Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-03-01
..RECnSSrRUCTIoN.,, ;,

'REC0NSTRUCTION.'
Congress has at last adopted plan for
the reconstruction ofthe Union, The result
was not arrived at without much debate, all
Of which we may now consider as having
been very necessary in view of the tolerably
acceptable shape in which the bill decided
on has been offered for Presidential appro-
baton. Whether his Accidency viii sign
it OF not short time will decide. 1t Is as
follows
BAereaS, No legal State governments or
adequate protection for life or property now
exist IN the rebel States Of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Texas and
Arkansas; and 1ghereaS 1t Is necessary that
peace aud good order should be enforced In
said States until loyal and republican State
governments can be legally established
therefore.
Be II euacted, &c, That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made subject to the military authority ofthe
United States, as hereinafter mentioned;
and for that purpose Virginia shall consti-
tute the First District, North Carolina and
South Carolina the Second District, Georgia
Alabama and Florida the Third District,
Mississippi and Arkansas the Fourth Dis
trict, and Louisiana and Texas the Fifth
District.
SEC. .. That it shall be the duty Of the
President to assign to the command of each
of said Districts an officer of the army not
below the rank of Brigadier General, and to
detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which
he Is assigned.
SEC. B. That IS shall be the duty Of each
officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all
/ persons in their rights ofpeTson and property
| TO suppress insurrection, disorder and ylo-
/ lence, and to punish OF cause to be punished
all disturbers Of the public peace and crimi-
mails; and to this end he may allow local civil
/ tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try Of
4 tenders, or, when in his judgment it may be
/ necessary for the trial of offenders, he shall
! have power 10 organize military committees
I OF tribunals for that IMPOSE; and all inter
ference under color Of State authority with
| the exercise Of military authority under this
act shall be null and void
SIC. T. That all persons put under miH-
tary 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
OF tribunal hereby authorized affecting the
/ life or liberty Of any person shall be executed
until it is approved by the officer in com
mand of the district aud the laws and regu-
latigus for the government otthe army shall
not be affected by this act, except so far as
Il 49, IL, 80
/ udsG, That no sentence of death under this
I act shall be carried into execution without
/ the approval Of the President.
SIC. 5. When the people Of any one Of
I said Rebel States shall have formed a con
gtitution and government in conformity with
/ the Constitution Of the United States in all
! respects, framed by a convention of dele
/ gates elected by the male citizens of said
State q years old and upward, of whatever
/ race. color or previous condition, who have
! been resident in said State for one year pre-
/ vious to the day Of such election except
such as may be iisfrauehised for participa-
ton in the Rebellion or for felony at com
mon law, and when such constitution shall
provide that the elective franchise shall be
enjoyed by all such persons as have the
| qualifications herein stated for electors OF
| delegates, and when such constitution shall
! be ratified by a majority Of the persons vo-
! ting on the question Of ratification who are
qualified as electors for delegates, and when
/ such constitution shall have been submitted
| to Congress for examination and approval,
and Congress shall have approved the same
| and when said State by vote ofits Legisla-
/ ture elected under said constitution shall
/ have adopted the amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States proposed by the
! XXXTXth Congress. and known as Article
/ II, and when said article shall have become
! part If the Con titution- of the United States,
| said State shall be declared entitled to rep
resentation in Congress, and Senators and
! Representatives shall be admitted therefrom
on their taking the oath prescribed by law,
and then and thereafter the preceding sec.
tions of this act shall be imperative in said
State. I'royded, That no person excluded
from the privilege Of holding Office by said
| proposed amendment to the Constitution ol
the United States shall be eligible to election
as member Of the Convention to frame q
Constitution for any of said Rebel States,
nor shall any such person vote for members
Of such Convention.
SEC. 6. Ind bet tilrther eaoeted That
until the people of the said Rebel States
shall by law be admitted to representation
10 the IUHgISsS O4 tuS OHlOeu toldteel a
civil governments that may exist therein
shall be deemed provisional only, and shall
be in all respects subject to the paramount
authority Of the United States at any time
to abolish, modify, control, and supercedC
the same, and in all elections to any Office
under such provisional governments all per
sons shall be entitled 20 vote under the pro
visions Of the fifth section Of this act. AnC
no person shall be eligible 10 any Office un
der such provisional governments who woulC
be disqualified from holding Office under the
provisions Of the third article Of said Con
-tilutional Amendment