The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-27
RECONSTRUCTION.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE Eff
GENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES.

GENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES.
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or atle-
uuate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia, North-Carolina,
! Florida, Texas Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas, it is necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal ana
republican State governments can De leSillly es'
| tablishCd; therefore,
I Be it enacted 5u the Senate and House Of Repre-
Senfatipes OF the United States Of America IN Con-
q,rxs assembled, That said rebel States shall
! BE- divided into military districts, and made sub
ect 10 the military authority ofthe United States,
! rs hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute tile first district; 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 9 ABIDE it Jtftier enacted, That it shall
he the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand CT each OF said districts all officer OF the
| army not below the rank OF brlgadler general,
and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he is
assigned.
SEC. .. Ind be il FURTHER enacted, That it
shall be the duty OF each officer assigned as afore-
said to protect all persons in their rights OF per-
and property, to suppress insurrection, dis
order, 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 jurisdiction OF and try
offenders, or when in lis judgment it may be
necessary for the trial OF offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all interference
under color of State authority with the eXer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void.
SEC !. End be 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 in
lictcd; and sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person. shall be eXecu-
ted until it is approved b. the 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 they may conflict
with its provisions PrOVided, That no sentence
of death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval of the
President.
SEC. 5. ~Imd be It further enacted, That when
the people of any one ofthe aforesaid rebel States
shall nave formed a constitution OF government
United States in all respects, framed by
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twcnty-one years old and
upward, OF whatever race, color, or previous
for year previous to the day of such election,
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partic-
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common
law; a-id W. such constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons Lave the qualifications herein
stated for election of delegates and when such
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, and
Congress shall have approved the same; and
when said State, by vote ofits Legislature elect
cd under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and ,-mOwn article II, and when said article
shall have become Il part of the Constitution of
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress, and Senators
on tucir taking the oath prescribed by law, and
then and thereafter the preceding sections of
t is act shall be imperative in said State -cvi-
Ged, That no person excluded from the privilege
of holding Office by said proposed amendment to
eligible to election member of the convention
to frame constitution for auy of said rebel
States, nor shall such person vote for mem
bers OF said convention.
SEC. Il. i5.d b. 1t Jti,fjteS enacted, That until
the people OF said rebel states shall he, by law ad
nlittCd 10 representation in tc Congress of the
niteG States, any .iTil governments which may
exist therein shall be deemed provisional only,
and III all respects subj Get to tie paramount
IAurity OF the United States ut any time to abol-
sh modify. control o. supersede the same !; and
onal governments all persons shall be entitled to
rote, and none other, who are entitled to vote
lndCr the provisions of the l;ith section of this
act and no person shall be eligible to any office
Indcr any such provisional governments who
would be disqualified from holding office under
he provisions Of the third article of said consti-
uti0I!al amendment.