The Daily clarion., 1867-04-24
The Military Government bill

WHE7EAs, No legal State governments o
adequate protection for life or property nov
exists in the rebel States of Virginia. Nortl
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Missis
sippi. Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas an,
Arkansas and whereas it is necessary tha
peace and good order should be enforced il
sad States until loyal and republican Stat
governments can be legally established
ther fore
b it enacted, &C., That said rebel State.
sh II be divided into military districts anU
made subject to the military authority of the
Emitted states. as hereinafter prescribed; and
for IN Il purpose Virginia shall constitute the
II 1t district, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima the second district. Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the third district, Mississippi and A r
kansas the fourth district, Louisiana and Tex.
the fifth district.
sec. .. That it shall be the duty Of the Pres
ident To assign TO the command of each Of said
"a tricts an officer of the army not below the
p. ak of briKadier general, and to detail a suf-
dcient military force to enable such officer to
per Crm his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
SEE. 3. That it shall be the duty of each Off
Ger assigned as aforesaid TO protect all persons
in their rights of person and property, to sup
press lnsurrectiOn, disorder and violence, and
TO punish or cause to be punished all disturb
ers Of the peace and criminals, and to this end
he may allow local civil tribunal, to tax juris-
dlctioL of and try offenders, or, when in his
Judgment it may be necessary for the trial ofOf-
Tenders, he shall have power to organize military
commission or tribunals for that purpose; and
all interference under color of State authority
with the exercise of military authority under
this act shalt be null and void.
Sec. 4. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue of this act, shall be tried with
OUT unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unu-
sual punishment shall be inflicted; and no SEN
teuce of ans military commission or tribunal
hereby authorized, etfecting the life or liberty
ofany person, shall be executed until il is ap
proved by the officer in command of The dis
fTit rfp latx
ernment Of the army shall not be effected by
this act, except in so far rs they may conflict
with its provisions.
Sec 5 That when the people of any one of
the said rebel States shall have formed
constitution of government in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by convention of
delegates elected by the male citizens of said
State twcnty-one years old and upward, of
whatever race, color or previous condition,
who have been residents in said State for
one year previous to the day of such cleo
tiOn, except such as may be DISTINGUISHED
for participation in the rebellion, or for telo-
ny at common law and when such constl-
tutiOus snail provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as
have the qualifications herein stated, for
election of delegates and when uch con-
stitution shall be ratified by a majority of
the persons voting on the question of ratiti-
cation who are qualified as electors Tor dele
gates, and when such constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for examination
and approval and Congress shall have ap-
proved the same and when said State, by
a vote of its Legislature elected under SAID
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con-
greSs, and known as article IA, and when
such article shall have become part of the
Constitution of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled to representation
in Congress, and Senators and Representa-
tives shall be admitted therefrom, on their
taking the oath prescribediby law, and then
and thereafter the preceding sections of this
act shall be imperative.
Provided, That no person excluded from
the privilege ofholding office by said pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution of the
United States shall be eligible to election as
a member of the convention to frame n con
stitution for any of said rebel States, nor
shall any such person vote for members of
said convention.
Sec s. And be it further enacted, That
until the people of said rebel States shall be
by law admitted to representation In the
Congress of the United States, any civil gov
ernmeut which may exist therein, shall be
deemed provisional only, and IN all respects
subject to the paramount authority OF the
United States at any time to aboilsh; houliS,
control or supersede the same and IN ali
elections to any office under such provision
al governments. a persons shall be entitled
to vote under the provisions of the NTH sec
tiOn Of this act : aud no persons shal De ell
gible TO any office under any sueh provision
a government. who would be disqualified
from holding Office under the provisions OF
the third article of said constitutional
amendment.