Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-03-01
The 6ree press.
c. c.. s Il, l.. BENEDICT.
EDITORS AND PRoPRIEToRs.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH l. 1857.
The Reconstruction Bill--Light Ahead.

The Reconstruction BiIl--Light Ahead.
Whatever Mr.. johnson does with the new
reconstruction bill, 1t is most cheering
sign, that bill for the government and res
toration Of the Southern States has not only
rassed, but has commanded the vote of every
republican in a very full tally IN both Sen
ate and House, with the addition of as in
huentIal democrat as Reyerdy johnson.
Tie hill, which We give below in full, as
originally introduced in the House by Mr..
Stevens, consisted simply of the preamble
and first four sections, with the difference
that tic military commanders for the South
era districts were TO be assigned by General
Grant, instcai Of BY the President. The
great Objection to it in that shape was that
it lut tic southern States under martial
law. wi,fart any indication how they could
escape IL risors.
TIE senate thcreupon remodeled the bill
giving to- TIE constitutional head Of the army
,ho duty OF assigning the military governors.
and adding the filth section. embodying a
plan of restoration but without the pro
yis5 in the last sentence. Iu this form it
was s.5utly fought by Steyens, Boutwell, and
Others. chiefly On the ground that all the
rebels were thus allowed a share in the work
Of reconstruction and by tie aid Of the
democrats, who are thus largely responsible
for any additional severity in the terms Of
f.red to the South. its passage in that shape
was defeated. The uroyiso IN the fifth sec
tion anu the sixth section were thereupOn
added by the House, and finally accepted by
the Senate.
Tie hill explains iisell sufficiently, the
OILY lint Of doubt with general readers
bsirg t. what extent the rebels sTe eA'
cludod from participation IN the formation
Of new and permanent State governments.
We rot.ec some confusion on tins point in
tile comments Of several Of our exchanges,
tie y Y. Ti0.es and one or two Others talk
ilg as 10 III the late rebels were excluded.
Tie i5 not the case. The excluded class are
tho-. " bo. as the third section Of the Con.
s,i,uu ual Amendment enacts, " having
..,-,. 20, .-.t ,s , msn,ber OF Congress. or
- au .h-cr sf ,he United States, or as
m.ubr It my state Legislature, oF as
4 s1li &c t'e N'n7'i'u'4oh u tue CH''e1
) S.atts. a. al have engaged ia .nsuru c;I0n OF
-.,.i.-.. ......-- ,t. .,,,, g.
It's l.Oy!= excludes the prominent and
l..5i,.. -.b,ls b,t lav.s untouched the
gr-.s iil.- oi -uthaIa like c.'irthsi WIG
sr, ID. -,.ifi,d. s-dl LIZ side with the loyal
b!eeAs' 1. 'i-@h' 'i ''' VIVA o'e
tick S.4,,- ou loyal basis, and Will have
80 tlcIill bec.ru.s a law or the
r-lclu,u a.! = ahead and Do the WoEk
,l.,o
President . Johnson VIII ei'HeF lleA'' Vi '''o
ths h.n d ha does the latter, 1t will prob
,,-t $500 a., ~, ie thu
ANY '-' 81 --''''
former the next Congress will attend 10 Il.
lhE NEW hAe'NstH' Oi'oN Dill nc
f,lI,wipr Is the new reconstruction bill as it
-,
I"-'lN ASs'u ''' '"o 'iO''''' VI N'''r
Uh,lsas, 20 legal state government, %
adequate protection for life or property nov
exists IN the rebel states oi 'Esha' NOrtn
a
Osre-.na' oou'h aroma "Sors',' Al1oAuA,
LOUISIANA, f!orila, 4eAas anu AiAans1s anu
Hhersds, II Is necessary that pesee ana gooi
ordes 2hoald be enforced IN SAID states unih
loyal aui republican state Governments can DC
legally es'Aoislei, tAerel.4e'
Be u enacted, &c, That saii rebel s'stes
shall be DIVIDED INTO military districts, anu inAhe
subject to the military authority oi 'he lni'ed
States as hereinafter presenter, anu lor inst
purpose Virginia shall Constitute the hrs' uis
t.i-t, ACrth Nar7lpa and SCUM teIoHna lns
second district, Georgia. Alabama and fiorida
the third district. Mississippi ana Arkansas the
fourth district and LOUISIANA and Texas the
fifth district
SECTION = ihAt IL shAA Oe 'he gu'f ol 'ne
President to assign 10 the command oil esen ot
sad districts an oiilcer OF the army no, oe!oN
the rank Q: Brlgadler Oenersi' ana 70 detsli
sufficient military force TO enable such oficer te
/ E-'--'
within the district 10 "hieh ne Is Sss,gneu'
SECTION o. mat IL snail ne the uuIy o. 3, eAcu
oiiicer assigned as alofesAlu' 10 protest. al per
sons IN their TiEhts oi person ana properly, 70
suppress lnsuriecuon' Iisoruei anu 'lCence' anu
10 punish or cause 10 oe PuIisheu. a, uistuIo-
ers oi the pubhc peace anu ellIna,sl .I anu %
this END ne may ai!on lo'ai gll1 uiouuaI, "
take Jurisdicuon oi ana NY ohehuers' of' "1yn
/ in his judgment II may De necessary ior tne
/ trial OF offenders, ne shah nave power 70 organ.
ize Military Commissions or tribunals loT Una. =
purpoEe, and al interference unuer c1lor !i.. VI
State authority, with the exercise oi m,n'Ary
authority under this act shall De nun anu Nolt
SECTION l. That all persons put under mn,
tary arrest by virtue OF TINS act snail oe triei
without unnecessary delay ana no eruel OF i un-
usual punishmest slaA be inhieted' ana no sen,
tence OF any military coihmission or uiounA.
hereby authoriIsi anecting me me OF hOery Q,
any person snal ue eNeo1''u un,il II Is
by the oiioeI N cCinlnAnu oi 'ne usI.o', an
the laws anu regulations "r tne goserhHlen. ..
the array shaA moi oe auec'et " lnis a.t eAoeP'
IN 50 isf as 'ley may cOhl'o' Win ''s PiO'i'
SONS
SECTION %. lbat hhth 'ne peOPie d aub o-s