The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-06
The Destruction Bill.

We publish below, in full, the military 2cohsCFu'
ton (destruction) bill, as telcgraphed to the Ne
Orleans Crescent by its special Ella
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adeqnaE
protection for life property now exists in the reoe
States of Virginia, North Carolina South CTEo.np
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, LOUISIANA, fioFlua
Texas and Arkansas;
"ASD WHEREAS It is necessary that peace an
good order should be enforced in said States until oa
and republican governments can be legally estaD1sheu
Therefore,
"Bs it enacted BIZ the Senate a2,d House Of Repre-
sentatipss Of the United States Of AneTlcG 2'3 Con
qress assembled That the said rebe States shall b
divided into military districts, and made SUBJECT tt
the military authority Of the United States as Eereln
after prescrihed and for that purpose Virginia shall
constitute the frst district, North Carolina and SOutL
Carolina the second district, Georgia, Alabama aGt
Florida the third district, Mississippi and Arkansas
the fourth district and Lounisapa aud Texas the fifth
! district.
''SEc q IT'D be it further enacted That it shall
| the duty of tie President TO assign the command OF
each Of the said districts an officer Of the army not
below the rank Of gadier general aud TO detail
sufficient military force to enable such officer to per-
form bis duties and enforce lis authority within the
district to which he is assigned.
SEC 3. And be fI5t.er enacted That it shall be
the duty Of each officer assigned as aforesaid to PRO-
tect all persons III their right of person and PROPERTY
to suppress Instruction, disorder and violence and
to punish or cause to be punished all dsturters of
tue public peace and criminals and to this cad he
may ALTO" local civil tribunals to take jurisdiction Of
and to try offenders, Or, when, in his Judgment it may
be necessary fer the ria of Offenders lie shall have
power TO f%SaEise military commissions tribunals
Tor that purpose and all interference, under color Of
State authority, with the exercise Of military authority
under this act shall be null and void
- SEC 4. Ind be It FURTHER enacted, That all per
sons put under military arrest by virtue Of this act
shall be tried without unnecessary delay aud no cruel
nv mol ,i-1, t,I,ol
tence OF any military commission tribunal hereby
authorised, affecting life liberty Of any person. shall
be executed until Is approved by the officer in
mahd OF the district ard the lava aud regulations
tor the government OF the army shall not be affected
by TINS act except in so far they conflict with its
proylsons provided that sentence OF death under
provisions Of this act shall be crsied into effect with
ont the approval of the President
= SEC, .. -1H0 be further enacted, That when the
people Of any Of the said rebel States shall have
formed Constitution and goverrlnah, in conformity
with The Constitution Of the Unisl States in all re-
spectS, framed by convention Of Delegates elected
by the male citize's Of sad SAFE II years and up
wards of whatever race color previous condition. !
who have been resident III the States for year pre-
Vl0us to the day Of such election exc pt such AS may
be DISTINGUISHED by partic patton in the rebellion or
for felony at common law and when such constitution
Shall provide that the elective franchise shall be en-
joycd by all such persons have the qualifications
herein stated for elections Of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by majority of persons
VotEs Oh the question OF ratification who qualified
electors for delegates and when such constitution
shall have been submitted to Congress for examination
and approval, Congress shall have approved the same
AUD when the said State, by vote Of its legislature
elected under SAID c05ti utOn, shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution Of tie United States
proposed by the Thiry-Ninth Congress and known a.
article IoUrtoen and when the said article shall be-
;one part OF the Constitution Of the United States
said st tie shall be declared entitled IN rprcrnntton