Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-28
MIR. SHERMAN's BILL.

| The following is correct copy OF the Shermar
substitute as it passed both Houses, as we find il
in our exchanges:
Whereas no legal State governments or adequate
protection for life or property now exists in tht
rebel States Of Virginia, North Carolina, Soutf
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisi
ana, Florida, Texas, and Ar kansas; and whereas il
is necessary that peace and good order should bt
enforced in said States, until loyal and republican
State governments can be legally established
therefore,
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiues of the United States of America a
Congress assembled, That said rebel States shall bt
divided into military districts and made subject tt
the military authority of the United States, a:
hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose Vir
ginia shall constitute the first district North Gar
olina and South Carolina the second district
Georgia, Alabama, and Florida the third district
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district; anc
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district.
SECTION 2. And be 1t further enacted, That i
shall be the duty of the President to assign to tht
command of each of said districts an officer Of tht
army not below the rank of brigadiergeneral, anc
officer to perform his duties and enforce his au
thority within the district to which he is assigned
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That 1t shall
be the duty of each officer assigned as aforesaid tt
protect all persons in their rights of person anc
property, to suppress insurrection, disorder ant
violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished
all disturbers of the public peace, and criminals
and to this end he may allow local civil tribunals Il
take jurisdiction of and to try offenders; Or wher
in his judgment it may be necessary tor the tina
of offenders, he shall have power to organize mill
tary commissions or tribunals for that purpose
and all interference under color Of State authort.
with the exercise of military authority under thi
act shall be null and void.
! Sec 4. And be 1t further enacted, That all per
sons put under military arrest by virtue OF this &C
shall be tried without unnecessary delay, and NJ
cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted; anc
no sentence of any military commission or trlbuna
hereby authorized, affecting the life or liberty O
any person, shall be executed until it is approved
by the officer in command of the district and thu
laws and regulations for the government Of the ar
my shall not be affected by this act except in so fa
as they conflict with its provisions That no sen
tence of death under the provisions of this act
shall be carried into effect without the approval
the President.
SEC. 5. And he 1t further enacted, That whel
the people of any one Of said rebel States shal
lhave formed constitutional government in con
lformity with the Constitution Of the United State
lin all respects, framed by convention of delegate
|elected by the male citizens of said State twenty
one years old and upward, of whatever race, color
lor previous condition. who have been resident il
sad State for one year previous to the day of sucl
lelection except such as may be disfranchised fo
participation in the rebellion or for felony at com
|mon law: and when such constitution shall pro
vide that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed b.
all such persons as have the qualifications herein
stated for election Of delegates; and when said con
stitution shall be ratified by majority of the per
sons voting on the question Of ratification, VIII
are qualified as electors for delegates, and whel
such constitution shall have been submitted II
Congress for examination and approval, and Con
gresS shall have approved the same, and whel
said State, by vote Of its Legislature elected un
der said Constitution, shall have adopted the a
mendment to the Constitution of the United States
proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress- and know
as article fourteen, and when SAID article sha!
have become apart Of the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States, said State shall be declared entitled tt
Representation in Congress, and senators and rep
resentatives shall be admitted therefrom on thei
taking the oath prescribed by law, and then an!
thereafter the preceding sections of this bill shal
be imperative in said State: Ffoutded, that n,
person excluded from the privilege of holding. OF
flee by said proposed amendment to the Constltu
ton of the United States shall be eligible to elec
ton as member of the convention to frame Con
sttution for any of said rebel States nor shall an
such person vote for members Of said convention.
Sec g. And be 1t further enacted, That unit
the people of said rebel States shall be by law ad
mitted to representation in the Congress OF the
nited States, any civil governments which may exlS
therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in a
respects subject to the paramount authority OF tn