Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-04-03
THE EVENING STAR.
o r = I c 4 A L 1.
LAWS OF The UNITED STATES,
Passed at the Second Session Of the Thir.
ty-ninth Congress.

TPuBLIc-No eel
An Aor 10 provide for the more efficient gov
ernmen. OF the rebel States
whereas no legal State governments or ade-
quate protection FOR life or property now exists
IN the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Ala
hama, Louisiana, FLORIDA, Texas, and Arkan-
sas: and whereas ~ is 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,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
TessEsdt.reS Of as JHitsd States Of 4RssPica an
Conorsss assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts and made
subject to the military authority OF the United
States as hereinafter prescrieed, and for that
purpose Virginia shall constitute the first dis
trict; North Care lima and South Carolina the
second district; Georgia, Alabama. and Flor.
Ida the third district; Mississippi and ArEan-
sas the fouth district; and Louisiana and Texas
the NTH district.
be the duty Of the President to assign to me
command Of each of said districts an ofiicer of
The army. not below the rank Of brigadier gen.
ersl, and to detail Sufficient military force to
enable such onieer to perform his duties and
enforce his auth ority within the district 70
which be Is assigned.
SIC. 8. And be a. further enacted, That it shall
be the duty OF ca IN officer assigned aforesaid
TO protect all per sons in their rights Of person
and property, to suppress instruction, disor-
der: and violence, and TO punish, or cause 10
peace
and criminals, and to this end he may allow
local civil trbur ais 70 take jurisdiction Of and
10 try Offenders, or, when in his Judgment il
may be necessary for the trial Of Offenders, he
shall nave power TO organize military commits
slons or tribunals for that purpose, and ali m.
reference under color Of State authority with
the exercise OF military authority under this
act, snail be null and void.
SIC. 4. And DE- IL further enacted, That all
persons put uneer military arrest by virtue of
this act shall be tried without unnecessary de-
lay, and NO cruel or unusual p unishment shall
be inflicted, and no sentence Of any military
commission or tribunal hereby auth orized,
Affecting the life or liberty of any person. hall
be executed until it Is approved by the oficer
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 as they conflict with its provisions: Pro.
riGed, that no sentence Of death under the
provisions of this act shall be carried into eff.
feet without the approval Of the President
SEC. s. And BE- IL further enacted, That when
the people OF any one eisaid rebel States shall
have formed constitution of government in
conformity with the Constitution of the United
States In all respects, framed by q convention
OF delegates elected by the male citizens of
of whatever race, color, or previous condition,
who have been resident in said State for one
year previous 70 the day Of such election ex-
eept such as may be disfranchlsed for parti-
cipaiion in the rebellion or for felony at COM
mon law, and when such constitution shall
provide that the elective franchise shall be
enjoyed by all such persons as have the quail
ncatlons herein stated for electors of dele
gates, and when such Constitution shall be
ratified by a majority of the persons voting
on the question OF ratification who are Quali-
NED as electors Tor delegates, and when such
Constitution shall have been su omitted to Con.
gress for examination and approval, and Con.
Eress 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 fourteen and
when said article shall have become a part of
the Constitution OF the United States, said
State shall be declared eHtitled to- representa-.
ton IN Congress, and Senator'S and Represent
Atyes snail be admitted therefrom on their
taking the oath prescribed by law, and then
and thereafter the preceding sections of this
act snail be imperative In said State: Pro-
rtde6, That no person excluded from the priv
Hege OF holding Office by said proposed amend.
ment TO the Constitution of the United STATES
shall be eligible to election as a mem Der of the
convention TO frame constitution for any of
SAID 5eoeI States, nor shall any such person
vote Tor members of such convention
SEC. 6. And b. a. 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 government 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 Off ce
under such provisions al governments all per.
sons shall be entitled to vote, and none others.
who are entitled 10 vote under the provisions
OF the fifth section Of this act; and ne person
shall be eligible TO any Office under any such
provisional governments who would BE- dis
qualified nom holding office under the proyi-
sions OF the third article of said eonstitu.
tional amendment.
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Speaker of the House of Representatives
LA FAYETTE :. FOSTER
President Of the Senate pre- tempore
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRRsENTATIvRs.
March I'd, 1867 (
The President Of the United States having
returned 10 the House of Representatives in
which IL originated, the bill entitled San act to
provide for the more efficient government of
the rebel States" with his objections thereto
the House OF Representatives proceeded. in
pursuance OF the Constitution, 10 reconsider
the same; and =
ResOired, That the said bill do pass, two
thirds of the House of Representative s agreeing
10 pass the same.
Attest: EDWD. MCPHERSON
Clerk II. r. u. ).
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 2, 1857 (
The senate having proceeded, in pursuance