Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-05-18
Approved March, 1861


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Therefore,
Be il enacted By tie Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of the Uni.
ted States Of Amcricd in Congress as
scmJied, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts
and made subject to the military
authority Of the United States rs
hereinafter prescribed, and for that
purpose Virginia shall constitute
the first district; North Carolina
and South Carolina the second dis
trict; Georgia, Alabama, and Flori,
da the third district; Mississippi
and Arkansas the fourth district
and Louisiana and Texas the fifth
district.
SEC. 2 And be il fVrihT enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of the Pres
ident assign TO the command OF
each of said districts an officer OF
the army, not below the rank OF
brigadier general, and to detail Il
sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perfom his duties and
enforce his authority within the dis
trict to which he is assigned.
SEC. 3. And be it FURTHER enacted,
That it shall be the duty of each of
ficcr assigned as aforesaid to pro
tcct all persons in their rights of
person and property, to suppress
instruction, disorder, and violence,
and to punish, or cause to be pun
ishcd, all disturbers of the public
peace and criminals, and to this end
he may allow local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction Of and to try of
tenders, or, when in his Judgment it
may be necessary for the trial Of Of
tenders, he shall have power to or
ganize military commissions or tri-
bunals to take jurisdiction of and to
try offenders, or, when in his judg-
ment it may be necessary for the
trial of offenders, he shall havepow-
or to organize military commissions
or tribunals for that purpose, and
all interference under color of State
authority with the exercise Of mill
tary authority under this act, shall
be null and void.
Sec. 4. And be 1t 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 inflicted, and no sentence of
any military commission or tribu-
nal hereby authorized, affecting the
life or liberty Of any person, shall
be executed until it is approved by
the officer in command Of the dis.
trict, and the laws and regulations
for the government Of the army
shall not be affected by this act, eX-
cept in so far as they conflict with
it's provisions PrOrided, That no
sentence of death under the proyis-
ions of this act shall be carried into
effect without the approval Of the
President.
Sec. 5. And be 1t further enacted,
That when the people Of one Of said
rebel States shall have formed Il
constitution of government in con-
formity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed
by a convention of delegates elected
by the male citizens Of said State
twonty-onc 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 ofsuch election, except such
as may be DISTINGUISHED for partic-
ipation in the rebellion or for felony
at common law, and when such con-
stitution shall provide that the cleo
tive franchise shall be enjoyed by
all such persons as have the qualifi-
cations herein stated for electors of
delegates, and when such Constitu-
ton shall be ratified by a majority
of the persons voting on the ques-
ton of ratification who are quail
fed as electors for delegates, and
when such Constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for eX-
animation and approval, and Con-
gress 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 fourteen, and when said
article shall have become a part of
the Constitution of the Unite d
States, said State shall be declared
entitled to representation in Con
gress, and Senators and Representa-
tives shall be admitted therefrom
on their taking the oath prescribed
by law, and then and thereafter the
preceding sections of this act shall
be imperative in said State: Pro-
rided, That no person excluded from
the privilege of holding office by
said proposed amendment to the
United State, shall be eligible to
election as a member of the conven-
ton to frame a constitution for any
of said rebel States, nor shall any
such person vote for members Of
such convention.
SEC. 6 And be it further enacted,
That until the people of said rebel
States shall be by law admitted to
representation in the Congress of
the United States, any civil govern
ment which may exist therein shall
be deemed provisional only, and in
all respects subject to the paramount
of the United States at
any time to abolish, modify, control,
or sapersede the same; and in all
elections to any Office under such
provisional governments all persons
shall be entitled to vote, and none
others, who are entitled to vote IN
der the provisions Of the fifth sec
ton of this act; and no person shall
be eligible to any Office under any
such nrovisional GOVERNMENTS who