The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-03-21
The Reconstruction.


The supplementary reconstruction bill
has passed both houses of Congress and
gone to the President for his veto.
The Chicago Tribune gives the following
synopsis of the Reconstruction Law, as it
stands, including the Constitutional Amend
ment and the supplementary act.
l. 1t is declared in the preamble that nc
legal government or adequate protection
for life and property exist III the ten rebel
States.
2 The rebel States are divided into five
military Districts, and their limits defined
8 The president is required to assign to
each of these Districts Commander not
below the rank of brgadier General, and
detail a sufficient military force 10 enable
such officer to enforce his authority.
H. The Commanders are required to pro
tect all persons liz their rights
3. All persons arrested bv the military
authority are to have speedy trial aud
cruel or UNUSUAL punishment is prohibited.
6 Before the LIST Of September next the
Commanding General is required to cause
to be made a registration OF all lawful 70
tiers in their respective States. Before reg
istration every applicant will be required to
take the following oath:
Il do solemly swear or affirm, in the
presence Of Almighty God that | am cit.
xen Of the State Of --; that | have
resided in said State for months next
preceding this, day, aud now reside in the
county Of -, or the parish of -, III
said State, as the case may be I; that | am
twenty one years OF age; that have moi
been DISTINGUISHED for participating in any
rebellion or civil war against the United
STATES, nor for felony committed against
the laws OF any State, or the United States
that have never taken All oath as mem
Der et any State Legislature Of any State
to support tive Constitution Of the United
States and afterward engaged in insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the United States
or given aid and comfort to the enemies
thereof; that will faithfully support the
Constitution and obey the laws of the
United States, and will to the best of my
ability, encourage others so to do, So help
me God
T. After the registration is complete,
the Commander is to order an election for
delegates to Constitutional Convention, ard
10 appoint the officers of such election At
the same election in which these delegates
are chosen, the people shall vote, yes or 10,
on the question as to whether "a Convention
shall be held or not. If majority vote to
hold one, the delegates are to assemble at
the time and place to be specified by The
Commander.
8. In the registration and in the elections,
all male citizens stand on an equal footing,
irrespective of color, race or former condi,
ton.
9. Tie Convention, if ordered, by ma
jority, will proceed to form Constitution,
10. The constitution so framed shall be
submitted to the people for approval or con-
domination,
/ l. Ii the Constitution is ratified by a
majority Of the votes Of the registered cleo
tors, at least one half Of the registered vo-
ters, voting upon the question OF ratifca,
ton, and if it shall appear to Congress the
election was one at which all the registered
and qualified voters in the state had All cp
portunity to vote without restraint fear Or
fraud, aud if the Constitution meets the ap
prevail OF Congress, and if the government
under 1t ratiies the pending Constitutional
Amendment, the State sta be entitled to
a representation in Congress as soon as the
pending amendment becomes part Of the
Constitution Of the United States
II. Until the States SO admitted, all the
existing governments therein, or any that
may be established, are TO be provisional
only, and fully subject to the paramount
power of Congress, which may alter,
modify or abolish i'll its discretion.
10. No one is entitled to hold office who
is prohibited by the third section of the
pending Constitutional ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is
those who have ever taken an oath in assum
ing the duties of certain civil Offices to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States.
aud have subs queutjy engaged in the re
beIllon. The purport Of tie section will be
readily seen by reference to the oath pre-
scrbed for voters
Such are the main features of the Recon
struction Law as it nov stands at present
aud ii is not probable that Congress viii.
materially modify any portion OF it.