The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-11

Military Governments OF the South.
The following Bill, proposed by Senator VII
I1AMs, of Oregon, and reported upon fayorably by
| the Committee on Reconstruction, has been the
subject Of much, and spirited, debate within the
last few days:
BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFFICIENT GOV
ERNMENT OF THE 1NsURRECTIoNAnY STATES.
Whereas, The pretended State Governments OF
the late so-called Confederate States OF Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mlssk.
sippi, Alabama, Louisiana Florida, Texas, and
Arkansas, were set up without the authority OF
Congress-, and without the sanction OF the people;
and
no adequate protection for life or property, and
countenance and encourage laWlessness and crime;
and
Whereas, It is necessary that peace and good
order should be enforced in the so-called States,
until loyal and Republican State Governments can
be legally established; therefore,
Be u enacted 5y ue Senate and House Of Repre-
sertataoes Of the United States Of Anae75ca IN Con-
gxss assembled, That the so-called 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 Yir-
gnia shall constitute the 1st Districts North Caro-
lima and South Carolina the I'd District; Georgia,
Alabama and Florida the Sd District; Mississippi
and Arkansas the 4th District, and Louisiana and
Texas the 5th District
SEQ. q Aald be It further enacted, that it shall
be the duty OF the General Of the Army to assign
to the command Of each Of said Districts an officer
Of the Regular Army not below the rank OF Briga-
dier-G General, and to detail q sufficient military
force to enable such officer to perform his duties
and enforce his authority in the district to which
he is assigned.
SEQ. 8. And be further eaacted That il shall be
the duty of each officer assigned as aforesaid to
property, to suppress insurrection disorder and
violence, and to punish or cause to be punished
all diBturbers Of the public peace and criminals;
and to this end he may allow civil tribunals to take
Of and to try Offenders or when in his
offenders, he shall have power to organize military
commissions or tribunals for that purpose, any
thing in the Constitution and laws Of the so-"alled
States to the contrary notwithstanding; II
Legislative and Judicial proceedings or processes to
prevent or control the proceedings Of said military
tribunals, and all interference by said pretended
State Governments with the exercise Of military
authority under this Act, shall be void and OF no.
effect.
sEo. q. And be l. farther enacted, That the Courts
and Judicial officers Of the United States shall not
issue writs Of habeas corpus in behalf Of persons
in military custody, unless some Commissioner or
officer on duty in the district wherein the person
is detained shall endorse upon said petition stale
edge or information as to the cause and crcum-
stances of the alleged detention, and that he
believes the same to be wrongful; and, further,
that he believes that the ndorsed petition is pre-
ferred in good faith and in furtLerance Of justice,
and not to hinder or delay the punishment Of
crime. All persons put under military arrest by
virtue of this act shall be tried without unneces-
esry delay and no cruel or unusual punishment
shall be inflicted.
stSEo. s. yAnd be II further enacted That no san
tencs Of any Military Commission, OF tribunal,
hereby authorized, affecting the Life or liberty Of
any person, shall be executed until 1t is approved
by the superior officer in command Of the District;
and the laws and regulations for the government
Of the army shall not be affected by this act, e1-
cept in go far as they conflict with it's provisions"