Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-02-22
THE HEcONsTRUCTI BILL AS 1T
PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

ia Committee of the Whole Adjourned
THE RECONsTRUCTIoN BILL As 1T
i PASSED BOTH HOUSES
/
Whereas, No legal State government Of ade-
quate protection for life or property no" exist .
in the rebel States Of vireinit, North Cafcliua'
South Carolina Georgia, Mississippi Alaoama'
Louisiana, Florida, Texas ani Arkansa@
And whereas II is necessary that peace ahu
good order should he enforced in said States
and loyal and repub.ioau Stat' governments be
legally established: therefore,
Be il enacted by the Seua'e mud House OF
Representa- ives of the United States OF America
10 Congress assembled, That snld rebel states
shall be divided into military districts, and mAIe
subjact to the military authority of tue united
States, as hereinafter prescribed; and for That
purpose Virginia shall constitute the FIRST MS
trio; North Carolina aud south Carolina the
Second district; Georgia. Alabama, and FLORIDA |
the Third districts Mississippi and Arkausas
the Fourth district, aud Louisiana and Texas |
the Fifth district
SKo2 And be IL further enncted That 1t sha |
be the duty of the President to assign TO the
command of each of said districts au oilicer Of
the army not below the rank Of a brgaditr
general, aud 10 detail q sufficient military force
to enable such officer to perform bis duties and
: enforce his authority within the disrictto which
! he is assigned.
i SEC 3. And be il further enacted, That it
shall be the duty Of each officer Assigned Us
' aforesaid TO protect h'l persons IN tueH r'ent9
= OF person and property 10 suppress 's"'Ieu'lou,
a disorder, anu violence an 70 Inni7h o, Vhuseu
;, to be punished all disjurhcrt Of ,he pdbc peace
il and criminal; and to ihis cod he may allow
n local civil tribunals to lake jurisdiction oil hud
/. to try oifeniers or when, in hil judgement, 1t
IL may be necessary Tor the 'riA Of ou'hisFe' US
shall have power 10 organize m'lnary e9u'us-
sions or tribunals ior ihat purpese' aut ~ ~
e | nd nj authority,
=. with the exercise on m.lVhry au'nor'9 u"uS'
70 this act shall be null ana void
y SEC. A. Aud he II turlhtr eaaelel' ,uat Az
III persons put nnter miithry arrest ~ N''t"e vi
" this act shall he tried without unnecessary 9e
lay, and no cruel or unusual punishment shall
es he inflicted; aud no senlrh OF any mlu'a'y
10 commission or tribunal herehy aulhoIiEsl, VI,
o. fectng the life or liberty ~ amy person, A'hii
w be executed Unit II IL npprnseh ny he oiieef III
20 command OF the districts aud ihc inws anu regn.
10 atons for the government OF ihs army sha'' nor
be affected by this act except IN go fAr us Iney
conflict with its provision provided i'nt no
sentence OF death unfer ne provisions oil th'a
n act shall be carried into ell O. without the hP
he prevail OF the President OF thu United states
lal Sec. D. BE II further On .Gtei, fhf Wnrh lle
ne people of any one of said bel states snail nave
formed q constitutional government IN coniorml
y with the Constitution OF lhe United s,ates III
oil respects framed by a convention oil delegates
elected by the male citizens OF SAID state, t"enY
~, o"o JeaiS ".i ~ NV" ,,,ss @ - - I
NV color, OF previous condition, WHO have been re
10 3 dents in said State for one year previous ''
ed, the LAY Of such election, except such ~ may bI
nat disfranchised for piriioipluou in rebellion OF
The for felony at common law a1d when such Goa
sutuuon saaH proYne tha' 'he eeu'lNe i,"'
zen chise shall be enjoyed by all auoh persons 3"
ige have the qualifications herein sta'ed Tor o'ecttoi
ole of delegates, aud WHEN such Constitution shal
out be adopted by a maiority Of tho p ,rsoas v'nf
lie on the question of ratification who ara qlll'he
SUE as electors Tor deegAtes ana "noh eueu oonsi
pm tuion shall have been submitted 10 Congress 70
examination and approval, and Cong ess ehal
ud have approved the slme, and when said STATE
the by vote of ITS Legislature, elected under si'
for to the Constitution oil the United States pre-
posed by the Thirty ninth Congrcss, aud know
,. as article IA; and when sail article shall haV
become part of the Constitution OF the Unite
Sta,es, said State shall he declared entitled
representation IN Congress- ana senators nv
I. Representatives shall b. admitted hersfrom o
D their taking the oath prescribed by law; nj
the thereafter the preceding sections Of this not sim
mo- be In operation ID sail Stais Provided, la
in no person excluded from the privilege OF hollii
n Ia off re by the said proposed amendment 10 q
mrs Constitution Of the Uuited States shall be egb
stop to election member Of Il convention 10 fran
end a constitution for any said rebel States, nor sh'
Ne of any such person vote for member OF aaii 20
and yention.
opri. SEQ. 9. Aud he it farther enacted, That ~
An the people Of said rebel States shall be by ID
mont admitted to representation in the Congress
ortu. the United States, any civil government viii
and may exist therein shall be deemed provision
An only, and in all respects subject to the pat
also mount authority of tho United States at o
The time to abo ISM modify, control, or supetse