The national Republican., 1867-02-08
The Radical Poland.

The following is q copy Of the bill to pro-
vide bayonet government for the South,
introduced by the great commoner" in the
House:
Whereas, the pretended State govern
mcnts Of the so-caled confederate States Of
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, and Arkansas were set up
without the authority Of Congress, and with
out the sanction of the people;
And whereas the so-called pretended gov
ernments afford no adequate protection for
life or property, but countenance and encour-
age lawlessness and crime;
And whereas it is necessary that peace and
good order should be enforced in said So
called States until loyal and republican State
governments can be legally established ::
therefore,
BE 1t enacted by The Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of
America an Congress assembled, That the So
called dsloyal States shall be divided into
military districts, and made subject to the
hereinafter prescribed; and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the First district,
North Carolina and South Carolina the Sec
ond district Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
the Third district, Mississippi and Arkansas
the Fourth district, and Louisiana and Texas
the Fifth district.
Sec. 2. And be al further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the General of the army
to assign TO the command of each of said
districts an officer of the regular army not
below the rank of Brigadier General, and to
detail q sufficient military force to enable
nj IN h 10 A,,ti ay,I
his authority within the district to which he
is assigned.
Sec. 3. And be ii further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as
aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights
Of person and property, to suppress insurrec-
tion, disorder 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 civil tribunals to take jurisdic-
tion Of and to try offenders, or when in his
judgment it may be necessary for the trial Of
offenders, he shall have power to organize
military commissions or tribunals for that
purpose, anything in the constitution and
laws Of the so-called States to the contrary
Notwithstanding; and oil legislative or judi
cial proceedings or processes to prevent or
control the proceedings Of said military tribu
nails, and all interference by said pretended
State governments with the exercise Of mill.
tary authority under this act shall be void
and Of no effect.
Sec. 4. And be al further enacted, That
courts and judicial officers Of the United
States shall not issued writ OF hdbeds corpus
in behalf Of persons in military custody un,
less some commissioned officer on duty in
the district wherein the person is detained,
shall endorse upon said petition statement
certifying upon honor, that he has knowledge
or information as to the case and circum
stances of the alleged detention, and that he
believes that the endorsed petition is pre-
ferred in good faith and in furtherance Of
justice, and not to hinder or delay the pun
ishment Of crime. 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
Sec. 8. And be al further enacted, That nc
sentence of any military commission oI
tribunal hereby authorized affecting the life
or liberty of any person shall be executed
until it is approved by the superior 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 as they conflict with its provisions.