Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-07-10
CnNGREss

In the Senate, July 3, Mr. Drake, by unani-
nous consent introduced a bill, which was read,
passed TO a second reading and ordered to be
printed. Il is entitled bill further to provide
for the government Of the rebel States. It cnacts
that on-day Of 1867. the Provisional Govern
mcnts then existing in the lately rebel States shall
be set aside as far as shall then be administered
by legislative, executive judicial or ministerial off
fees under authority Of any said States and all
such offices shall ON that day be vacated, and
shall not hereafter be administered by virtue Of
the authority or power conferred 10y any such State
prior 10 that day Provided this section shall not
include The municipal officers Of such county. dis
trict, parish township, city town or village, but
all officers Of this description i any Of said States
may 40 any time after tle passage of this act be
removed from Office by tie orders or authority of
the Military commanders Of the district. The
bill further provides that the commanding general
of each military district shall appoint suitable
person to I'LL each Of the offices in any of the States
in has district made vacant by this act, and that
the time for the completion Of registration in the
rebel States may be extended by the commanding
generals to any day prior 90 the st day of Novem-
Der, 1861 The last or'f2th section is as follows
"Ihat no constitution adopted by Che taid rebel
States should entitle such state 10 representation
In the Congress of the United States. unless II pro-
yides that all elections by the people in such State
shall forever be by ballot, and declare that such
State shall ever remain a member of the American
Uuion, that every citizen OF such State owes par
amount allegiance TO the United States and that
no law ordinance of such State in sub,ersion or
contrayenton Of the authority of the United States
can have any binding force"
Mr. Edmuuds by unanimous consent, brought
in bill in explanation of the Reconstruction acts.
IL declares the true intent and meaning of the
same 90 be that the military authority Of the Unit
ed States in the rebel States is paramount to any
civil government existing therein and makes all
such civil governments subordinate TO the military
authority, and prohibits them from interfering in
any way with the exercise of such authority.
The commander Of any district shall have the
power subject te the approval Of the General of
the Armies Of the United States, whenever in the
opinion of such commander the proper administra-
ton of said acts shall require, TO suspend or to re-
move from office or from the performance of off
cd duties and exercise Of official powers, any Of
hcer or person holding any office or performing
any duties under any power 10y election, appoint
mtnt or authority derived from granted 10y or
claimed under the State government thereof,
whether regular or PROVISIONAL IL is made the
duty Of the President 10 detail for service and 90
employ sufficient military force to guard at all
times the complete and ellectual execution Of this
act and the act of which this is explanatory, etc,
aud the last section reads "Ihat the acts by
officers Of the army already done in removing in
said districts persons exercising the functions Of
civil officers, aud appointing in their stead, are
hereby ratified, confirmed and legazed.n
In the House, july 8, on motion Of Mr. Paine
of isconsin, the rule. were suspended, 10 to 1 1,
and resolutions OF thanks to Mai, Gen. Sheridan
and other Generals for able and faithful perform
ance of duty military commanders in the South
ern States, were passed.
in the Senate July g. Mr. TrImbull reported
from the judiciary committee the reconstruction
bill which, after some objection from Mr.. Sumner,
was read a second time and ordered to be printed
a resolution was adopted, calling on the Sccre-
tarics Of War and Interior for information as to
50 a resolution calling upon the State Department
for copies of all correspondence with Lewis d.
Campbell while Minister TO Mexico, and with his
s,''a"as~ .''.e , arle.iniment; al" oalline npnn
the Secretary o.! State for information concerning
the recent events in NcNico.
In reply to an inquiry, Mr.. Sumner said he eN-
pected this call would obtain an authentic account
Of the capture, trial and conviction Of Maximilian
and Santa Anna.