American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-07-20
THn RECONSTRUCTION BILL AS 1T
PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

r s"PPien0heoaJ icCVnSlIuCtiou oili ui
it finally passed:
An ACT supplementary to an act
entitled Gan act to provide for the
more efficient government of the
rebel States," passed on the second
day of March, die thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven, and the
act supplementary thereto, passed
on the twenty third day of March,
one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.
"SEC. l. Be 1T enacted dy the
Senate and House of Representatives
Of the United States of america in
Congress assembled, That it is hereby
declared to have been the true intent
and meaning of the act of the second
day OF March, 1867, entitled an act
to provide tor the more efficient gov
ernment of the rebel States, and Of
the act supplementary thereto, pass
ed on the twenty third day of March,
ii the year 1867. that the govern
ments then existing in the rebel
States Of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Tex
as, and Arkansas, were not legal
State governments, and if continued,
were coptinued sAhjeet in all respects
to the military commanders of the
respective districts, and to the ipara-
mount authority of Congress.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That
the commander ofany district named
in said act shall have power, subject
to the disapproval of the general Of
the army OF the United States, to
have effect till disapproved, when
ever in the opinion OF such command.
er the proper administration Of said
act shall require it, to suspend or re-
move from Office or the performance
81 official duties and the exercise of
official powers, any officer or person
holding, or exercising, or protesting
to hold OF exercise any civil or mill
tary Office or duty in such district,
under any power, election, appoint.
ment, authority derived from or
granted by or claimed under any So
called State or the government there
OF, or any municipal or otler diver
sion thereof: and upon such suspen-
sion or removal, such commander,
subject to the disapproval of the
general as aforesaid, shall have pow
er to provide from time to time for
the performance of the said duties of
such officer or person so suspended
or removed, by the detail of compe-
tent officer or soldier of the army or
by the amointment Of some other
person to perform the same and to
ill vacancies occasioned by death,
resignation or otherwise.
SEC. 3. Re Il fuvther enacted, etc.,
That the general OF the army of the
United States shall be invested with
all the powers of suspension, remov,
al, appointment and detail granted
in the preceding section to district
commanders.
SEC. 4. Be Il further enacted, etc.,
That the acts of TIE officers in the |
Hrmy already DOM in removing in
said districts persons exercising the |
of civil Offices and appoint
ing others in their stead are hereby |
provided that any person
heretofore or hereafter appointed by
any district commander to exercise
the functions of any civil office may
be removed either IVY the military
officer in command of the district or
the general of the army; and it will
be the duty of said commander to re-
move from Office as aforesaid all
persons who are disloyal to the Unit
ed States, or use their official interest
in any way to hinder, delay, prevent
or obstruct the due and proper ad-
of this act and the acts
to wnIch it is supplemental.
SEC. 5 Be it tWtker enacted, etc.,
That he boards Of registration pro
y:drd tor in the act entitled an act
L. rrJyile for the more efficient gov
a.pmcut of the rebel States, passed
! rch I'd, 1867, and to facilitate res
.or ration, passed March 23d, 1867,
'hdil have power, and it shall be
heir duty before allowing the regis,
-ration of any person, to Al certain
lDm such facts or information az
hey can obtain, whether such per.
son is entitled TO DE registered under
said act, and the oath required nv
said act shall not be conclusive on
Zach question, ard no person shall
20 registered unless such board de-
de that he is entitled thereto, and
r,,h 0rIrd shall also have power to
,Iamine under oa;h Ito be admins,
cd by any member of such board)
my one touching the qualifc ,tion
my person claiming registration;
,ut in every case of a refusal by the
BOARD to register, an applicant, and
II every case of striking his name
rom he list as hereinafter provided,
he board shall make a note or memo
apdum, which shall be returned with
he registration list to the command
ng general of the district, setting {
orth the grounds of such refusal or
;riking from the list; provided that t
10 person shall be disqualified as a I
member of any such board of regis a
ration by reason of race or cnlor. I
SEC. q. BE IL fWth.r eRdc'ed ETC., '
hat the true intent nd meaning of G
he oath prescribed IL said supple c
nentary a, is, among others, that q