The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-07
RECONSTRUCTION.
RAcT TO, PROVIDE FOR THE MORE Eff
JfENT GtiyERRiN siENT of THE REBEL STATES.

=
! GENT GovERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES.
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or ade-
quate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia. North Caroiin'i,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
| Florida Texas Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas it is necessary that pc ace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments CAN DC legally es-
| tablishcd; therefore, ' y
@. BE it ennrfed bu the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentaties Of the United States Of america i. Co,s-
gress assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided INTO military districts, and made sub
ject to the military authority OF the United States
as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district North
Carolina and South Carolina the second district;
Georgia, Alabama and Florida the third district !;
| Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district, and
| Louisiana and Texas the fifth district. ~ '
| SEC. 2. Aatdbe it FURTHER enacted, That it shall
be the duty OF the President TO assign to the com
| mand ol each OF said Districts ALI ofhcer OF the
| army not below the rank OF brigadicr general
| and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
| lis authority within the district to which he is
| assigned.
| SEC. B. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as atore
said to protect all persons in their rights of per
son and property, to suppress insurrection, dis
ORDER 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
necessary for the trial OF offenders, he shall have
power, to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all interference
under color OF State authority with the exer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void -..' ..
SEC. 4. A,.d be it further enacted, 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 in
hicted; and no sentence OF any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person. shall he eXccu-
ted 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
with its provisions Rt0ided, That no sentence
OF death under the provisions OF this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval OF the
President" .... .t
SEC. 5. And be further enacted, That when
the people of any of the aforesaid rebel States
in conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed by
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens Of said State twenty -one years old and
upward, OF whatever race, color, or previous
condition, who have been resident in said State
for one year previous to the day of such election,
except such Us may be DISTINGUISHED for partci-
patton in the rebellion Tor felony at common
law; and When sucn constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons have the qualifications herein
stated for election OF Delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by ma jointly OF the
persons voting on the question of ratification who
are qualified us electors Tor delegates, and when
Sucn constitution snail 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 elect
I'd under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution OF the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and ,-nown as article II, and when said article
shall have becomes part OF the Constitution of
the United States said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress. and Senators
and Representatives shall be admitted thereirom
on theii taking the oath prescribed by law and
then and thereafter the preceding sections OF
Il is act shall be imperative in said State PoUi-
ded, That no person excluded from the privilege
of holding office by said proposed amendment to
the Constitution OF the United States shall he
eligible to elf ction Il member OF the convention
to frame constitution for any Of said rebel
States, nor shall any such person vote tor mem
bcrs OF said convention.
SEC. o. A,d be ii tu,ther enacted That until
the people OF said rebel States shall be- by law add
mitted 10 representation in the Congress of the
United States, any ,'vi governments which may
exist therein shall be deemed provisional only,
and in all respects subject to the paramount asl-
thority of the United States IT any time 10 abol-
iSh modify. control o. supcrSedc the same and
in all elections to any office under such provis-
ional governments all persons shall be entitled to
vote, and none other, who entitled to vote
under the provisions of tine fifth section of this
act !; and no person shall be eligible to any office
under any such provisional governments who
would be disqualified from holding office under
the provisions of the third article of said consti
tutioual amendment.