The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-02-27
TEE MILITARY GOVERNMENT BILL.

probability the present week Will Witness the III
auguraton of these extreme measures. The bill
introduced by STEVENS, and published in full last
week, passed the House, but OH reaching tho Sen
ate was modified and changed in several important
particulars. Amendments were afterwards pro-
posed and adopted in both Houses, and the bill
known as the SsrRMAN substitute, with these
amendments, was concured in by Congress.
Practically this bill establishes military supre-
macy over civil law, confers suffrage upon all male
citizens twenty -one years old and upward, of what
ever race or color, or previous condition, except
such as may be disfranchsed by the third section
of the Constitutional amendment, which is incor-
porated in the provisions of this bill 1t provides
for convention of delegates elected as aforesaid
whose duty shall be to frame q constitution to be
submitted TO the people for ratification or rejec-
on, irrespective of race color, and to Congress
for examination and approval. Further, when
State thus recognized adopts the Constitutional
amendment, said State shall be entired to repre-
sen!ation in Congress, upon the members taking
the prescribed oath. No person excluded from
holding Office by the Constitutional amendment
shall be eligible to The convention nor entitled to
vote for its members. The last section declares
the civil governments now in existence over these
| States to be provisional only, and in all respects
subject TO the paramount authority of the United
States at any lime to abolish, modify, control or
supercede the same No person is eligible to Office
under such provisional governments who would be
disqualified from holding Office by the third section
of the Constitutional amendment. That Isl no per-
son who had previously taken an oath of office 10
support the Constitution of the United States, and
shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion,
or given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof"
is now entitled to hold office under the provisional
governments of said States.
These are the main points of the bill as II passed
both Houses, and was sent to the President. Adj
vices from Washington indicate that the Executive
will interpose his veto at once, and return the bill
in time for Congress 10 enact its provisions by
two-thirds vote. Thus the bill will become law
before the expiration of this session, which ter
inmates on Monday next.
| We have no space for comments Upon this meas
ure, nor. any desire to express our opinions upon
this reconstruction scheme. As we have urged on
previous occasions, the South poweress to avert
the political chaos and confusion incident to this
state of things, and it becomes our people to qui
etly acquiesce in the result, and manifest the
dignifed acceptance Of the situation that has char
actcrized the masses heretofore. Fate has decreed
against us, and no possible good can emanatc from
violent denunciation nor vaporing anathcmns upon
these harsh and imperative measures. The sequel
will bring enough of woe and tribuaton, and is
! unnecessary to anticipate the future. Neither will
| the dependency and gloom relieve the sombre
picture, but patience and endurance will bring our
oppressed section through the fiery ordeal. May
Heaven grant faith and courage TO breast the storm
and undergo the worst
We subjoin correct and authenticated copy Of
the bill as it passed:
! An ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFFICIENT COW
ERNMEST OF THE REBEL STATES.
Whereas no legal State Governments or adequate
protection for life or property now exists in the
rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisi-
anna, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas: and whereas
it is necessary that peace, and good order should be
enforced in said States until loyal and republican
State governments. can be legally established,
| therefore,
be it enacted By the Senate and House of Reprc-
sentatves Of The United States of 1merica in Congress
assembled, That said rebel States shall be divided
into military districts and made subject to the mil
tary authority of the United States, as hereinaf
ter prescribed, and for that Purpose Virginia shall
constitute the first district North Carolina and
South Carolina the second district, Georgia, Ala
bama and Florida the third district, Mississippi
and Arkansas the fourth district, and Louisiana
and Texas the fifth.
SEC. .. And belt further enacted, 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 au-
thority within the district to which he is assigned.
Sec 8. And be il further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of each officer assig.ed aforesaid to
protect all persons in their rights Of person snd
property, to suppress insurrections disorder, and
violence, and to punish or to cause TO be punished,
all dsturbers of the public peace and criminals,
and to this end he may allow local civil tribunals
to fake jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or,
VIXEN in his judgment it may be necessary for the
trial of offenders, he shall have power to organize
military commissions or tribunals for that purpose; /;
and all interference under color of State au,hority
under this Act shall be null and void.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That oil per-
sons put under military 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
tribunal hereby authorized, affecting the life or
| ,L,l "a. g,