The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-08-14
The Reconstruction Laws.

AN nv W pIbNlut lot ine more etTrlent
g1,er '''cnt OF the rebel States. ipuss
ed over the Presidents Vcle, March I'd,
1857
WHEREAS. no legal State governments or
adequate prUtrctnn for life or property
now exists in the rebel States of Virgin.
III, North aroiina, South Carolina, Geur
gia. Mssi--iopi, hlabamn, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, and Arknnsa-; aud
whereas. ii is necessary that peare and
good ortct should ue enfnrced in such
S'nres until lo>a and Republican State
Governments can be legally established {!
Therefore.
BE it enacted by the Spna and House
Of REPRESENTATIVES Of the United Stales "f
Amcric, in Congress assembled. That said
rebel States shall be divided into mill arv
districts ard made suhircl TO the military
authority of the United States M herein
niter prescribed, and for that purpose Vir-
ginia 'hall constitute the first district :;
North Carolina and South Carolina the
second district; Georgia. Alabans AID
Fl"ri3n, the third district; Mississippi and
Arkansas the fourth district; and Louisa
ma and Texas the fifth dis rct
Sec. q And b. it further enacted. That
sign to the command Of each of ~a'd dis
lrict~ an officer of the army. not beluw the
rank Of Brighdcr general. ami to detail n
sufficient miutarv frrce To enable surh oih
Ger To nerfor n his duties and enforce his
authority within the district in which he is
assigned
See 3 And be it further enacted, That
1t -hnIl be the duty of each ohser assign
ed ~ aforesaid 10 protect all persons in
their rights Of person aud property to sup
press insnrrcCton, disorder and violence,
and 10 punish or cause To be punished all
di,iurhers of the public peace ard crimr
mails, and Ia this end he NAV allow local
civIl tribunals to take Jurisdiction of and 10
| try offenders. or, when in his Judgment it
NAV he necessary for the ,rinl uf uilrudrrs
he shat! have power to organize military
commissions ar tribunals for that a Irpnsr
aud all Interference. under color nf Stst-
authority, with The exercise of military au
thority under this acl, shall be null and
void
Sec 1, Ard be it further enacted, That
all persons put under milirar arrest bv
virtue of his net shall br tried without I'M
necessary delay. and no cruel or nnuSunl
punishment shall he il iltcted AID NJ sen
lence IT any mlitar, cGn,ni-sl"u or tribu
nal hereby auih"rZrd. affecting the lie or
liberty at any person. sinai! he rXrcn,rd un
I'll 1t l. approved bv the officer IN r"Iiunnd
f ih" district. ard the laws AID trgulnti,ns
oi the government OF the army snalI Eot
oe eilrr'ed by this act. except in 80 Car n
they conflict In its provisions Pro, id.d
That no srnirnc" of death. und"r the pro
Visions ot this act, shall he carried ratio ,f
feet without the npprova OF the Presiden,
Sec ). And br it fur her enart.d THAT
when the people of anv srid rebel Starrs
shal! have formed n constitution "f govern
ment N r"miurmity with the Constiturinn
Of the United States in al. RESPECTS, framed
by ac"urentlon of delegates elected by the
male cIil1"ns at said State. twenty one
wears old and upwards. OF W .ntrvrr race.
coIor or pr"Ni"nS condition. who have brrr
resident IN sail Stntr. for on" year prev ions
10 the day at such election. eXcept suclr ~ !
may be- disfaDchisrd for participation in
the rcbcllion or for felony at common law :
and wnen sucn constitution shall prov,dr |
thnt The elective tranchi-r shall b. -njo,rd
by all sicn p"rso a. have the qunliicl
tons herein stated for electors nfdrlrnaIr-:
and when sch cen~Iituiipn shall be- raI
fled by IA majority of the persons voting on
the question Of ratification. who nre cunli
fled n electors for delegates and when
-uch Constitution shall have been submit.
ted /" Congress for examination and auprn
Val, and Congress shall have approved tne
same and when the said State, by "A vote
OF it's I%gi-ia'n'r. elected de- sad con
suiulIon, sEal! have adopted the amend
mcnt 10 the constitution uf tie United
Srate-, proposed by The Thirty ninth con
gress. and kuo"n as article fourteen; aud
when saiH article shall havu heromr n part
of tie constitution of ths United States,
said State shall be declared ertitrd To rep
resrn a."n IN Coz grrs-, and Senators and
Repre- r-eutalives shall be admitted ih-r,
{ i'onI, on their inklug the oath prescribed by
law and then and thereafter thu precrd.np
sections OF this net shall be in" "pecatv. in
said State. Provided. That no person ex
cluded from The privilege Of hoIdnp nihse
by said amendment To the constitution Of
the United States shall be eligible To el-c
tion as member of the convention To
frame II constitution for any OF said rebel
States. nor shall any such person votefos.
members of -uch convention
Sec 6 And be it further enacted. That
until the people Of said rebel States -ha,i
he bv law admitted 10 representation in
the Congress, Of the United States, any civ
II government which may exist ihereia
sh"ll be deemed provisional only and in all
respects smhj-c, TO the para mount authori
~ of the United States al any time to nbnl
i>h, modify, control or ~up"rsede the same ::
and in all elections TO any office under such
provisional governments all persons shall