The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-15
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, February Is, 1867.
Stevens Successful in the House.

morning, gave us the lnCelilgence
that the bill of Stevens passed the
House of Representative on Wednes-
day, the vote standing 100 to 55.
This vote, should the bill pass the
Senate and the President veto it,
would just pass it over the veto.
But we cannot think that two
thirds of the latter body could pass
such measure. AS we understand
it, the bill V Mch has passed the House
is Mr.. Williams bill, although re-
ported by Mr.. Stevens. 1t was in
troduced on the 4th inst, and brief
notice of its provisions, received by
telegraph, was published in our paper
of the 5th inst. AS a matter Of inte.
rest to our readers, we present fuller
summary Of the provisions of this
enactment.
The preamble declares that in the
ten late so-ealled Confederate States,
the State Governments were set up
without the sanction OF the people,
and that they do not afford adequate
protection for life and property, but
encourage lawlessness and crime
Then follow the sections Of the bill
The first section merely divides the
late so-called States into five military
districts, the second of which en-
braces North and South Carolina.
The second section authorizes the
General of the army to appoint COM
manding officers for said districts,
not below the rank of Brigadier-
General
The third and fourth sections be-
ing the most important to our people,
should they ever unfortunately be
governed according to their provi-
sions; we give in full:
s'SEc. 3. And be 1t further enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of each Of
fcer assigned as aforesaid to protect
all persons in their rights of person
and property, to suppress insurrec-
ton, 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 civil tribunals to take jurisdic-
ton 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 COM
missions Or tribunals for that pur-
pose, anything in the Constitution
and laws of the so-cailed States to the
contrary Notwithstanding and all
Legislative and judicial proceedings
or processes to prevent or control
the proceedings of said military tri-
bunals, and all interference by said
pretended State Governments with
the exercise of military authority
under this Act, shall he void and of
no effect.
''SEc. 4. And be ii .fterUae, enacted,
That the courts and judicial officers
of the United States shall not issue
writs of habeas corpus in behalf of
persons in military custody, unless
some commissioner or person on duty
in the district wherein the person is
detained shall endorse upon said pc
tition Il statement, certifying, upon
honor, that he has knowledge or in
formation as to the cause and circum-
stances Of the alleged detention, and
that he believes the same to be wrong
full; and further, that he believes
that the endorsed petition is preferred
in good faith and in furtherance of
justice, and not to hinder or delay
the punishment cf crime. Ali persons
put under military arrest by virtue of
this Act sAall be tried without unne-
cessary delay, and no cruel or unusual
punishment shall be inflicted" p"
The fifth section provides that noe
sentence OF any military commission
Or tribunal authority, which affects
life or liberty, shall be executed,
without the approval of the COM
mander of the district.
Such is the substance Of the bill
which is design to abolish the civil
power Of the existing State Govern
ments of the South, and to institute
once more military commissions
among our people. 1t is furthermore
stated, (but not, we admit, by very
reliable authority, being a despatch