Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-02-27
From the Charleston CoHtiss r' -
The Military Govern >. Saturda,
p0Ssnb H. . D:,t

The Mlhtafy GOyerp' >. Saturday.
Passed b. .ment Bill, as
We have hitb-' Congress-.
ne imperfec' r,o refra;ned from nub,;sh;no
'f QUE =. and incorrect versions of Sena-
u mans Military Bill, for the reason
I'VE thought it best not to mislead and
confuse our readers By any erroneous state
ments of its provisions. We are now, how
ever, enabled to print correct and official
copy Of this most important measure, in the
forT in which it finally passed both Houses
of Congress. 1t will probably, like similar
iu;quitous measures which have preceded it,
encounter an unavailing veto:
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MoRL EFFICIENT
GOVERNMENT OF THE AEBEL STATES.
Whereas no legal State Governments or
adequate protection for life or property now
exists in the rebel States of Virgins, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas and
Arkansas: and whereas it is necessary that
peace and good order should be enforced in
said States until loyal and republican State
governments can be legally established /;
therefore,
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of amer
ica in Congress assembled, That said rebel
States shall be divided into military districts
and made subject to the military authority of
the United States. as hereinafter prescribed,
and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute
the first district; North Carolina and South
Carolina the second district; Georgia, Ala
hama and Florida the third district; Missis-
sipp and Arkansas the fourth district; and
Lauisians and Texas the fifth district.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the President to assign
to the command Of each said districts an Off
Ger Of the army, not below the rank of Brga.
dierGeneral, and to detail sufficient militia
ry force TO enable such officer to perform his
duties and enforce his authority within the
district of which he is assigned.
SEC. .. Ind be it 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 iusurrec-
ton, disorder and violence, and to punish or
cause TO be punished, all dsturbers of the
public peace and criminals. and to this end
he may allow local civil tribunals to take ju
rsdic,on Of and to try otfe cders, or, when in
dis Judgment it may be necessary for the
trial OF offenders, he shall have power to or
ganiza military commissions or tribunals for
hat purpose and all interference under color
o. State authority witt, the exercise of mill
Mary authority under this Act shall be null and
void.
SEC. 4. Anl be it further enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest b. virtue of
this Act shall be tried without unnecessary
delay, and no cruel or unusual punishment
shall be inflicted and no sentence of any
military commission or tribunal hereby au-
tiorized, affecting the life or liberty of any
person, shall be executed until it is approved
by the officer in command Of the district, and
the laws aud regulations for the government
Of the army shall not be affected by this Act,
except in so far as they conflict with its pro-
visions: Provided. That no sentence of death
under the provisions of this Act shall be car.
RED into effect without the approval of the
President.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That
when the people Of any one of said rebel
States shall have formed Constitution OF
Government in conformity with the Consti
tuition Of the United States in all respects,
framed by convention Of delegates elected
by the male citizens of said State, twenty.one
years old and upward, Of whatever race, color,
or previous condition, who have been resident
| in said State for one year previous to the day
Of election, except such as may be disfran.
cAiSed for participation in the rebellion or
f,r felony at common law, and when such
Constitution shall p-ovid, that the elective
f.archise shall be enjoyed by all such persons
3; have the qualifications herein stated for
election of delegates, and when such consti-
tuition shall be ratified by majority of the
persons voting on the question Of ratification,
who are qualified as electors for delegates,
and wien such Constitution shall have been
submitted to Congress for examination aud
approval. and Congress shall have approved
the same, and when said State, by vote Of
its legislature under said Constitution, shall
have adopted the amendment to the Cousti-
tuition of the United States, proposed by the
Thirty Ninth Congress, and known as article
fourteen, aud when said article shall have be.
come part of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, said State shall be declared enti-
tied to representation in Congress, and Sena-
tors and Representatives shall be admitted
therefrom on their taking the oath prescribed
by law, and then and thereafter the preceding
sections of this Bill shall be imperative in
said State Provided. That no person exclu-
ded from the privilege of holding Office by
said proposed amendment to the Constitution
Of the United States shall bc eligible to cleo
ton as a member of tho Convention to frsmc
a Constitution for any of said rebel States,
nor shall sny such person vote for members
Of said Convention.
SEC. G. Ind be 1t further enGctcd, That
until the people Of said rebel States small be
by law admitted to representation in the Con.
gress of the United States, any civil govern
meuts which may exist thevein shall ne
deemed provisional only, and in all respects
suhjec. to tho paramount authority of the
United States at any time to abolish, modify,
cmtrol or supersede the same; and in all
elections to any Office under such provisional
governments, all persons shall be entitled to
vote, and none other, who are entitled to
vote under the provisions of the fifth section
of this act and no person shall be eligible to
4ny office under any such provisional govern
ments who would be disqualified from holding
office under the provisions of the third article
OF said constitutional amendment.
The Sherman Bill.
The New York Express is strong in its de-
,ur o;at;nns Of tho ipfrmnt,s proy;xions of hi.