American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-02-20
DAY DAWNS !!
CONGRESS and the President About
to HarmonlZe.
The Constitutional Amendment the
Basis of Reconstruction.
Suffrage without &kegardtO
Race or Color to Loyal Men.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. I6.


a determination to sit all night and ali
day to, morrow, IL necessary, to pass the
reeonstruction bill. 1t being apparent
that the bill Of the House could net be
passed, committee was appoiated to draft
som mething upon which the majority could
unite. The result is the following, which
wilt be offered some time tonight. 1t
was drawn ~ BY Mr.. Sherman, and em.
bodies the provisions of the military bill
of the House, with the Blaine amend
ment incorporated in it. 1t is said by
Mr.. Trumbull and others that the Presi>
dent has agreed to sign it. 1t may not
be offered till towards morning;
WHEREAS, No legal State governments
or adequate protection for life or property
now exists 10 the rebelstates of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Arkan>
sac;
And WHEREAS, il is necessary that
peace and good order should be enforced
In said States until loyal and Republican
State Governments can be legally estab>
lished therefore,
Be 1t enacted, de-, That said rebel
States shall be divided into military dis
tricts and made subject to the military
authority of the United States as hereaf
ter prescribed. and for that purpose Vir-
ginia shall constitute the first district,
North Carolina and South Carolina the
second district Georgia, Alabama aud
Florida the third district; Mississippi
and Arkansas the fourth district; Louisi-
ana and Texas the fifth district
SECTION 2. That it shall be the duty
of the President to assign to the com
mand of each Of said districts an officer
of the army not below the rank of Brig
adler General, and to detail a sufficient
military force to enable such officer to
perform his duties and enforce his author
ity within the district to which he is as
signed.
SECTION 8. That II shall be the duty
Of each officer assigned Jas aforesaid to
protect all persons IN their rights of per-
son and property, to suppress insurree-
tion, disorder and violence, and to punish
or cause to be punished, all disturbers of
the public peace and criminals, and to
this end he may allow local civil tribunals
to take jurisdiction Of and try offenders,
or when in his judgment it may be nee
essary for the trial of offenders he shall
have power to organize military commis>
sions or tribunals for that purpose, and
all interference under color of State au-
thOrity under this act shall be null and
void.
SECTION 4. That all persons put under
military arrest by virtue of this act shall
be tried without unnecessary delay, and
no cruel or unusual punishment shall be
inflicted, and no sentence of any military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty of any person
shall be executed until it is approved By
the officer in command of the district and
the laws and regulations for the govern
tneut of the army shall not be affected by
this act, exceptin so far as they may con-
fictt with its provisions.
SECTION 5. That when the people of
any one of said rebel States shall have
formed Constitution Of government in
conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed by a
convention of delegates elected by the
persons who m ay vote upon the rati6ca-
tion or rejection thereof, as hereinafter
provided; and when said constitution so
framed shall have been ratified by ma
jority Of the male citizens of said State,
twenty-one years old and upward, of what
ever race, color, or previous condition of
servitude, who may have been resident in
said State for one year previous to the
day of voting on the question of ratiiy-
ing such constitution, except such as may
be disfranchised for participating in the
rebellion OF for felony at common law, and
when such constitution shall provide that
the elective franchise shall be employed
by all such persons that have the qualif-
cation herein stated, ana shall have been
submitted to Congress for examination
and approval, and Congress 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 IL;
and when said article shall have become
part of the Constitution Of the United
States, said State shall be declared enti-
tied te representation In Congress, and
Senator'S aud Representatives shall BE- ad-
nitted therefrom on their taking the oath
prescribed by law, and then and there,
after the pree eding sections of this bill
shall be imperative in said State. Il
REGULAR REPORT.
M WASHINGTON, February II, 1867
Mr.. COWAN opposed the bill and Sher-
mans amendment.
AT 2 o'clock MIR SALISBURY NOV
ed to adjourn. Disagreed to.
+, A number of amendments to the third
4 and fourth sections we're offered and dis.
agreed to. u
After further debate, the question on
the adoption Of Mr.. STEVENS PROPOSE
tion as substitute to the bill Adopted,
ayes 80, nays 8.
rMessrs. BUCKALEW, DAVIS aud
SALISBURY voted 10 the negative. 90
Mr.. DOOLITTLE moved an amend
ment as an additional section, that no sea-
teree Of death under this Aet shall be car
ried into execution without the approval
of the President. AAapted 81 to Is.