The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-08
The Military Government bill.

The Military Government bill
WHEREAS, No legal State governments o.
adequate protection for life or property nov
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, Nortl
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
ther fore,
BE it enacted, &C., That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made subjectto the military authority Of the
United States, as hereinafter prescribed; and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the
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 9. 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 suf-
fcent 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
Ger assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons
in their rights of person and property, to sup
press insurrection, 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 takajurfs-'
diction of and try offenders, or, when in his
Judgment 1t may be necessary for the trial ofot-
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
tcnce of any military commission or tribunal
hereby authorized, effecting the life or liberty
of any person, shall be executed until 1t Is ap
proved by the officer in command Of the dis
trict; and the laws and regulations for the gov
ernment 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
constitution of government in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by a 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 year previous to the day of such cleo
ton, except such as may be DISTINGUISHED
for participation in the rebellion, or for felo-
ny at common law and when such consti-
buttons shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as
have the qualifications herein stated, for
election of delegates and when UGH con-
sttution shall be ratified by majority of
the persons voting on the question of ratifi-
cation who are qualified as electors for dele
gates, and when such constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for examination
and approval and Congress shall have APP
proved the same and when said State, by
a vote of its Legislature elected under said
shall have adopted the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con-
gress, 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-
lives shall be admitted therefrom, on their
taking the oath prescribediby law, and then
md thereafter the preceding sections of this
act shall be imperative.
Provided, That no person excluded from
,he privilege of holding Office by said pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, shall be eligible to election as
| member of the convention to frame con
titution for any of said rebel States, nor
hall any such person vote for members of
aid convention.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That
until the people of said rebel States shall be
~ law admitted to representation in the
congress of the United States, any civil gov
rnment which may exist therein, shall be
leemed provisional only, and in all respects
ubject 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
i governments, all persons shall be entitled
o vote under the provisions of the fifth sec !
ion of this act, and no persons shall be eli
.ible to ny office under any such provision /
Il government, who would be disqualified
rom holding Office under the provisions of I
he third article of said constitutional .