
renee under color OF State authority
with the exercise Of military authori.
ty under this net shall be null and VOID
SEC. A.. And be it further enacted
ThatGl persons put under military
arrest by virtue OF this act shall be
tried without unnecessary delay, and
nocruel or unusual punishment shall
be inflicted, and no sentence of any
military commission or tribunal here.
by authorized, affecting the life or lib.
erty Of any person, shall be executed
until it is approved by the officer in
command Of tho district and the laws
and regulations for tho government of
the army shall not be affected by this
act, except in so far as they may con.
flict with lis provisions. Provided,
That no sontopoo OF doath, undor tho
provisions of this act, shall be carried
into effect without the approval OF the
President.
Sec. B. And be II further enacted
That when the people of any one of
said rebel States shall havo formed a
constitution Of Government in con
iormity with the Constitution of the
United States in alI respects; framed
by convention of delegates elected
by the malo citizens of said State
twenty years old and upward, of
whatever race, color, or previous con
ditlon, who have been resident in snid
State for emo year previous TO tho day
ofsuCh election. except such rs may bo
disiranchised for participation in tho
rebellion, or for felony at common law,
aud when such constitution shall pro.
vide that the elective franchise shall
DO enjoyed by all such persons as
have tho qualifications herein stated
for the election OF delegates, and when
such constitution shall be ratified by n
majority Of tho persons voting on the
question OF ratification, who are quail
fled electors tor delegates. and whom
such constitution shall have been sub
mtted to Congress for examination
and approval and Congress shall have
approved the samN, aud when said
State by vote of ITS Legislature cleo.
tod under said Constitution shall have
adopted the amendment to the Con.
stuulion oftho United States propos,
cd by the Thirty Ninth Congress, and
known rs article fourteen, and when
said article shall have become a part
OF The Constitution OF the United States.
said State shall bo declared entitled to
representation in Congress, and Sen.
ators and representatives shall DO ad.
mltled therotrom on their taking. the
oath prescribed by law, and then and
thereafter tho preceding sections of
this bill shall DO imperative in said
State Provided, That no person ex.
clndod from the privilege OF holding
Office bv said proposed amendment to
the Constitution OF the United States
shall be elegible to election as o mem.
Der of tho convention to frame con
for any of said rebel States.
nor shall any such person vote for
member Of said convention.
Sec. q And he it further enacted
That until the people Of said rebel
States shall be by law admitted to
representation IN the Congress of the
United states, any civil governments
which may oSis, therein shall be deom.
od provisional only, and in all respects
subject TO the paramount authority of
Inc United States ut any timo to abol.
sh, modify, control, or aupercede tho
,amci and in all elections to any Of
ice under such provisional govern.
nents all persons shall be entitled to
'oto, and mono other, who nre entitled
Q vote under the provisions OF the
18th section NJ this act and no porson