Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-01
The Sherman Amendment

passage as possible, it will be published.
The Sherman Amendment
The following is Senator Sherman's bill,
which recently passed the Senate. and de-
feated in the House:
Whereas. No legal State Governments or ade-
auate protection for life property now exist in
the Rebel States ofErginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana Florida, Texas and Arkansas; and whereas it
is necessary that peace and gooi order shot Id be
enforced i'll said States until lOya! ana republican
State Governments can be legally established
therefore.
Be il enacted, &C., That sad rcbe; >tatcs shall
he divided into military districts, and made sub
iect to the military authority OF the United States,
az hereinafter prescribed for that purpose. Vir-
rinia shall constitute the first District; North Car
el ia and South Carolina the SECOND district; Geor
ia Alabama and Florida The third district; Mis-
Sissippi and Arakan5&S the fourth district, and
Loui,lana and Texas The fifth district.
SECTION 2. That it shall b. the duty e the Pres
ident to assign to the cglnman" q! each al said
districts an officer Of the army not below lie rahk
OF Brgadicr General, and to detail sufficient mil
itary force to enable such ol1.ccr /" perform his
duties and enforce his authority WITHIN the district
SECTION g. That it shall be the the duy Of each
officer assigned aforesaid to protect ali l'ersons
in their right OF person and property. to suppress
iIsurrecti0n disorder and violence, and to punish
or cause to be punished all uIatul bcrs OF the pub
lie peace ana criminals, and to this end he may l.
low local civil tribunals TO take jurisdiction OF and
try offenders, or when III his judgment 1t may be
necessary for the trial Cf offenders, lie shall have
power to organize military commissions or tribu-
nails for that purpose, and aI Inttltcrencc, under
color OF State authority with the exercise OF mill
tary authority under this act, shall lie null and
void
SEC H. That al persons put under military ar
rest hy yirtue OF this act shall be tried without
unnecessary delay, and no cruel OF unusual pun
ishmCnt shall be inflicted and no sentence OF
any military commission or tribunal hereby al-
thorized affecting the life on liberty Of any per-
SON shall be executed until it is approved by the
officer in command Of the district, and the laws
and regulations for tho governments OF the army
shall not be affected by this act, except III SO far
| as they may conflict with It's provisions.
| Sec. 5. That when the people OF any Of said
Rebel States shall have formed a constitution OF
! government in conformity with tlte Constitution
Of the United States, III all respects, framed by
convention Of delegates elected by the male citi-
zens OF said State, tWenty-on years Old and up
| ward, OF whatever race, color or previous condl-
ti0n who have been resident i'll sand State for one
year previous to the day OF such election, except
such as may be DISTINGUISHED Tor participation IT
| the rebellion or for felony at common law; and
when such constitution shall provide that the eloc
tive franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons
as have the qualification herein stated for election
of delegates and when such constitution shall be
ratified by majority OF the persons voting on the
question OF ratification vino are qualified as cleo
| tors for delegates, and when such constitution
| shall have been submitted TO Congress for Cyaml-
nation and approval, and Congress shall have APP
|
| of its Legislature elected unGe" SAIL constitution,
| shall have adopted the amendment TO the ConstI-
tuition of the United Stetes proposed by the 1hlr-
! ty-niutn Congress, and known as article II, ann
when said article shall have become q part of the
Constitution OF the Tn ted States, SAID State sha
| be declared emitted 10 reprGsCutat n III Congress
| and Senator's and Representatives. shah be admit
ted therefrom on Their taking the oath prescribed
| by law and then and thereafter the preceding sec
tons Of this act shall DC imperative IN said State
| Conversational Tenn perance society-ScEaatol
Yates Goes Rack on .Vhisf<ey.
The first meeting Of the Congressional
! Temperance Society was held on Sunday
night in the hall OF the House OF Repre-
setnatives. The galleries were not only
densely crowded, but many were unable
TO obtain even standing room inside, and,
therefore, remained at the doors.
The seats on the floor were occupied by
members Of Congress and others, accom-
panied by ladies. Senator Wilson presi-
ded, and spoke at the opening OF the meet
ing, explaining the objects of the society,
which were to put away from its members
forever the Intoxicating cup, and to com
nit themselves and all they were to the
| holy cause Of temperance.
Representatives Price, OF Iowa, and Nc
Kee and Senator Yates, OF Illinois, also
spoke. The latter created a good deal OF
amusement by giving his experience. He
! said he had been addicted to ardent spirits,
but claimed no credit for it. His sprees
had been not Flong but lOuG." The prai-
RE did not furnish room enough for him
when he made forward movement. Great
laughter
The great Commonwealth of Illinois had,
for twenty five years, honored him III all
public positions, and he had now promised
| that State and all who loved hin-katy
and the children--that he would never more
touch, taste o. handle the unclean thing
He intended to fight it out on that line to
the last hour CT his existence. He would,
tonight, rs soon think of drinking fire as
whiskey, for the latter is hell and damna-
ton. He was as proud Of having taken the
pledge as he was Of his wife and children,
| and this was the strongest expression he
| could make as to his sincerity.
| Ten girls from the house Of Little Wan
derers, at New York, in charge of Mr.. Van
Meter, here entered the hall, and having
been ranged at the clerks desk, sung in
plaintive and effective style, several songs,
including ''Father Come Home" with
much applause.
Representatives Woodbridge, of Yer
mont, and Dodge, of New York, next ad
| dressed the meeting.
The National Republican pokes fun at the
above mentioned meeting thusly:
A large number of Old "consumers .
were observed on the platform. Revenue
on whiskey will be seriously reduced.
| We understand that the restaurants al
the capitol were closed during the temper
ance meeting.
Forney did not relate his experience at
the temperance meeting. Tt was a disap,
pointment to many. We hope he was not
illustrating the evil " of intemperance.
| A Rebel General Speaks.