The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-03-06
The Military Dsspotism.

report OF the measure as it passed the
Senate, and as amended in the House,
for placing the Southern States under
military government. We now publish
below WHIST pnrports to be a correct copy
of the bill rs it fnslIy passed both Houses
of Congress and only requires the sane.
ton of the President, or its passage over
his veto, to become a law.
An Act to provide for the more efficient
government Of the rebel States.
WHEREAS, no legal Stale governments
or adequate protection for life or property
now exist in the rebel States Of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama. Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas aud whereas, It is
necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in sad States until
loyal and republican State governments
can he legally established therefore,
BE IL enacted, dc, That said rebe, Stat-s
shall he divided into military districts aid
made subject to the military authority Of
the United STATES, rs hereinafter prescri
bed 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. That i, shall be the duty Of the
President to assign to the command of
each OF said districts an officer Of the ar
my not below the rank Of hrigader gem
eral, and to detail sufficient military
force to enable such officer TO perform his
duties aud enforce his authority within
the distric, to which he is assigned.
Sec. 3 That it shalt be the duty Of
each officer assigned as Aforesaid To pro
tect all persons in their rights OF person
and property, to suppress insurrection,
disorder and violence, and to punish or
cause to. .he punished all di<turbers Of the
pdbiic peace and criminals, and to this
end he NAV allow Ioca civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction of and try offenders, or,
when in his judgment it may he necessary
for the trial of offenders. he shall have
power 10 organize military commissions
or tribunals for tina, purpose; and all in
reference under co'or Of Stale authority
with the eyarcise of military a,,ho,;,v
under this act shall be null and void.
Sec 4. That all persons put undsr mil
itsry arrest by virtue OF thus act shall be
tried wirbout unnecessary DELAY. and No
crusI or unuSnal nunisLmept shoII he in
1ic,ed and no sentence of anv military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty Of anv person.
shall he executed until j, is approved by
the officer IN command of the district:
and the laws and regulations for the gov
ernmen, OF the army shall not be affect.
hy this act. excep, in so far a. thew NAV
conflict with its provisions: Pror;,Ied
Tha, no sentence OF death under the pro
visions of this act shall be carried into ef
feet without the approyal Of the Presi
dent
Sec. 8. Tha, when the p4ople Of any
Of the said rebel States shall have formed
a constitution Of yoyerpmen, j., conformi
ty with the Constitution Of the United
States in all respects. framed by a conyen
ton Of delegates elected Nv the male ci,
liens Of said State twen,vrone wears old
and upward, of whatever race, color, or
previous condition, who have been resi-.
den, in said State for one year previou.
to the day ot such election, except such
as NAV be disfranchised for participation
in the rebellion, or for felony at common
law and when such constitution shall
provide that the elective franchise shall
he enioyed by all such persons as have
the qualifications herein stated for election
Of delegates; and when such cons,i,u
ton shall be ratified by a majority Of the
persons voting on the question Of ra,ifica
ton who are qualified as electors for del
ega,es; and wheu such constitution shall
have been Submitted to Congres.sfor ex.
aminstion and approval, and Congrsss
shall have approved the same and when
said State bv a vote Of i,s L-gisIa,urs ell
ected under sail constitution, slfaII have
adopted the amendment to the Cons,i,u