The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-04
Ihe 1ai1g Nems.
MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 4 1867.
THE RECONsTRUCTION BILL.
For thu information Of our readers we again pub
ish the text OF the Reconstruction Bill, and also
the Constitutional Amenduent

For thu, information Of our readers we again pub
1ish the text Of the Reconstruction Bill, and also
the Constitutional Amendment
Whereas no legal State Governments or adequate
protection for Life or property now exists in the
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisi-
ans, Florida, Texas and Arkansas; and whereas it
is necessary that peace and good order should be
enforced in said States until loyal and republican
therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiyes of the United States Of America in Con-
gress assembled, That said rebel States shall be
divided into military districts and made subject to
the military authority of the United States, as
hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose Vir-
einia shall constitute the first district North Car
olina and Socth Carolina the second district; Geor
gia, Alabama and Florida the third district; Mis-
Mssippi and Arkansas tho fourth district; and
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district.
SEQ. Q. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty Of the President to assign to the COM
mand Of each Of said districts an officer of the
army, not below lhe rank Of Brigadier- General,
and 10 detail sufficient military force to enable
arlch officer to perform his duties and enforce his
authority within the district of which he is as
signed. ;,
Sec, 8. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of esch officer assigned as aforesaid
to protect all persons in their rights Of person and
property, to suppress insurrection, disorder and
violence and to punish or cause to be punished,
all disturbers Of the public peace and criminals,
and to this end he may allow local civil tribunals
to take jurisdiction Of and to try offenders, or.
when in his judgment it may be necessary for the
trial Of offenders, he shall have power to organize
military commissions or tribunals for that pur-
pose; and all interference under color OF State au-
thority with the exercise Of military authority un-
der this Act shall be null and void.
Size. 4. And be it further enacted, That all per-
SONS put under military arrest by virtue Of this
Act shall be tried without unnecessary delay, and
no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted
and no sentence OF any military commission or M M
bunalhereby authorized affecting the life or hber-
ty OF any person shall be executed until it is ap-
proved BY the officer in command Of the district.
and the laws aud regulations for the government OF
the army shall not be affected by this Act, except
I'M so far as they conflict with its provlslons Pro-
vided. That No sentence Of death under tie provi-
sions Of this Act shall be carried into effect with
out the approval Of the President.
SEC. S. And be it further enacted, That when
the people Of my one Of said rebel States shall
have formed Constitution Of Government in con-
formity with the Constitution Of the United States
in all respects, framed by convention of delegates
elected BY the male cizens OF said State, twenty
one wears old and upward, Of whatever race color,
ar ureyious condition, who have been resident in
said State for one year previous to the day Of cleo
ton. except such as may Re Gsfrapchised for par
ticipation in the rebellion, or for felony at COM
mon law, and VIXEN such Constitution shall pro-
vide GQ8G the 6l6CG1V6 udliCIuSo su1N Uy
ali such persons as have the qualifications herein
stated for election Of delegates, and when such
CONSTITUTION shall be ratified by majority OF the
persons voting on the question Of ratification, who
are Qualified as electors for delegates, and when
sueh Constitution shall have been submitted to
Congress for examination and approval, and
CONGRESS- shall have approved the same, and when
said State by vote OF it's Legislature under said
: Constitution, shall have adopted the amendment
to the C0nst!tcion Of the United States proposed
by the Thirty-Ninth Congress, and known as artl'
Gle fourteen and when said article shall have be:
come q part of the Constitution Of the United
States, said Ststs shall & declared entitled to le-
pressntaton in Congress, and Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes shall be admitted therefrom on their
taking the oath prescribed by law, and then and
thereafter the preceding sections Of this Bill shall
be imperative in said State provided, that no per
son excluded from the privilege Of holding office
by said proposed amendment to the Constitution
OF the United Suites shall be eligible to election as
member Of the Convention to frame Conshtu-
tion for any Of said rebel States, nor shall any
such person vote for members Of said Convention
SEo. g. And be it further enacted, That until the
people of said rebel States shall be by law admit
ted TO representation in the Congress OF the Unit:
ed States, any civil governments which may exist ;,
therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in al
respects subject to- the paramount authority of the
United States at any time to abolish, modify, con-
troll or supersede the same; and n all elections to
any office under such provisional overnments, al
PERSONS shall be entitled to vote, an none other
who are entitled to vote under the provisions o1
the fifth section Of this act; and person shall be
eligible to- any cdice under any such provisional
governments who would be disqualified from hol J.
ing Office under the provisions Of the third article
OF said constitutional amendment.