The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-03-01
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.

We give below summary ut the recon.
s,r,c,ion hin rs finally passed by Congress
md submitted by the President. That no
will veto il h certain, and Il Is also quite
certain that IL will be passed over his veto,
IL returned in season. Tho sentiment OF
leading men In the South is anSiously in Ia
vor Of its passage. not, ns We anticipate, out
Of favor ofihe Bill; hut they forcsee that
sweeping coufscation net will lie sure to
follow, if,hey hold out longer, and they
wish to blunt the edge Of the impending
stroke, since they can no longer doubt tho
determination Of the people towards them.
Il is evident that there will be no more
child's play in dealing with them; .
Section divides the rebel States into Eve
military districts. -.
Section Q assigns to the command ofeaeh
district an officer ofthc army not below the
rank Of Brigadier General, with sufficient
military force to enforce his authority.
Section 3 allows local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction Of and try offenders, and
gives power to the commandant to organ
ize military tribunals when necessary and
NIL Interference with such military tribunals
under color Of State law shall be null and
void.
Section 4 provides for immediate trial Of
all persons under military arrest and no
sentence imposed by military tribunals shall
he executed until il is approved by the com.
mandcr Of the district.
Section 5 provides that when any State
shall have formed Constitution in con-
for,nity in all respects with the Constitution
Of the United States, and framed by con-
vcntion Of delegates, such Constitution to
provide that the elective franchise shall be
enjoyed by all such persons rs have the
qualifications necessary to enable them to
vote for delegates to the Convention; and
when the same has been ratified by the
people anil approved by Congress, and the
State shall have ratified the Constitutional
Amendment, the State shall be entitled to
representation in Congress, aud Senators
aaL representatives shall be admitted on
taking the oath prescribed by law.
All males Of whatever race, color or pre-
yious condition, who have been resident in
tho State Cor one year previous to the elec-
ton, except such as may he disfrnnchised
for participation in the rebellion or for felo-
ny. shall be entitled to vote for delegates,
aud no person excluded from boLling Office
by the constitutional amendment shall DO
eligible to election as member oi the con-
vention, or vote for delegates to the con-
yentiou-
Section 6 declares that until State Is adj
mitte,i, the provisional government OF such
State shall he in all respects subject To the
paramount authority Of the United States
any time to abolish, modify, control and
supersede the same, and in all elections to
any office under such Provisional Govern
ments all persons shall no entitled to vote
and none others, who are entitled to vote
under the provisian Of the tiilh section of
this net And no person shall he eligible to
any Office under such Provisional Govern.
mcnts who would bc disqualified from
holding office under the provisions OF the
third article Of said Constitutional Amend
isssstt.