Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-20
Another New Plan.

founded, The Senate, on FRIDAY, pro-
tracted It's session nearly all night, and on
Saturday determined TO pass reconstruc
tion bin before adjourning. With this de-
| termination in view, and it being apparent
that the House bill could not be passed,
committee was appointed 10 draft something
| upon which the majority could unite. The
result was bill, drawn up by Mr. Sherman.
which embodies the provisions of the mill
tary bill of the House, with the Blaine
amendment incorporated therein-it being
understood the President would sign such a
! bill if passed. The bill is as follows:
WHEREAS, No legal State governments or
| ADEQUATE protection for life or property now
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, North
| Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas;
And WHEREAS. 1t necessary that peace
and good order should be enforced in said
| States until loyal and Republican State Gov
ernments can be legally established; there
fore, $50.
Be 1t enacted, dc, That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made subject to the military authority OF the
United States as hereafter prescribed. and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute
the first district; North Carolina and South
Carolina the second district Georgia. Ala
| bama and Florida the third district Mis-
sissippi and Arkansas the fourth district;
| Louisiana and Texas the fifth district.
SECTION 2 That it shall be the duty OF
the President to assign to the command of
| each of said districts an officer of the army
not below the rank of Brigadier General and
to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he
| is assigned.
SECTION 8. That it shall be the duty of
each officer assigned as aforesaid to protect
all persons in their rights of person and
property, to suppress insurreetlon, disorder
| and violence and to punish or cause to be
punished, all disturbers of the public peace,
and criminals, and to this end he may allow
| local civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of
| and try offenders, or when in his judgment
it may be necessary for the trial of offenders
| he shall have power to organize military
con- missions or tribunals for that purpose
| and all interference under color of State au-
| thority with the exercise of military author
| ity under this act shall be null and void.
| SECTION I. That all persons put under
| military arrest by virtue OF this act shall be
| tried without unnecessary delay, and no cruel
| Ut Slldll DG IuulCleu,dUu
no sentence of any military commission OF
| tribunal hereby authorized affecting the life
or liberty of any person shall be executed
until it is approved by the officer in COM
| mand of the district, and the laws and reg
! ulations tor the government of the army
shall not be effected by this act, except in So
far as they may conflict with its provisions.
SECTION 5. That when the people of any
one of said rebel States shall have form
| j -.
| ity with the Constitution of the United
States in all respects, framed by Conven-
ton of delegates elected by the persons who
may vote upon the ratification or rejection
| thereof, as hereinafter provided; and when
said Constitution so framed shall have been
ratified by majority of the male citizens of
| said State, twenty one years old and upward,
| of whatever race, color, or previous condi-
| ton of servitude, who may have been resi-
| dent in said State for one year previous to
| the day of voting on the question of ratify-
| ing such constitution, except such as may
| be disfranchised for participating IN the re-
| bellion or for felony at common law, and
| when such constitution shall provide that
| the elective franchise shall be employed by
| all such persons that have the qualification
| herein stated, and shall have been submit
| ted to Congress for examination and appro-
val, and Congress shall have approved the
same !; and when said State by vote of its
| Legislature, elected under said Constitution,
shall have adopted the amendment to the
| Constitution OF the United States, proposed
| by the Thirty ninth Congress, and known as
article IA; and when said article shall have
| become a part of the Constitution of the
| United States, said State shall be declared
| entitled to representation in Congress, and
| Senators and Representatives shall be ad-
| Dnittpd fhprntrOm on their taklnu the oath
prescribed by law and then and thereafter
the preceding sections of this bill shall be
| imperative in said State.
The Senate continued in session until 6l
O'Clock on Sunday morning, at which hour
it passed the above bill by vote of 80 to 10.
On Monday the House was crowded to
overfowing, to witness the struggle on the
so-called Senate Reconstruction Bill. "
| When the bill was presented Mr.. Stevens
moved to "non-concur in it, and general
debate followed-Mr. Stevens and Mr. Bout
| well opposing it, while Messrs. Blaine, Bing-
ham, Wilson, Farnsworth and Baker favor |
| ed it. The Democrats did not participate
| in the debate, but voted with Stevens and
twenty-five other Republicans against order
| ing the previous question, when recess
| took place for dinner AT the evening ses-
sion it was agreed to take a vote on the bill |
on Tuesday. 1t was thought the bill could |
be passed by fifteen majority.
Mr.. George Peabody, the great philan- |
| thropist, has made another munifcent be-
quest of over 50 600. 900. The reasons