The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-03-14
The Reconstruction Bill as it Passed.


| AN ACT to provide for the more efficient
government of the rebel states.
WHEREAS no legal state governments or
adequate protection for life or property now
exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina Georgia, Missis-
sippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Arkansas; and whereas it is necessary
that peace and good order should be en-
forced in said States until loyal and repub-
lican state governments can be legally es-
tablished; therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That said
rebel states shall be divided into military
districts and made subject to the military
authority of the United States, as hereitaf-
ter prescribed, aud for that purpose Virgin
la 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. And be it further enacted, 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 per
form his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
Sec. 3. And be il further enacted, 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 insurrec-
ton, 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 civic 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 or
ganize military commissions or tribunals
for that purposes 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 1t further enacted, That all per-
sons put under arrest by virtue of this
act shall be tried without unnecessary delay,
and no cruel or unusual punishment shall
be inflicted; and no sentence of any military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized,
affecting the life or liberty Of any person,
shall be executed until it is approved by the
officer 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 SO far es they conflict with its pro-
visions: Provided, that no sentence of death
under the provisions of this act shall be car
ried into execution without the approval of
the President.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That
when the people of any one of said rebel
states shall have formed Constitution of
,a C4oto 80 oil
the male citizens of said State, 81 years old
and upward, Of whatever race color or pre-
vious condition, who have been resident in
said state for one year previous to the day
of such election, except such as may be dis
franchlsed for participation in the rebellion
or for felony at common law, and when such
constitution shall provide that the elective
franchise shall be enjoyed by all such per-
SONS as have the qualifications herein stated
for electors of delegates, and when such con-
stitution shall be ratified by a majority Of
the persons voting on the question of ratiti-
cntion, who are qualified as electors for del
egates, and when such Constitution shall
have been submitted to Congress for exam.
ination and approval, and Congress shall
have approved the same, and when said
state, by a vote Gifts legislature elected IN
der said constitution, shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, proposed by the Thirty.
Congress, and known as article fourteen and
when said article shall have become part
of the Constitution Of the United
States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress,
and Senators and Representatives
shall be admitted therefrom on their aking
the oath prescribed by law, and then and
thereafter the proceeding sections of this act
That no person excluded from holding Office by
said proposed amendment to the Constitution
of the United States shall be eligable to cleo
ton rs n ember of the convention to frame
a constitution for any of said rebel state, nor
shall any such person vote for members of
such convention.
Sec. 6. And be 1t 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 exist therein shall be deemed provisional
only, and in all respects subject to the para
mount authority of the United States AT any
time to abolish, modify, control or supersede
the same; and in all elections to any office I'M
der such provisional governments all persons
shall be entitled to vote, and none other who
are entitled to vote under the provisions of
he fifth section of this act; ank no person shall
be eligable to any office under any such pro
ylslonal governments who would be disduali-
fed from holding office under the provisions of
the third article Of said constitutional amend
ment.