Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-02-14
ssiii from. tie Reconstruction
Committee.

In the House on the 9th, Mr.. Stevens
from the Joint Committee on Reconstruc-
ton, reported the following bill to provide
for the more efficient government of the in
surrectionafy States:
Whereas. The pretended State Govern
men!S of the late se-called Confederate
States Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina. Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama.
Louisiana. Florida. Texas, and Arkansas
were set up without the authority of Con
gress and without the sanction of the PEG
pie; and
Whereas, The so pretended Governments
afford no adequate protection for life or
property, and counlenance and encourage
lawlesSness and crime; and
Whereas, 1t is necessary that peace and
good order should be enforced in the So
called States, until loyal and republican
State Governments can be legally establish
ed. Therefore
BE Il enacted by fhe Senate and Housc Of
Representatives, of The United States Of america
an Congress assembled, That the sO-called
States shall be divided into military dis
tricts and made subject to the military au-
thority of the United States, az hereinafter
shall constitute the LIST District, North
Carolina and South Carolina the Id Dis
tfict, Georgia, Alabama and Florida the
Hid District. Mississippi and Arkansas the
Nth District, Louisiana and Texas the With
District.
SIC. .. And be Il further enacted, that il
shall be the duty OF the General of the Ar
my to assign to the command of each Of
said Districts an officer of the Regular Ar
my not below the rank of brigadier- general,
and To detail sufficient military force 10
enable such officer to perform his duties
and enforce his authority in the district to
which lac is assigned.
SEC. 3. ARd be IL further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned
As aforesaid TO protect all persons in their
rights of person and property. to suppress
Instruction, disorder, and violence. and to
punish or cause to be punished all disturb
ers of the public peace and criminals; and
to this end he may allow civil tribunals TO
take jurisdiction of and TO try offenders. or
when. in his judgment. it may be necessary
for the trial of offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or
tribunals for that purpose. ANYTHING in the
constitution and laws of the sO-calcd
States to the contrary notwithstanding: and
| all legislative and judicial proceedings or
processes TO prevent or control the pro-
ceedings of said military tribunals. and ali
interference by said pretended State Gov
/ ernments with the exercise of military au-
thority under this act; shall be void and of
no effect.
SEC. T. And be IL further enacted, That the
Courts and Judicial officers of the United
States shall not issue writs of habeas cor
pus in behalf of persons in military cusio-
DIV. unless some Commissioner or officer ON
duty in the district wherein the person is
detained shall indorse upon said petition a
statement certifying, upon honor, that he
has knowledge or information as To the
cause and circumstances of the alleged de
| tentiOn. and that he believes the same to be
wrongful; and, further, that he believes
that the Endorsed petition is preferred in
good faith and IN furthcrance 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 unnecessary DELAY. and no cruel or
unusual punishment shall be inflicted.
SEC ). And be it further enacted. That no
sentence of any Military Commission. or
tribunal. hereby authorized, affecting the
life or liberty ofany person, shall be exc
cuted until il 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.
except in so far as they conflict with its
/ provisions.