Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-24
RECO(INs,,T.RlUef;ioN: j 6. !
PIE COMPLETE PLAN. AS. ENACTED
.s !, BIZ CONGRESS-. -

tFHE sGOMPDETE PLAN. AS. .ENACIED
.s :, BE CONGRESS-. -
..,.
For the information and convenience Of our
readers we re-pnbllsh all the Acts passed by
Congress pertaining to Reconstruction. And
would advise. said readers, after giving these
several Acts careful perusai, to laythis pa
per aside for future reference:
The Reconstruction ACT. =,
|. AMAcr to provide for the more efficient
government.of the rebel States.
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adj
= euuate protection. for lite or property now
exists in the rebel Ssatesof Virginia, NORTH
. Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Missis-
slppi, Alabama, Louisiana. Florida, Texas,
. and Ark.rasas; aud whereas, it is necessaa
ry That peace and good order should he en-
forced 10 said States until loyal and Repnh-
IcanrState Governments can be legally. es-
tablished: Therefore, "a" -. .
Be it enacted by the, Senate and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES ofthe United States of Aicer
,ca in Congress assembled, That said rsael
States shall ba divided into military districts
md made subject to the military authorty'o OF
.he United States, as hereinafter prescribed,
and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute
the frst.dlstEict !; North Caroline and South
Carolina the second district; Georgia. Ala,
oaroa, and.Morida, the third district ), MissIs-
sinpi and Arkansas the fourth, district; ana
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district. ~ :,
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted; That it
shall be the dnty of the President to assign
to the command of each said district an off
Ger OF tAe army not below the rank of, Brig
adler general, and to detail q sufficient militia
ry force. to enable such officer to perform his
duties and enforce, his authority within the
district iu which he is assigned. .r.,,5.. .
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That it
| shall be the duty CT each officer. assigned as
aloresaid to project all persons in tneir rights
Of person and property, to suppress insnrfec-
ion, disorder and violence, and to punish or
cause Ito be punished all disturberS. Of the
oublic peace aud criminals, and to this end he
NAV allow local civil tribunalS7to take jlris-
LECTION of and to try offenders, or, when in
mis- Judgment stmay be necessary for the
,riei of offenders, he shall haze power to or
ganize' miiitary"commi.sion er tribunals for
that PURPOSE and alimeFference, under color
Of State authority with the exercise of mill
arv authority under -thisact, shall be null
and void. -,
SEC. i. Aad be it fnrther cnactcd +Thatail
persons put under military arrest by virtue OF
his act shall be tried without unnecessary
,Iclay. and no cruel or Unusual punishment
hail be inflicted: and no sentence of any
military commission or. tribunal hereby au
1horized, affecting the life or liberty Of any
person, shall be executed until tits approved
by the officer in command of the district, and
.hc laws and regulations Of the government,
of the army shall not be affected by this act,
Syeept in So FL as tHeYT corsTlcV w III Irs TPIo
visions. Provided, Thatno sentence OF death.
nnder the provisions Of this act, shall be car
ried into effect without the approva! OF the
President. ~.
SEC. ). And be it further >ena ;'ed, That
when the people Of any Of said rebel States
hail have foruf constitution OF govern,
nent in conformity with the Constitution ol
be.Uni,ed States in all respects, irameu by e
| convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens Of said State, twenty one years olti
md upwards; of whatcVsErace, 'color qr-prei
yious condition, who. have been resident IN
said State ior one year previous to the day ol
such election, except such as may be dlstran
cbised 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 al such persons
as have the qualifications hereih stated -tor
electors of delegates; and when such constl-
lotion shall be ratified By . majority OF the
persons voting on the question OF ratification
who are qualified as. electors for delegates
and when such Constitution shall haye beer
submitted 10 Congress for examination and
,pproval. and Congress shall hare approved
the same; aad when.the said .S'ate, by a.yole
If its Legislature, elected under Said consti
,ption. shall have adopted the amendment tC
I the constitution of the United States, pro
posed hy. the Thirty ninth Congress, ans
known as article fouttcen; apd when SAID ar
,icle shall have become apart OF the eonStl
.ution of the United States. said State slai
I be declared entitled to representation in Con
eress, and Senators and Representatives shs.
he admitted tnerefrom, on their taking lh'
oath prescribed by law; and then and there
after the preceed;ug sections Of, this act shai
| he inoperat;ye in said State, Provided, Tho
no .person excluded from the privilege Q
| holding office by sad Gamendment to the con
s,itution of the United States shall. be ,eliglb1
70 election as a member OF I4e coDyentlon.t t.
frame constitution for any. of said rebe
States, nor shall. any such pess%n vote 10
! members of sucb convention. q, - -
SEC. G. And be it further. enacted Tha
] until the people Of said rebel, States shall b
by law admitted to reprssepsaiion in the Cor
4 sress of the United Statesl-a -aag civil govern
ment which may exist therein shall be deeHic'
provisional only. and in ak respects esphjec
10 the paramount authority of the Unite
Sim,cs st any time to abolish, modify, con'rc
or superscdetbe same ,apd ~ all election
70 any office under snch provisional govern
= lpenis all persons shall be entitled 70 vote
md none others, who are entitled. 10 vote ,ur
ler the PROFESSIONS of the fifth section of fhi
act: and no person .shall be, eligible to an
office under such. provisional gprernInsar!'
Who would be disqualified from holding othc
under the provisions of the, third, article
said constitutional amendment. -.
!, Approved Ma,vh.2d, lSG7,:., =, -. !.
81, .'i"' 9
!, Proposed CONSTITUTIONAL ,aAmendmA''.
! The following is }he Constitutional Ansna
; ,mcut referred to IN the,5th-and6th Sc Aons -
the "Rsconsruction'act.s :.
ARTICLE XIV. -,
Al, ,o,sons ber, a, nalural2ed