The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-26
The Military Government Eli.

WHEREAS, No legal State governments o
adequate protection for life or property nov
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, Nortl
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Missis
sIppl, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas an6
Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary tina
peace and good order should be enforced il
said States until loyal and republican Stat
governments can be legally established
ther fore,
BE it enacted, &C., That said rebel State,
shall be divided into military districts anC
made subject to the military authority Of the
United States, as hereinafter preScribcd: and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute TIT
first district, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima the second district, Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the third district, Mississippi and Ar
kansas the fourth district, Louisiana and Tex.
as the fifth district.
Sec. ,. That it shall he the duty of the Pres
idcnt 10 assign to the command of each of sale
Districts an officer Of the army not below the
rank of brigadicr general, and TO detail "A SUI
ticient military force to enable such officer tC
perform his duties and enforce his authority
within the district 10 which he is assigned.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of each Off
Ger assigned as aforesaid to protect all person,
in their rights of person and property, 10 sup
press insurrectlon, disorder and violence, and
to punish or cause to be punished all disturb
ers of the peace and criminals, and to this END
hcmay allow local civil tribunal, TO taksjuTis-
dictioL Of and try offenders, or, when in his
Judgment it may be necessary for the trial OfOf-
lenttTS,n ne S1all nave power To organize military
commission or tribunals for that purpose; and
all interference under color of State authority
with the exercise of military authority under
this act shall be null and void.
Sec. 1. That all persons put under military
arrest 10y virtue of this act, shall be tried with
out unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unu-
sual punishment shall be inflicted; and no sen
tence OF any military commission or tribunal
hereby authorized, etfecting the life or liberty
of any person, shall be executed until it is APP
proved by the officer in command Of the dis
trlct; and the laws and regulations for the gov
ernment of the army shall not be effected by
this act, except in 90 far SO tl4cy may conflict
with its provisions.
Secs. That when the people of any one of
the said rebel States shall have formed a
constitution of government in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by a convention of
delegates elected by the male citizens of said
State t~wenty-one years old and upward, of
whatever race, color or previous condition,
who have been residents IN SAID State for
one wear previous to the day of such cleo
ton, except such as may be d"IstranchlSed
for participation in the rebellion, or for telo-
nv at common law and when such consti-
tutions shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as
have the qualifications herein stated, for
election of delegates and when uch con
stitution shall be ratified by a majority OF
the persons voting on the question OF ratlh-
cation who are qualified as electors for dele
gates, and when such constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for examination
and approval and Congress shah have APP
proved the same and when said State, by
n vote OF fits Legislature elected under said
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United
States proposed by the ThIrty-nlnth Con
gress, and known as article ii, ana when
sucb article shall have become part OF the
Constitution of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled to representation
in CONGRESS, and Senators and Representa-
tives shall be admitted theretrom, on their
akinc the oath prescribediby law, and then
and thereafter the preceding sections OF TINS
act shall be imperative.
Provided. That no person excluded from
the privilege of holding office by SAID pro
posed amendment to the constitution OF the
United States. shall be eligible to election as
Il member of the convention TO IFanle d con
stitution for any of said rebel States, nor
shall any such person Note lol oiN" u
said convention.
See. 6. And be it further enacted, That
until the people of said rebel States shaIl De
hv law admitted to representation IN the
CONGRESS of the United States, any civil gov
eminent which NAV exist therein, shaii be
deemed provisional only, and IN ali respects
subject to the paramount authority OF tue
United States at any time to aboIish, mouIy,
control or supersede the same ana IN all
elections 10 any office under such provision
al governments al persons shall De entItieu
to vote under the provisions OF the nitn sec
ton of this act aud no persons shall De ell
gible to any office under any such provision
nj government, who would be disqualified
from holding office under the provisions OF
the third article of said CONSTITUTIONAL
amendment.