The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-09
The Military Government bill.

WHEREAS, No legal State governments OF
adequate protection for life or property now
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Missis-
sippi, Alabama, Louisiana, 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
Their fore,
BE it enacted, &c, That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made subject to the military authority of the
United States. as hereinafter prescribed; and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute tn G
first district, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima the second district, Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the third district, Mississippi and Ar
kansas the fourth district, Louisiana and Tex
as the fifth district.
Sec. 2 That it shall be the duty Of the Pres
ident 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 a sut-
hcient military force to enable such officer to
perform his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of each OFF,
assigned aforesaid to protect all persons
in their rights of person and property, to sup
press instruction, disorder and violence, and
TO punish or cause to be punished all disturb
ers of the peace and criminals, and to this end
he may allow local civil tribunal TO take juris-
dictioL of and try offenders, or, when in his
judgment it may be necessary for the trial ofof-
tenders ,he shall have power to organize military
commission or tribunals for that purpose; and
all interference under color OF State authority
with the exercise of military authority under
this act shall be null and void.
Sec. 4. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue of this act, shall be tried with
out unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unu-
sual punishment shall be inflicted; and no SEN
tence of any military commission or tribunal
hereby authorized, effeeting the life or liberty
of any person, shall be executed until il is APP
g1roypI bV the officer i'm command pf the dis
trict; and the laws and regulations for the gov
eminent of the army shall not be effected by
this act, except in so far as they may conflict
with its provisions.
Sec. 5. That when the people of any one of
the said rebel States shall have formed a
constitution of government in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by 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 residents in said State for
one wear previous to the day of such cleo
ton except such as may be DISTINGUISHED
for participation in the rebellion, or Tor feIo-
nv at common law and when such constl-
tutions shall provide that the elective iran
cbise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as
have the qualifications herein stated, for
election of delegates and when uch con
stitution shall be ratified by majority OF
the persons voting on the question OF ratlh-
cation who are qualified as electors ior dele
pates. and when such constitution shall nave
been submitted to Congress for examination
and approval and Congress shall have APP
prov ed the same and when said State, by
a vote of its Legislature elected under SAID
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty-nlnth Con-
.rress and known as article IA, and when
such article shall have become part OF the
Constitution of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled to representation
in Congress, and Senators and representa-
tives shall be admitted therefrom, on their
taking the oath prescribediby law, and then
and thereafter the preceding sections of this
act shall be imperative
Provided That no person excluded from
the privilege of holding Office by said pro-
nosed amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, shall be eligible to election as
n member of the convention to frame con
stitution for any of said rebel States, nor
shall any such person vote Tor members OF
said convention
Sec g. And be it further enacted, That
until the people of said rebel States shall be
by law ADM tied to representation in the
Congress of the United States, auY civil gov
eminent which may exist therein, shall be
deemed provisional only, and IN all respects
subject to the paramount authority of the
United States at any time to abolish, modify,
control or supersede the same; and in all
elections to any office under such provision
al governments, al persons shall be entitled
to vote under the provisions of the fifth sec
ton of this act and no persons shall be ELI
gible I nv office under any such provision
n government. who would be disqualified
from holding office under the provisions of
the third article of said constitutional
amendment.