American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-17
Supplemental Reconstruction.

On Saturday Congress completed its
labors regarding Reconstruction. The
following is the bill agreed upon by both
Houses /:
SECTION l. That it is hereby dc clared
to have been the intent and meanIn G of
the act of March 2, 1867, that the gov
ernments then existing in the rebel States
of Virginia, North Carolina, South Car
oliua, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas,
were not legal State governments, and
that hereafter said governments, if con,
tinued at all, were to be continued SUBJ
ject in all respects to the military com
manders Of the respective districts, and
to the paramount authority of Congress.
Sec. 2. That the commander of any
district named in said act shall have
power, subject to the approval of the
General of the army of the United States,
and have effect till disapproved, when
ever, In the opinion of the commander,
the proper administration of said act shall
require it, to suspend or remove from
office, or from the performance Of official
duties and exercise Of official powers, any
officer or person holding or exercising,
or protesting to hold or exercise, any
civil or military Office or duty in such
district, under any power, election. ap-
poiDtment, or authority derived from or
granted by or claimed under any so-ealled
State or the government thereof, and
upon such suspension or removal, such
commander, subject to the disapproval of
the General aforesaid, shall have power
to provide from time to time for the per-
| Torrance of said duties of such officer or
person so suspended or removed, by de-
tail of some competent officer or soldier
of the army, or by the appointment OF
some other person to perform the same,
and to fill vacancies occasioned by death,
resignation or otherwise.
SEC. 8. The General of the army of
the United States shall be entruste with
all powers of suspension, removal and
appointment granted in the preceding
section to district commanders.
SEC. A. That the acts of the officers
of the army already done in removing; in
said districts, persons exercising the
functions of civil officers, and appointing
thers in their stead, are hereby confirm
ed; provided, any person heretofore or
hereafter appointed by any district COM
| mander to exercise the functions of any
civil officer, may be removed either by
the military officer in command Of the
district or by the General of the army,
and it shall be the duty of such COM
mander to remove from office as aforesaid
all persons who are disloyal to the Gov
,ernmeut of the United States, or who
use their official influence in any manner
to hinder, delay, prevent or obstruct the
due and proper administration of this act
and the acts to which it is supplement-
tary.
SEC. 5. That the Boards of Registra-
tration provided for in the act entitled
q" An act supplementary to an act entitled
an act to provide for the more efficient
government of the rebel States," passed
March I'd, 1867, and to facilitate regis>
tration, passed March 23d, 1867, shall
have power, and it shall be their duty, be-
fore allowing the registration of any per-
son, to ascertain upon such facts or infor-
nation as they can obtain, whether such
person is entitled to be registered under
said act, and the oath required by said
act shall not be conclusive on such ques-
| tion and no person shall be registered