The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-06
RECONSTRUCTION.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFF
GENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or ade
.I;lte protection for life or property now exists
in he rebel States of Virginia, North Carohna,
>outhCarolina, Georgia, Alabama, Lonsi' on5
whereas it is necessary that peace and good 0rueI
should be enforcedi in said States until loyal ana
republican State governments can be legally %
riJlished; therefore,
r. II enacted bu the Senate and House Of Rft'e-
srtatjDeS Of tie J.ttea States Of Ilmera u" GoL f
gJy<x assembled, That said rebel States slL iI
DC divided into military districts, ana StofrS
ircl to the military authority OF tle IN nrnose
VIRGINIA. shall constitute the first district W. w
Carolina and South Carolina the SECOND 9iStni
,;rorria. Alabama and Florida the thlru ustrl
Ti,siSsip,i and Arkansas the 1oirtn ulstlltl anu
.raisiana and Texas the fifth ol'Irlct.
C y t.71, Il fiyfIcy' enacted, That it shall
. he Ji,tv of the President TO assign to the COM
nd of each Of said districts an officer OF the
.rlny not below the rank OF brigadier general,
,I +a Ie+aiI \ sufficient military force to enable
.rrh officer 10 perform his duties and enforce
il. authority within the district to which he is
.gued. . MI. :.
II be thc duty of each officer assigned rs atore-
j to protect all persons in their rights OF per-
and property, to suppress lnsurreetlo,l, us Is
Ter and violence, and to punish or cause 10 oe
.nisned all dsturberS of the public peace ana
animals and to this end he may allow local
vii tribunals to take Jurisdiction o! ana NY
o. Tenders, or when in hi~ Judgment IL may DC
cessary for the trial OF offenders, he shall nave
. ,wer to organize military commissions or TIL
..nals for that purpose; and all interference
sc of military authority under this act shall be
nrll and void.
r. sons put under military arrest by virtue Oh
mi, oct shall be tried without unnecessary delay
ma no cruel or unusual punishment shall be in
iced and no sentence OF any military COM
af sion or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
ia. life or liberty of any person, shall be eXecu-
ed 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 as they may conflict
18th It's provisions POUided, That no sentence
u death under the provisions OF thls act shall DC
carried into effect without the approval OF the
.'rr~ident.
,.t eoolc of any one the aforesaid rebel States
II have formed constitution of government
~ conformity with the Constitution of the
:.i- ID States i'll all respects, framed by a
..,ls,ntion of delegates elected by the male
,itiz"ns of said State twenty-one years old and
. ..yard OF whatever race, color, or previous
,lrd ton, who have been resident III said State
.,g ,.e year previous to the day of such election
r,e-lt such as may. be distinguished Tor partlci-
TLGiCuin the rebellion or Tor felony at common
Jaw: and when such constitution shall provide
...at re elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
..lrn persons have the qualifications herein
--,ttGtt IOf election Vi uClcSdtCo anu WHICH SuSL
5rs. 5ution shall be ratified by majority of the
,ersosls voting on the question of ratification who
re G Allied as electors for delegates, and when
-:icil constitution shall have been submitted to
IN ass for examination and approval, and
.8rrcss shall have approved the same; and
y,.l aid State, by vote ofits Legislature elect
G er said constitution shall have adopted the
.l.si;meut to the Constitution of the United
,.a.e. proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
.s.I r.nown as article ii, and when said article
AL lave become a part of the Constitution OF
~ United States, said State shall be declared en-
ed 10 representation in Congress, and Senators
. ID Representatives shall be admitted theretrom
.,u fl-ir taking the oath prescribed by law, and
s.,cn and thereafter the preceding sections of
/. : act shall be imperative i'll said State: PrOOi
i.i That no person excluded from the privilege
81 .;niding office by said proposed amendment to
tut Constitution of the United States shall be
n :nic to election as member of the convention
rs frame a constitution for any of said rebel
...res. nor shall any such person vote for men,
..~- o: said convention.
$50. =. ARI be it further enacted, That until
.... pie of said rebel States shall be- by law adj
MI to representation in the Congress of the
Uu:r. States, any civil governments which may
an. in Ill respects subject to the paramount au-
t!.oTts OF the United States at any time to abol-
i:h Inpiify, control OF supersede the same ; and
~ al .iections to any office under such provis-
.n1' governments all persons shall be entitled to
vn.. and none other, who entitled to vote
rIdvr The provisions of the fifth section of this
,., ;ld no person shall be eligible to any office
under my such provisional governments who
woad DC disqualified from holding office under
nc provisions of The third article Of said consti-
-utiou;1 amendment.