The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-26
RECONSTRUCTION PROCEEDINGS.

BHs-A Plan finally agreed upon-
At the Republican caucus on Saturday (lotn)
bill fer governing the Southern states was
agreed upon as substitute for Stevens Oh,
That substitute, which is as follows, was ohereu
in the Senate by Dir Sherman Saturday evening:
Whereas. no legal State governments or ade-
nuate protection for life or property now exist
in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida. Texas and Arkansas; and whereas, 1t
il necessary that peace and good order should
he enforced 10 said States until loyal and repub-
lican State governments can be legally estab-
lished; therefore,
Be ii enacted, DC, 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 Tor that
purpose Virginia shall constitute the hrst DIS
trict, North Carolina and South Carolina the
second district, Georgia, Alabama and Florida
the third district, Mississippi and Arkansas the
fourth district, and Louisiana and Texas the
fifth district
Sec. g. That it shall be the duty of the Pres
ideut to assign to the command of each Of said
districts an officer Of the army not below the
rank of brieader general, aud to detail suth-
Gent military force to enable such officer to per-
form his duties aud enforce his authority within
the district to which he is assigned.
Sec 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 instruction, disorder and violence, and to
punish, or cause to be punished, all dIsturbers
of the public peace and criminals, and to this
end he may allow local civil tribunals TO take
jurisdiction of and try offenders, or, when IN his
Judgment it may be necessary for the trial of
H. ball tn mil
tary commissions or tribunals for that purpose;
and ell interference under color of State author
ity with the exercise of military authority under
this act shall he 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 unusual
punishment shall be inflicted; and no sentence
OF any military commission or tribunal hereby
authorized, affecting the life or liberty of any
person, shall be executed until it is approved by
the officer in command Of the district; and the
laws and regulations for the government of the
army shall not be affected by this act, except in
SO far as they may conflict with its provisions.
Sec s. That when the people of any one Of
the said rebel States shall have formed a coDstl-
tuition of government in conformity with the
Constitution of the United States in all aspects,
framed by convention of delegates elected by
the male citizens of said State twenty -one years
old and upward, of whatever race, color, or pre-
vious condition. who have been resident in said
State for one year previous to the day of such
election, except such may be DISTINGUISHED
for participation In the rebellion or for felony at
common law; and when such constitution shall
provide that the elective franchise shall be en-
joyed by all such persons have the qualifca-
tions herein stated for election of delegates; and
when such constitution shall be ratified by a
majority of the persons voting on the question
of ratification who are qualified as electors for
delegates, and when such constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress for examination and
approval, and Congress shall have approved the
same; and when said State, by vote of its
Legislature elected under said constitution, shall
have adopted the amendment to the Constu-
ton of the United States proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and known 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 Representatives shall
be admitted therefrom on their taking the oath
prescribed by law, and then and thereafter the
preceding sections of this act shall be inopera-
tive in said State.
After debate, confined almost exclusively to
the Conservative minority, the Radicals think
ing it unnecessary for them to waste any time,
at 5 o'clock on Sunday morning this bill was
adopted as a substitute for Stevens bill-yeas
80. nays 3.
Mr. Doolittle moved an additional section
that no sentence of death under this act shall be
carried into execution without the approval OF
the: President Adopted-yeas p, nays 16
Mr. McDouga at 5:45, took the floor, and
made speech in opposition to the bill, and at
'6:l5 A. NJ, the bill, as introduced by MIR Sher-
man, and amended by adding what is contained
In Mr. .Doolitte's amendment just quoted, was
passed-yeas 20, noes 10.
The bill was then sent to the House for con-
currence, and the following proceedings took
place:
Mr. Stevens moved that the House non-con-
cur, and asked Committee of Reference
Mr. Boutwell, spoke in opposition to the sub
sttute. He complained that the bill gave more
power to the President, and the exercise of the
functions OF reconstruction to the rebels
Sir Stokes of Tennessee, opposed the substi
tute, because he saw in it universal amnesty and
universal suffrage He did not understand its
language if did not enfranchise every rebel in
the Sonth. He preferred the defeat of all Con-
gressional reconstruction measures to the pas
sage of this bill.
Nh Stevens took the ground that the bill
'usurped the powers of future Congress. and
then proceeded with his usual attack on the
President aud the Southern people
MI Blaine favored the bill, contending that
1T gave no more rights than Congress had given
rebel Tennesseeans
Mr. Wilson of Iowa. sustained the bill.
MIR Bingham made bitter attack on Stevens,
showing that there was not single feature in
Inc Oil which had not, at one time or another