North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-02-27
The Plan.

Both houses of congress, have passed,
by more than two-thrd. vote in each
house, the reconstruction bill, with two
slight amendments, substituted in the sen
ate the other day, on the motion of Mr..
Sherman. for the Stevens military govern
ment bill. The bill, without the amend
ments adopted yesterday, is as follows:
Whereas, No legal state governments
or adequate protection for life and proper
ty now exist in the rebel states of Virgin
il, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Flor
ida, Texas and Arkansas and, Whereas,
it is necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said states until 10y
al and republican state governments can
be legally established therefore,
''Be it enacted, de-, That said rebel
states shall be divided into military dis
tricts and made subject to the military au-
thority of the United States, as hereinaf-
ter mentioned and for that purpose Nir-
ginia 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 Lotisi-
ana and Texas the Fifth district.
"Sec. 2. That it shall be the duty of
the president 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 sufficient force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and en-
force his authority within the district to
which he is assigned.
"Sec. B. That it shall he the duty of
oil
tect all persons in the rights of person and
property, to suppress instruction, disord-
er and violence, and to punish, or cause to
be punished, all disturbers of the public
peace and criminals and to this end he
may allow local civil tribunals to take jul
risdiction ofand try offenders, or, when in
his judgment it may be necessary for the
trial of offenders, he shall have power to
organize military committees or tribunals
for that purpose and all interferenccs UNI
der color of state authority with the exer-
else of military authority under this act
shall be null and void.
''Sec. f. 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
inflicted, and no sentence of any military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty of any person
| shall be executed until it is approved by
the officer in command of the district and
the laws and regulations for the govern
ment of the army shall not be affected by
this act, except in SO far as they may con-
| flict with its provisions.
''Scc. ). That when the people of any
one of said rebel states shall have formed
constitution and government in conform
| ity with the constitution of the United
States in all respects, framed by conven-
| ton of delegates elected by the male citi-
zens of said state q years old and upward
of whatever race, color or previous condi-
| ton, who have been resident in said state
for one year previous to the day of such
election, except such as may be dsfran-
chsed 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 per-
sons rs have the qualifications herein sta
ted Tor electors of delegates, and when such
constitution shall be ratified by a majority
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, aud congress
shall have approved the same, and when
said state by vote of its legislature elect
ed under said constitution shall have adop-
ted the amendment to the constitution of
the United States proposed by the 39th
congress, and known as article II. and
when said article shall have become part
of the constitution of the United States,
said state shall be declared entitled to rep
resentation in congress, and senators and
representatives shall be admitted there
from on their taking the oath prescribed
| by law, and then and thereafter the preced-
| ing sections of this act shall be inopera-
tive in said state
The two amendments adopted yesterday:
!, That the present southern state govern
ments shall be regarded ar merely proyis-
lonal ,, That the people of the south
DISTINGUISHED by the proposed constitutions
al amendment shall be DISTINGUISHED bv
this bill-that is, that they shall not par
| ticipate in the formation of state govern
ments under this bill
The following is the proposed constitu-
tionai amendment, which, together with
| the foregoing bill. now constitute the con-
gressional plan of reconstruction
"Resotced Gy the Senate and House of
Representatives Of tie United States Of
1America IN Congress assembled, (two-thirds
OF both houses concurring,) That the fol-
lowing article be proposed to the legisa-
lures OF the several states as an amend
ment to the consultation of the United
States, which, when ratified by three
IF ,l.k Il. IL l. 4
| as part of the constitution, namely:
ARTICLE =, Section |. All persons
| born or naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens of the United States, and of the
state wherein they reside. No state shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunites of
citizens of the United States. Nor shall
any state deprive any person of life, liber-
ty or property without due process of law.
nor deny to any person within it's jurisdic-
ton the equal protection of the laws.
"Sec. 2. Representatives shall be APP
portioned among the seve0 states accor-
ding to their respective numbers, counting
the whole number of persons in each state,
excluding Indians not taxed but whenever
the right to vote at any election for electors
of president and vice president, or for
United States representatives in congress,
executive and judicial officers, or the mem
bers of the legislature thereof, is denied to
any Of the male inhabitants of such state.
being Fl years Of age, and citizens of the
United States, or in any way abridged, ex.
cept for participation in rebellion or other
crime, the basis OF representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which
the number of such male citizens shall bear
to the whole number of male citizens TWEEN
ty-one years of age in that state.
'Sec. 3. No person shall be senator or
representative in congress, elector of pres
ident and vice president, or hold any Office,
under any state, who having previously ia
ken an oath as Il member of congress, or
as an officer of the United States, shall