The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-30
The Reconstruction Act.

The following is a correct copy OF the ac
"to provide for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States" as itpassed:
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFF
cIENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or ade
ouate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana
Florida Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, ano
Whereas It's necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legally es
tablished; therefore,
sentatiges OF the United States Of 4naerica in Con.
gress assembled That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
ect to the military authority OF the nted states,
us 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
SEC :. 4adbe it FURTHER enacted, That IT shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand of each of said districts an officer OF the
army not below the rank OF brigadier general,
and to detail Il sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district 10 winch ne Is
assigned. - .
SEC. 8. And be .fiAther enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned afore
said to protect all persons in their rights OF per-
son and property, to suppress lnsurrection, DIS
order and violence and TO punish or cause to be
punished all dSturbers 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 for that purpose and all interference
under color of State authority with the eNer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void.
SEC t. And be it further 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
hicted: and no sentence OF any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person. shall be eNecu-
ted until it is approved blythe officer in command
OF the district and the laws and regulations for
the government OF the army shall not be affected
by this act, except in so far is they may conflict
with its provisions POCidH, That no sentence
OF death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval of the
President.
SEC s. Ind be H,Tmfhe- enacted, That when
the people of any OF the aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed constitution of government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed by a
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 dSfranchiSed for partici- |!
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common !
law: and when such constitution shall provide /
hat the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons Us have the qualifications herein ,
stated for election of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by ajolity of the
persons voting on the question OF ratification who
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; aud
when said State, by vote ofitS Legislature elect
ii under said constitution shall have adopted The
amendment to the ConSti ution OF the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress, ,
md Known as article II, aud when said article
hall have become part of the Constitution of
lie United States, said Sta,e shall be declared
tiled 10 representation in Congress, and Senators
nd Representatives shall be admitted therein ON
n theiI taking the oath prescribed by law, aud
hen and thereafter the proceeding sections OF
is act shall be imperative in said State Pori-
I'd. That no person excluded from the privilege
f holding office 10y said proposed amendment to
he Constitution of the United States shall he
li"ible TO lection a member OF the convention
0 frame a constitution for any of said rebel
tales, nor shall any such poison vote tor Mem
crs of said convention.
SEC. G. 4md b. It FURTHER eadcied That until
he people of said rebel States shall he, by law adj
litted 10 representation in the Congress of the
nited States, any .-ivil governments which may
zist therein shall be deemed provisional only,
nd in all respects subject to the paramount au-
lority of the United States ut any time to abol-
n modify. control OF Supersedc the same and
all elections to any Office under such proyis-
,nal governments all persons shall be entitled to
ole, and none other, who are entitled to vote
nder the provisions of the fifth section of this
Il and no person shall be eligible to any office
ndcr any such provisional governments who
Oud be disqualified from holding office under
le provisions OF the third article OF said conSt-
ltional amendment.