The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-22
From the Chicago Times. Feb'y


From the Chicago Times, Feb'y 81.
THE PLAN. -
Both houses of congress, yesterday, passed,
by more than two-third vote in each house,
the reconstruction bill, with two slight am
endments, substituted in the senate the other
day, on the motion of Mr.. Sherman, for the
Stevens military-governmen bill. The bill,
without the amendments adopted yesterday,
is as follows:
Whereas, No legal state governments or ade-
quate protection for life and property now exist
in the rebel states of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas; and
. Whereas, 1t is necessary that peace and good
order should be enforced in said states until loyal
and republican state governments can be legally
established therefore,
'Be 1t enacted, etc., That said rebeIstat shall
be divided into military districts and made sub
Jeet to the military authority of the United States
as hereinafter mentioned; 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 Arkansas the Fourth district.and
Louisiana and Texas the Fifth district
SEC, 2. That it shall be the duty of the Pres
fdent to assign to the command of each of said
districts an ofhcer of the army not below the rank
OF brlgadier general, and to detail sufficient mil
itary force to enable such officer to perform his
duties and enforce his authority within the dis
trict TO which he is assigned.
''SEc. 3. That it shall be the duty of each off,
Ger assigned as aforesaid TO protect all persons in
their rights OF person and property, to suppress
nsurrection, disorder and violence, and to punish
or cause to be punished all disturbers of the pub
Tic peace and criminals and 10 this end ne NAV
Tyfi firth lis RI TAX
and try offenders, or, when in his judgment it
may be necessary for the trial of offenders, he
shall have power to organize military committees
or tribunals for that purpose: and all interference
under color OF state authority with the exercise of
military authority under this act shall be null and
void.
CSC. 4. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue Of this act shall be tried without
delay, and cruel unusual pun
ishment shall be inflicted, and no sentence of any
military commission or tribunal hereby author
lied affecting the life or liberty Of any person
shall be executed until it 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 far they
may conflict with its provisions.
''SEC. }. That when the people of any one of
said rebel states shall have formed q constitution
and government in conformity with the eonstitu-
ton Of the United States in all respects framed
by convention OF delegates elected by the male
whatever race color or previous condition, who
have been resident in said state for year pre-
vious 10 the day OF sach election, except such as
may be disfranchised for participation in the
belliyn or for felony at common law and whencuch
constitution shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by ali such persons as have
the qualifications herein stated for electors of
delegates, and when such constitution shall be
ratified by ajority of the persons voting on
the question of ratification who are qualified rs
electors for delegates, and when such constitution
shall have been submitted to congress for examin-
alton and approval, and congress shall have aD-
proved the same, and when said state by vote
Of its legislature elected under said constitution
shall have adopted the amendment to the consti-
tuition OF the United States proposed by the seth
congress, and known article IA. and when said
article shall have become part of the constitution
Of the United States said state shall be declared
entitled to representation in congress, and sena-
tors and representatives shall be admitted there
from on their taking the oath prescribed by law,
and then and thereafter the preceding sections of
this act shall be imperative in said state"
The two amendments adopted yesterday
are l.. That the present southern state
governments shall be regarded as merely
provisional; ?. That the people of the south
distranchised by the proposed constitutional
amendment shall be DISTINGUISHED by this
biA,-that is, that they shall not participate
IN the formation of state governments under
this bill.
The following is the proposed constitu-
tional amendment, which, together with the
foregoing bill, now constitute the congress
lonal plan for reconstruction
"Resotred by the Senate and House of Iaepresea-
tatices Of the United States Of America a. Copqress
assembled, two thirds of both houses concurring }
that the following article be proposed to the leg
lsatures of the several states as amendment to
the constitution of the United States, which, when
ratified by tEreefourths of said legislatures, shall
be valid as part Of the constitution, viz:
''ARTIcLE =, Section /. All persons born OF
naturalized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof citizens of the United
Shatesan the state wherein they reside. No STATE
shall make enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges immunities of citizens of the
United States. Nor shall any state deprive any
person of life, liberty property without due
process OF law, nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
"SEo. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several states according to their re.
spective numbers, counting the whole number Of
persons in each state, excluding Indians not tax
ed but neneyer the right to vote at any cleo
ZION tor electors of president and viee-president
or for United States representatives in congress
executive and Judicial officers. or the members OF
the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such state. beinp twenty-ope
years OF age, and citizens of the United States OF
in any way abridged, except for participation in
rebellion or other crime the basis of representa-
tion therein shall DC reduced in the proportion
which the number of such male citizens shalI hoo
to the whole number of male citizens twentvrane
years of age in that state.
b. SEC. 3. No person shall be a senator or rem
resentative in congress, elector of president and
vice president, hold any Office, civil or military
under the United States, or under any state who
having previously taken an oath as q member n
congress, or as an officer of the United States O,
as = member OF any state legislature, or as an ex
eeutiye or Judicial officer of any state to support
the constitution of the United States, shall have
engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the
Same, or given. aid or comfort to the enemies