The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-08-07
The IeecOnstruc,iom Laws.


AN ACT 10 provide for the more efficient
government OF the rebel SIsl.s. ipass
ed over the Presidents Vete, March I'd,
1867
WHEREAs. no legal State governments or
adequate protection for life or property
now exists in the rebel States Of Virgin.
la, North at0lina, South Carolina; Geor
gin, MIssissiopi, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and
whereas. II IA necessary that peace and
good order should ue enforced in .urh
States until loyal and Republican State
Governments can be legally established :
Therefore.
BE il enacted by the Srna'e and House
Of Representatives of the United Suites of
America in Congress assembled. That said
rebel States shall be divided into mill ary
distri.ts and made suhj-c, TO the n,iitarr
authority Of the United States as herein
after prescribed, md for that purpose Vir.
pinia ,hall constitute the first di,trir,
North Carolina and South Carolina the
second district; Georgia. Alabama and
Florida, the third district; Mississippi and
Arkansas the fourth district, and louisa
na and Texas the fifth dis rict
sec. q. HnO De IL 1urlnpr enacted, That
il shall be the dutS Of the President to ~
sign to the command of each Of sad dis,
,ricts an officer of the army. not belcw the
rank of Brigadicr general. and To detail n
sufficient miltnv free to enable such Cffi
Ger To perforn his duties and enforce his
authority within the district in which he is
assigned.
See 3 And be it further enacted. That
it shall be the duty of each officer assign
ed ~ aforesaid 10 protect all persons in
their rights of prtsctt and property. TO SUP
press in~urre,tion, disorder and violence.
aud TO punish or cause to be punished NIL
dis'urbers of the public pence ard crimi
mails, aud 10 this end he NAV allow local
civil tribunals to take Jurisdiction nf and 10
try offenders, or, when in his Judgment il
may I've necessary for the trial uf Offenders.
he shall have power to organize military
commissions or tribunals for that a rirpnsr,
aud all interference. under color of Sts,e
authority, with The exercise of military an
thority under this net, shall be null and
void
Sec. 4, Aid be il further enacted; That
all pers"ns put under miIitar' arrest bv
virtue of this act shall be tried without un
Necessary dclav. mud no cruel of nnusnnI
punishment shnll be inn.rted AID no sen
,ence "f any miiiar, commission or ribn
nal hereby authorized, affecting the life or
liberty Of any person. shal! br exrcuted nn
tl it il approved bv the officer in c"u,nand
# the district. aud the laws aud regulations
OF the government of the army SHALL rot
oe effected by this act. except in 40 Ear n.
they conflict In its provision. Provided
That no srntenc" of death, undrr tn. pro
visions OF this act, shall he carried iuto IF
feet without the approval of the President.
Sec 5. And be it further enart.d Thut
when the people of any said rebel States
sha'. have formed IA constitution nf govern
ment in conformity with the Cnu~litution
of the United States in MI respects; framed
BY aconventiOn of delegates elected by the
male citizens Of said State. tarn,y one
wears old and upwards, OF W ratevrr race.
color or prrvl"us condition. who have br-n
resident IN said STATE Tor one year prev ious
10 the day If such "Iection eyfcnt such ns
may DO disfrnnchisrd for participation in
the rebellion, ar for felony nj common lae
and when such constitution shall prJvd..
that the elective franchise shall be- -njovrd
by all such perso a. have the onnlica
lions herein stated for electors ofdrl-pnrrs:
and when such constitution shall be- raiI
fled BY maj urity of the persons voting on
the question Of rp,itica'ion. who nre aurIi
fed as electors for delegates and when
-nCh Constitution shall have been submit.
ted TO Congress for examination and appru
val, and Congress shall have approved the
same and when the said State. bv n vote
OF its Legislature. elected under said con
shall have adopted the amend
ment 10 the constitution "f tho United
States, proposed by the Thirt, ninth ON
gress. and known as articls fourteen aud
when said article shall have beuom. n pnrf
of tie constitutinn "f The Und-d States,
said State shall be d-cfnred entitled to rep
resen anon in Congress. and Scnnt ors rnd
shall be admitted there
f'om, on their taking the oath prescribed by
law and then aud thereafter the preceding
sections OF this act shall be imperative in
said State. Provided. That no peTksn .x.
cluded from the privilege Of holding Office
bv snid amendment Ia the constitution of
the United States stall be eligible 10 el.c
tioH a. member Of the convention to
frame constitution for any OF said feheI
States, nor shall any such person vote fof
Of such convention
until the people Of said rebel States shall
he bv law sdrnitted TO representation IN
the Congress OF the United States, any civ
IL government which may exist therein
shell be deemed provisional only. and in all
respects subject 10 the. para mount authori
~ Of the United States ut any time to nbnl
ish, modify, control or -Up"rsede the same
and in ali elections TO any "tiice under such
provisional governments all persons shalI
be entitled TO vote, aud none others. Who
are entitled to vote under The provisions uf
the fifth section OF this act: and no pers n
shall be eigibe to anv Office under such
provi-iona' governments who 9auId be dis
qualified from holding Office under he pro
visions If The third article Of sad cons;'tu.
tional amendment
SCHUYLER COLFaX,
Speaker iI"nse OF Representatives.
LAFAYETTE y FOSTER.