Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-03-02
The Military Reconstruction Bill.

Houses of Congress on Wednesday Of
asst week:
Whereas, No legal State Governments
or adequate protection for life or property
now exis, in lhe rebel States Of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina Georgia,
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida
Texas and Arkansas ;
And whereas, Ii is necessary that
peace and good order should be enforced
in said States and loyal and Republican
Stale Governments be legally establish
ed /; therefore,
Be il enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States oi
America. in Congress assembled. That
saidsrebel Slares shall be divided INT"
military districts, aud made subject to the
mililsry authority of lhe Unl'ed SIates'
as hereinafter prescribed; and ior tha'
purpose Virginia shall constitute The FIRST
District; North Carolina and South Cat
DINA the Second District Georgia, Ala
bams and Florida the Third District
Mississippi and Arkansas the Fourth
District, and Louisiana ald Texas the
Fifth District.
Section 2. And be it further enacted,
That il shall be the duty OF the President
10 assign 10 The command OF each oi SAID
districts an officer of the army not below
The rank of BrigaGier General, and to de-
tail So fficient military force 10 enable
such officer TO perform his duues and en-
force his authority within The district 10
which he is assigned.
Section 3. And be it further enacted
That i, shall be The duty of each officer
assigned as aforesaid. 10 protect all per-
sons in their rights Of person and proper
ty 10 suppress insurrectlon, disorder
and violence, and to punish or cause to
be punished all dstuIbers Of the public
peace and criminals and TO this end he
may allow local civil tribunals 10 take
jurisdiction of and 10 ,ry offenders or
hen. in his judgment, il may be neces'
sary for the Trial of offenders, he shall
bave power 10 organize military comms-
sions or tribunals for that purpose, and AL
interference, under color OF State auIhorl
ly, The exercise OF military authority un-
der This act shall be null and void.
Section 4 And be it further enacted,
That ali persons put under military arrest
by virtue Of this &C, shall be tried Without
unnecessary delay, aud no cruel or unu
susl punlshm, nj shall oe inflicted and
no sentence Of any military commission or
tribunal hereby authorized, affecting the
lie or liberty of any person, shall be exc
cuted unul il 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, ex.
.ceps in 80 far as they couhlct with lis
provisions provided. lhs, no sentence ol
death under The provisions OF this scI
shall he carried into effect without the
approval Of The President Of the United
States.
Section S. Be it further enacted, Thai
when the people Of any one of said rebel
States shall have formed constitutional
Government. in conformity with The
Constitution OF The United States, in all
respects framed by convention Of dele
yates elected by the male citizens Of said
State. twenty-one years old and upwards,
of whatever race, color or previous cOndl
lion, who have been residents in said
Stale, for one year previous 10 the day of
such election, except such IS may be dis
frsnchised for participation IN rebellion or
for felony at common law, and when such
Constitution shall provide that the elec.
live franchise shall be enjoyed by all such
peIsons as have the qualifications herein
stated for election of delegates, and when
such Consttuiion shall be adopted BY q
majority Of the persons voting on Ihe
question of ratification Sbo are qualified
as electors Tor delegates, and when such
Constitution shall have been submitted 10
Congress for examination and approval,
and Congress shall have approved the
same, and when said State, by a vote OF
lie Legislature, elected under said CoHsti-
;uron. shall have adopted the amendment
10 ihe Constitution Of The United States
proposed by the Thirty ninth Congress,
and known as article -; and when said
article shall have become a part oil The
Constitution Of The United Sales, said |
Stale shall be declared entitled 10 repre-
seais,ioR in Congress. and Senators and /
shall be admitted there
from on their taking the oath PFescribed
by law aud thereafter the preceding
sections of This act shsll be imperative in
said State provided, thai no person ex-
rluded from The privilege of holding Of
ice BY the said proposed amendment 10
The Constitution of The United States shall ,
be eligible 10 election as member Of a
10 E,,pa Eopstitui:on for