The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-01
RECONSTRUCTION.
AN. ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFF
r. cINSTGoFERNMENToE THE REBEL STATES.


I WHEREAS, no legal State governments or ade
i qhate protection for life Or property now exists
in the rebel States OF Virginia, North Carolina
South-C Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana
Florida, Texas, Mississippi 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 es
tablished; therefore, 80, =. ina .,r.,..-
| BeSt enacted IN the Sepate and House.of Repre-
Seqtqtiges Of the Ualite Suites or A0aerica il, Con
gresS assembled, That said rebel States shall
!, be divided into military districts, and made sub
ect to the military authority of the United States
as hereinafter prescribed, 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. -s.JE -
SEC 2. A71d be IL further e.Gucted, That it shall
be the duty of the President TO assign to the
mand of each Of said Districts ALI 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. .. -.. ......f... ..
SEC. B. and be it further enacted That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as afore-
said to protect all persons in their rights of per
son and property, 1" suppress instruction, dis
order, and violence, and to punish or to be
punished all disturbers OF the public peace and
criminals and TO this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try
offenders, or when in hi judgment it may be
necessary for the trial OF Offenders he shall have
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals Tor that purpose and all interference
under color of State authority with the exer-
else OF military authority under this act shall be
null and void. ...
SEC. 4. And be it fuathe, enacted. That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue OF
this act shall be tried without unnecessary delay
and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be in
hlcted; and no sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized affecting
liberty hall In
ted until 1t Is approved by the officer in command
Of tho district and the laws and regulations for
the government OF the army shall not be affected
by this act, except in so far they may conflict
with its provisions HU0ided, That no sentence
OF death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval OF the
President.
Sec. 5. Asd be it furt1e,, enacted, That when
the people OF any one OF The aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed a constitution of government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twenty-one years old and
upward, OF whatever race, color, or previous
condition, who have been resident in said State
for one year previous to the day of such election
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partici-
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common
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 election of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by majority Of the
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 Legislature elect
ed under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constit ution OF the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress
and hnown as article IA, and when said article
shall have become part OF the Constitution of
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress. and Senators
and Representatives shall be admitted tnerurOm
on theiI taking the oath prescribed by law, and
then and thereafter the preceding sections of
Il is act shall be imperative in said State Pitpi-
ded, Ihat no person excluded from the privilege
OF holding Office by said proposed amendment to
the Constitution OF the United States shall b.,
eligible to election member of the convention |
to frame a constitution for any of said rebel |
States, nor shall such person vote tor nielIi-
bcrs of said convention.
SEC q. Ind be 1t FURTHER enacted That until |
the people of said rebel States shall be- by law adj
nittcd to representation in the Congress OF the
United States, any civil governments wirich NAV
'Nist therein shall be deemed provisional onlv
md III all respects subject to the paramount au-
hor!ty OF the United States at any time 20 abol-
sh modify control OF superSede the same and
n all elections to any office under such proyis-
onal governments all persons shall be entitled TO
'ote and none other who are entitled TO vote
lnder the provisions of the fifth section of this
ct; and no person Snail be eligible to any Office
Under any such provisional governments who
would be disqualified from holding office under
he provisions of the third article of said coust
utional amendment. !