The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-02-28


here presented.
go, Judgment, thou hast fe to british beasts
And men have lost their reason"
The impression seems to be general
in Washington, that the President will
veto the bill. ~ .---..s..a n. ,s2ee=s !.
We annex the bill as it passed the
Senate, It isentitIod an "Aet{te pro-
vide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States:
Whereas no legal State govern
mcnts or adequate protectionifof lite
or property now exists in the rebel,
States Of Virginia, North Corolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Arkansas and whereas it is ne
cessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until
loyal and Republican. State govern
ments can be legally: established:
therefore. 80
Be 1t enacted blythe Senate and
House Of Representatives cfthe INT
ted States f-America IN -Goagzess
assembled, That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts
and made subject to the military au-
thority Of the. United States, as here
matter prescribed, and:for that ,nur-
pose Virginia shall constitute the first
district; North Carolina and South
Carolina hesecond district; Georgia,
Alabama and Florida the third dis
trict; Mississippi ard Arkansas the: ?
fourth district, and Louisiana and and
Texas the fifth district. =.
SEC. 2. Aaa be at further enacted,
That it shall bethe duty of the Presi-
dent to assign to the command Of each
of said districts an officer of the army,
not below the:rank of, brigadier!gen-
eral, and to detail sufficient military
force TO enable such officer toperforh
his duties and enforce his, authority
within the district to vi ich he IS as
signed. ,..I-:. -,
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted,
That it shallb be the duty Of each ofict r
assigned as aforesaid to protect all
persons in their rights Of person and
property, to suppress : ins,rrection:,
disorder, and violence, and to punish
or cause to be punished, all ,distur-.
bcrs of the public peace and to
this end he may allow local civil
tribunals to take Jurisdiction Of and
to try offenders, or, when in his jadg-
mcnt it may be necessary for the trial
of offenders, he shall have power to.
organize military commissions or til
bunals for that purpose; and all inter:
ference under color of State authori-
ty with the exercise Of military au-.
thority under this act shall be null:
ard void. -. =
Sec. 4. And be 1T further enacted,
That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue of this act shall be
tried without unnecessary delay, and
no cruel or nasual punishment shalE
be inflicted and no sentence Of ny
military commission or tribunal here
By authorized, affecting the life or
liberty ofany person, shall be execu-
ted until it is-approvcd by the officer
in command Of tie district, and the
laws and regulations for the govern
ment of tie army shall not be affected
by this act, except in so far as they
conflict With its provisions; Provided,
That no sentence Of death under the
provisions of this act shall be carried
into effect without theaprroval of the
President.
Sec. 5. And be 1t further enacted,
That when the people Of any one Of
said rebel States shall have formed q
constitution Of governmental in conform
ity with the Constitution of the United
States in all respects, framed by II
convention of delegates elected by
the male citizens of said State twenty
one years old and upward, of what
ever race, color, or previous condition,
who have been resident IN said State
for one year previous to the day #
such election, except such as may be
disfranchised for participation in the
rebellion or for felony at common law,
and when such constitution shall pro-
vide 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 persons voting OIL
the question of ratification, who are