The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-02-28
The Military and Reconstruction
Bfli-Thc Bill as IL Finally Pass
ed the Senate.

Tho following is a correct copy OF the
"act to provide for the more efficient gov.
ernmeut Of the rebel States" as it passed
the Senate:
WHEREAS, no legal State governments
or adequate protection for life or property
now exists iu the rebel States of Virginia
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida
Texas aud Arkansas n WHEREAS, it is
necessary that peace and order should b;
enforced in said States until loyal and Re.
publican governments can be legally es.
tablished therefore,
BE 1t enacted by the Senate end House o.
Representatives Of tie Uuited .Stai eS OF
Ame,icc. IN Congress Assembled,
That said rebe. States shall be divided
into military districts and made subject to
the military authority of the United States,
as hereinafter prescribed, and for that pur-
pose Virginia shall constitute the first dis
~trict; North Carolina and South Carolina
the second district; Georgia Alabama and
Florida the third district Mississippi and
Arkansas the fourth district, and Louisiana
and Texas the fifth district.
SEC. =. AnI be Il further enacted, That
it shall be the duty OF the President to as
sign to the command of each of said dis.
tricts an officer of the army, not below the
rank of B~rigadier General, and to detail a
sufficient military force to enable suoh off
Ger to perform his duties and enforce his
authority within the district 10 which he
is assigned.
SEC. 5. And he 1t further enacted,
That it shall be the duty OF each officer as
signed as aforesaid to protect all persons in
their rights Of person and property, to
press instruction, disorder and violence,
and to punish, or cause to be punished. all
disturbers of the public peace, and crimi>
mails, and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take Jurisdiction of aud
to try offenders, or, when in his judgment
it may be necessary for the trial Of offend
ers, he shall have power to organize mill
tary commissions or tribunals for that pur-
pose and all interference under color of
State authority with the exercise of mill
tary authority under this act shall be null
and void.
SEC. 4. AndJe It further enacted, 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 sem
tencc Of any military commission or tribu-
nal hereby authorized, affecting the life or
liberty of any person. shall! be executed un
til its approval by the officer in command
Of the district, and the laws and regulations
of the government of the army shall not
be affected by this act, except in so far as
they conflict with it's provisions: Provided,
That no sentence of death under the pro-
visions Of this act shall be carried into eff.
feet without the approval of the President.
Sec. D. And be ii further enacted, That
when the people ofany of said rebel States
shall have formed a Constitution of gov
eminent in conformity with the Constitu-
ton Of til United States III all respects,
framed BY a convention Of delegates elect
ed by the malo citizens of said State
twen,y-one years old and upward, of what
ever race, color, or previous condition,
who have been residents of said State for
one year previous to the day of such elect
ion, except such as may be disfranchised
for participation in the rebellion or felony
at common law, and when such Constitu>
ton shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed 10y all such persons
as have the qualifications herein stated for
election of delegates, and when such Con-
%stitution shall be ratified by a majority of
the persons voting on the question of rat
ifcation, who are qualified as electors for
delegates, ard when such Constitution
shall have been submitted to Congress for
examination and approval, and Congress
shall have spproved the same, sld when any
State. by . vote Of is Legislature elected