Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-03-14
The Military and Ropresen .
taGiOn BilI-The Billas IL
Finally Passed the senate.

The following 10 o correct copy Of the
act "to provide for the more efficient
government Of the rebel States" as III
passed the Senate:
WHEREAS, DO legal State governments
or adequate protection for life or proR1
orty now exists in the rebel States OF
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carroll
"a, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Lou
islaua, Florida, Texas and ArkansaS
AND WHEREAS, it is necessary that peace
aud order should be enforced in said
States until loyal and republican govern
ments can ba legally established; there.
fore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States
Of America in Congress 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 Virginia ehall constitute the first
district; North Carolina and South Car;
olina the second district; Georgia, Alas
bsma and Florida the third district;
Mississippi asd Arkansas the fourth dis
trict, and Louisiana aud Texas the fifth
district.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of the Presi-
dent to assign TO the command Of each Of
said districts an officer of the army net
lbelow-the rank of 3rigadier General,
and 10 detail a sufficient military force to
enable such officer to perform his duties
and enforce his authority within the dis"
rict to which he is assigned
SEC 8. And be it further enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of each officer
assigned as aforesaid to protect all per-
sons in their rights Of person and prop
erty. to suppress insurrectiop, disorder
and violence, and to punish, or cause tc
bs punished, all disturbers Of the public
peace. and criminals, and to this end ht
NAV allow local civil tribunals to TAXI
jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or
when in his judgment il may be necea
sarv for the trial Of offenders, be shal
have power to organize military commits
ions or tribunals for that purpose anC
1 sa II Interference under color OF State
I authority with the exercise of militar!
authority under this act shall be null ant
void.
4 SEQ a. And be it further enacted
1 That all persons put under military ar
rest by virtue of this act shall be triet
without unnecessary delay, and no crue
and unusual punishment shall be inAict
ed: and no sentence of any military
, com III ission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty OF any per
son shall be executed until it is approved
!, by the officer of the district, and the law
| and regulations of the government o
the army shall not be affected by thi
act except in SO far as they conflict viii
its provisions: Provided, That no sen
, tauce of death under the provisions o
Itbis act shall be carried into effect with
ont the approval Of the President. @
Il SEC. 5. And be it further enacted
That when the people Of any one of sal,
rebel States shall have, formed a Consti
tuition Of government in conformity will
the Constitution Of tie United States il
all respects, framed by convention o
delegates elected by the male citizens o
, said State twenty-one years old and up
, ward. of whatever race, color, or preVi
Gus condition, who have been resident o
: said State for one year previous to th
CAV of such election, except such as ma
t be disfrauChiSed for participation in th
rebellion or for felony at common Law
and when such Constitution shall pro
vide that the elective franchise shall b
enjoyed by all such persons as have th
qualifications herein stated for election
Of delegates, and when such Constitution
shall be- ratified by majority of the per
/ sons voting on the question of ratifca
ton, who are qualified as electors fol
delegates, and when such Constitution
shall have been submitted to Csngres
for examination and approval, and Con
gress shall approve the same, and wher
such State, by vete Of Its Legislature
elected under said Constitution, shal
have adopted the amendment to tn,
Constitution Of the United States, pro
posed by the Thirty ninth congress, ant
/ known as article fourteen, and when sale
article shall have tecome part Of tn,
Constitution of the United States, sale
Stale shall bs declared entitled to repre-
sentatlon in Congress, and Senators ant
Representatives shall be admitted there
from on their taking the oath prescribed
by law. and then and thereafter the pre-
ceding sections Of the bill shall be mop
eratige in said State Provided, That &c
person excluded from the privilege Of
holding Office by said proposed amend
inert to tie Constitution Of the United
States shall be eligible to election as 9
member Of the Convention to frame Q
Constitution for any of said rebel States
nor shall any such person vote for mem
bers Of said Convention.
SEC 6. And be it further enacted
That, until the people ofsaid rebel States
shall be by law admitted to representa-
tion in the Congress Of the United State,
.:I ..-....n -. 81 ,,h;ch 49, o.s :,