Smyrna times., 1867-02-27
Reconstruction.

Reconstruction.
The reconstruction Of the Southern States
ha. az last come to head; :" that is, Con
gress has agreed upon plan, which was made
a law on Thursday last-it the President don't
veto il.
After so long struggle in this great and
exciting subject, in which the President took
great authority upon himself and pulled in
one direc.ion while Congress pulled in the
opposite, it is gratifying that the lew makers
Of The land have marked out a course by which
the "wayWard sisters may return to
their full powers in the Government, which
they threw off aud forfeited by their treason
OF course it is not what the Democrats wanted,
nor may it prove all that Republican fancy ha,
painted it, yet it IS a starting poiGt and We
hope the President will overcome his veto pro
pensities or that Congress will if he cannotl,
that the " beginning of the end shall have
been reached at all events
The bill passed was started in its original
shape by Mr.. Stevens about the commence
ment Of the present month, and after long
debate passed the House on the 18th, several
Republicans voting against it because they
regarded it as too harsh. 1t went to the Sen
ate on the 10th, where it met with strenuous
opposition. MIR. Sherman proposed a substi-
tute, which in fact set aside the Stevens bill,
and has passed both Houses of Congress 1t
is about as fellows:
Whereas. 40 legal State governments or adj
equatc protection for life or property now exis.
ting in the rebel States Of Virginia, North
Carolina. &c.
Be I rnqcted. DC, That said rebel State,
shall be divided INTO military districts, <uhiec
10 the military authority of the United States
Virginia to be the first district, &c
,. The President shall assign to the CON
mand of each district brigadier- general wit
suficier; force to maintain his authority
3. 1t shall he the duty of such officer to pr,
tect all persons in the rights of person an
property. punish all di>turbers of the peac,
and TO this end ne may allow local civil tri!1
nails 10 try cases or may organize military tt
bunals tor that purpose and all interference
by State authority shall be null and void !
such case
t. All persons under military arrest shall b
tried as soon i, possible, and no sentence
tectlng the lie or liberty of person shall /
executed until it is approved by the comman,
ing ohcer: and provided, that no sentence
death shall be carried into execution withol
tue approval of the President.
). Whcucver the people Ofany Of said Stat,
shall form a constitution and government
conformity W.th the Constitution OF The Unite
HtIteS framed by delegates elected Dy ii
male cltzens Of the State, o: V hdtvycr race ,
color who have been in the State wear an
are = years old, except those who may be di
iranchlsed Tor participating in rebellion or f.
ony, and when such constitution shall provi,
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed /
all such persons as have the Gualificat o
above named, and been ratified by maiori
of said votes and Congress shall have arprov
the same, and when the Legislature .hgl ha
adopted the amendment to the L. S. Cons
tuition, 10 be known as article II. when sa
article shall have become part of the Cons
tuition, then the State shall be entitled to re
reseptation in Congress.
g. That until these rebel States shall be a
mitted to representation in Congress, all ci,
government: they may have shall be regard,
as provisional, subject to the paramount Il
thori:y OF the United States. And no perac
phall be eligible TO any ptfice under such pr
visional government who would be disqualif,
by the fifth article OF the constitutional amen
nent-