The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-16
VIEW RECONSTRUCTION BILL.

NEW RECONSTRUCTION BILL.
The following is the new Reconstruction Bill
passed by the House of Representatives last
week:
Section l. Be it enacted By 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 meapipg of the &C: Of the second day of
March. one thousand eight hundred and sixty
seven. entitled an act for the more efficient gov
eminent of the rebel States, and OF the act sup
Elementary thereto, passed or the 23d day OF
March, 10 the year 1867, that the governments
then existing in the rebel States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
sissippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas and
Arkansas, were illegal and void, and thereafter,
the same governments, if continued, were to be
continued subject in all respects to the Military
Commanders of the respective Districts and to
the authority of Congress. ...
See g The said acts, to which this is sup
plement, shall be construed to authorize the
officer assigned to the command of any military
District under said acts, whenever he shall deem
it necessary to the due performance of his duties
under the said acts, to remove or suspend from
Office any municipal or State officer, or person
so-called State government, existing in his Dis
,rict. And the said officer so assigned to COM
mand as aforesaid is hereby empowered to ap-
point another person 10 the stead of the officer
or person, so removed, if he shall deem proper
SO to do And whenever he may deem it neces-
sary as aforesaid to prohibit suspend or set aside
any act or proceeding Of any such State or
municipal government or any act or thing done
under or by virtue of its authority. And all
acts heretofore done by any such officer in ae-
cordance herewith shall be deemed valid.
Sec 3. The Board of Registration, of the
several Military Districts, established by the
acts to which this is supplementary, shall admit
to registration only such persons as they deem
entitled to be registered by the acts aforesaid.
They shall not regard the taking of the oath
prescribed in the act of March 23d, 1867, con-
elusive evidence of the right Of the person
taking it to be registered, but prtn'a tacie only,
and may receive such evidence under oath
relating thereto as they may deem proper, either
from the persons applying to be registered or
others, and either of the members of the said
Board is hereby authorized to administer oaths
or affrmatious, and examine witnesses touching
the right of any person to be registered. Said
Board of Registration may strike from the list
of voters the name of any one already registered,
VINO, III LHelF JuoSWeHtj lipioPeiiy tooN VIZ
oath prescribed in the acts, to which this is
supplementary, or was not entitled, by said acts,
to be registered Recorded evidence shall not
be required by the said Boards to prove partci
patton in the rebellion, but parole evidence shall
be sufficient, and the said Board Of Registration
shall not be bound or governed in their action
by any opinion of any officer of the United
States government.
Sc, 4. No Civil Court of the United States,
or of any State, shall have jurisdiction of any
action or proceeding, civil criminal against
any such District Commander, or Of any officer
or person acting by his authority, for or on &C,
count of the discharge of the duties imposed
upon him by this act, or the acts to which this
is supplementary.
Sec 5. No District Commander shall be re-
lieved from the command assigned to him under
the aforesaid acts, usess the Senate shall have
first advised and consented thereto, or unless he
shall be in arrest for an offence punishable by
dismissal! from the army, or disqualified by sick
ness from the performance of his duties.
Sec g. The time for the completion of the
registration of persons qualified to vote may be
extended, by orders of the said several District
Commanders, to any day prior to the first day of
October A. D., 1867.
Mr. Stevens accepted the following as an ad
ditional clause:
Any person who shall attempt to prevent the
execution of these acts shall be guilty Of a mis-
demeanor, and, on conviction, liable to fne OF
five thousand dollars or Imprisonment one year
The right of any person to be registered as a
legal voter shall in no respect be changed OF
affected by the Presidents pardon for partici-
patton in rebellion.