The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-07-17
The Recom~truc,iom Laws.

Congress, a. many have expressed a desire
to obtSin accurate copes:
tbs RECONSTRUCTION ACT.
AN ACT TO provide for the more efficient
grver Iment OF the rebel States. (pass
ed over the Presidents Vete, March I'd,
1887
WHEREAS, no legal State governmants or
nd qunte protection for Iifs or property
nov exists in the rebel States Of Eiryin.
Ia, North Earoiina, South Carolina, Geor
pia, Mississiupi, Alabamp, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, and Arkansa- aud
whereas. It il necessary that peace and
good order should ue enforced in snch
Sla'es until Iowa and Republican State
Governments can be leg ally established
Therefore.
. Be IL enacted by the Spna'e and House
of Rerresent atives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That said
rebel States shall be divided into mill ary
districts and made suhirci TO the military
authority of thr United States a. her rim
after prescribed, and for that purpose VIr.
pina 'hnIl constitute the first district
North Carniiua and Scnth Carolina th.
second district; Georgia. Alabams and
Florida, tie third district; Mi-si-s:ppi and
Arkarsns the fourth district; aud I.uuisia
ma aud Texas the fifth dis rict
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
II shall be the duty Of the President to ~
sign To the c"mmnud of each of said dis,
trIetS All officer Of the army, not below the
rank of Brig ,dier general. ani In detail n
sufficient miuthrv f,rce To enable surn eli
Ger To nerfor II his dutic4 and enforce his
NJ, ,fit ,,s,tt t,i,, IL.
assigned.
Sec. B And be it further enacted, That
It shall be the dury Of each "fiiC-r assign
ed as "f"ro~nid To protect nll person. in
their rights of person aud property. to suU
press inSurre,tion, disorder and violence,
ard Ia punish or cause to be punished all
dlsinrhers OF the public pence ard rrmi
mails, nnd TO this end he may allow local
civil tribunals TO take Jurisdiction Of and iu
try offenders. or, when in his Judgment il
NAV he necessary for the trial "f nlfrndrrs
be shall have power 10 organize military
commissions or tribunals for ihar . ,rpn.r,
and all Interference. under color Of S,-t.
authority, with The exercise of military an
thorIty under this net, shall be null and
void
Sec !, Ard be il further enacted, That
NIL prrsin- put under miIiinr' arrest by
virtue of his act shall b. tried without nm
nrcr~safv DELAY. aud no cruel or unnsuaI
punishment shall be Infected a. d no son
tence rf anS m,irarr c"mmi~ sion or tribu
nal hereby auihurizrG. affecting the lie ar
liberty OF any person. sinai! br rXrvutrd nm
I'll it is approved bv the 6tlicrr ia command
t the district and the law, and regulations
OF the government of the army shall rot
oe effected by this act. except in ~ far n.
they conflict In its provrsicu- Provided
That no s"n'"nc" Of death. uud,,r tn, pro
visions Of this act, shall be carried irto .I
feet without t''e approval Of the President.
See, 5. And be it fur her cnatld. l'hnt
" h"n the pcople " any s,iI r.hr. State
-hni! have frrmrd n corsli ution of pnv.rn
mrnt ~ c"U!nrmtv with the tnn~titniior
of the United STATES ia all res poets, framed
BY HconNeutlnu of Grlrgutrs elected by the
male cllZ'uS nf said Sls,r, tu.utv ,n,.
Years Old and upwards, OF W ,nirv.r race.
co or or rr"tI"nS cOndlti"n. who have bee,
resident in said State for one wear prev ions
10 the dav - sTch election. eXrept such 80
may Nn dlSfrnnchs,d TO- psrtirirnuon in
th" rebellion, or for felony at common lave
and when surh constitution shall pr,yid.
that the elective tranch-c shall b., ,uioyrd
by al SUCH p"rso1s a. have the aunlItict
lions herein s'a'rd for electors If drl.-nI,..
and when sch constitution snail be- ratl
he'd by majority OF the PERSONS voting on
the question Of rliiira'irn, who nr. ou,Ii
ned ~ electors for delegates and when
such Constitution -hal have been submit,
ted T." Congress for eyaminai,on and apuro
val, and Congress- shall have approved tl.
same ard when the said State, by n yot.
OF it's Legislature. elected under sad con
siIiution, sEai! have adopted the amend
mrEt TO the constitution uf TIVE United
Sr"tes, proposed. bE rHc Thirt, ninth ton
grrSs. and known ns nfticlu t'surieen: and
when said article shall have herom" n mart
of tae c"nAi'tntIun "f 'he United States
said STATE shall be declared entitl-dio rep
re~en n:I"n in Congress. and Senators and
Representatives shall be admitted th.r.
rom, on their taking the oath pre.cribpd by
law and then and thereafter the preceding
sec'i''ns OF this act shall be inuperativ. in
said State. Provided. That no person px.
eluded from the privilege of holding Office
bv said amendment To the constitution of
the. United States shall be eligible to elre
ton az member Of the convention to
frame constitution for any Of said rebel
States, nor shall any such person vote for
members Of such convention
Sec. S And be il further enacted. That
until the people Of said rebel States shall
ba bv law rdmitird 10 representation in
the Congrcs, OF the United States, any civ
IL government which may exist therein
sh"ll be deemed PROVISIONAL only. and in al
RESPECTS suhj"cI 10 the para mount author
y Of the United States 1T any tim. Ia nb"l
l~h. modify, c"LtroI or sup rsede the same ;
and in all elections TO any office under such
provisional governments ali person. hall
he entitled 10 vote, and none others, " no
are entitled to vote under the provisions uf
the fifth section Of this act and no pers N
shall be e igibls TO anv office under such
prnvi-iona governments = h0- sgngIi BE- di.
qualified fr"m holding Office under he pro
visions "f the third article of sad consl;lu.
uonal amendment
SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Speaker iIonse of Representatives,.
LAFAYETTE = FOSTER.
President of the Senate, pro TEN.