Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-03-01
Brllulps 9alls Giluts,
The New Reoonstruction Bin.

$3.50 NAo~sSs VI Nohxrcss py the very
gratifying and unanimous vote of the I'm
ion party. In the Senate the vote was
80 to z, even Revedy johnson of Mary
land voting for it, and in the House it was
passed l25 to 46. 1t is expected that the
President will veto the bill this week and
that it will then be passed over the veto.
How much good may come of it when it
becomes law, remains to be seen. The
President is to execute some of the most
important provisions of the act, especially
in Pacing the rebel states under military
control, and being opposed TO it, can we
expect him to execute it in the manner
intended by Congress? 1t is claimed by
some that he will do his whole duty under
the act, as otherwise he would at once fur
nish capital to those who favor his i'm
parchment. We shall see.
The South may possibly begin to see
where they have missed it. Had they
promptly accepted the Constitutional
amendment proposed last year, the work
would have been nearly over by this time.
But now they have another opportunity,
and if they do not accept this, they may
have to accept something as much more
stringent than this as this is more strin-
gent than the constitutional amendment of
last session. The loyal States are deter
mined that reconstruction shall be upon a
loyal basis, and it will be SO if they are not
cheated out OF it, and the rebel states may
as well understand this first as last.
We greatly rejoice at the final unanim-
ty and solid front presented by the Union
party in Congress on this subject, and be-
low we give entire the bill as passed -
Whereas, No legal State governments or
adequate protection for life or property
now exists in the rebel States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas, and Arka nsas and ,rhereas, it is
necessary that peace and good order should
be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legal
~ established; therefore
Be II enacted, &c., That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made subject to the military authority of
the United States, as hereinafter men,
toned aud for that purpose Virginia shall
constitute the First District, North Carroll
ma and South Carolina the Second District,
Georgia, Alabama and Florida the Third
District, Mississippi and Arkansas the
Fourth District, ard Louisiana and Texas
tine Fifth District.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of
the President to assign TO the command Of
each Of said districts an officer OF the
army not below the rank of Brigadi.r-
General, and to detail sufficient military
force to enable such officer to perform his
duties and enforce his suhorty within the
district to which he is assigned.
SEC. 8. That it shall be the duty Of each
officer assigned as aforesaid TO protect all
person and property, TO suppress ineurrec-
ton disorder and violence, and to punish or
cause to be punished all disturbers of the
pubic peace and criminsls and to this
END he may allow local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction of aud try offenders, or,
when in his judgment il may be necessary
for the trial Of offenders, he shall have
power to organize military committees or
Tribunals for hal purpose; and all inter.
ference under color Of State authority with
the exercise of military authority under
this act shall be null and void.
SEC. 4. That all persons put under il
itary arrest by virtue of this act shall be
tried without unnecessary delay. and no
crue, or unusual punishment shall be infiic-
ted. and no sentence of any military CON-
mission or tribunal hereby authorized
IF citing the life or liberty Of any person
shall be execute ! until it is approved by
the officer in command of the district and
the laws and regulations for the govern
m Mt of the army shall not be affected by
th, act. except in SO far as they may con-
fict with its provisions.
SIC. g. That nc sentence Of death
under this act shall be carried into execu-
ton without the approval Of the President.
SEC. 6. When the people of any one Of
said Rebel States shall have formed con-
stitntion and government in conformity with
the Constitution of the United State in all
respects, framed by convention of dele
gates elected by the male citizens of said
State iweniy-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 such cleo
ton, except such as may be di-franchised
for participation in the Rebellion or for
felony at common law, and when such
constitution shall provide that the elective
franchise shall be enjoyed by all such per-
sons As have the qualifications herein stated