The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-09
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introduced and referred without de-
bate. The Committee on Elections
reported that no person who had
given aid OF comfort to the rebellion
should be allowed to swear in; but
disloyalty of constituents, or illegali-
ty of elections, should not prevent
members from holding certificates
and swearing. The report was laid
on the table and ordered to be print
ed. A resolution calling for the pro-
ceedings in the Cabinet on recon
struction passed-103 to 26.
Mr.. Butler moved that q special
committee of five, with powers to
send for persons and papers, be ap-
pointed to investigate the assassina-
tion proceedings, and that the com
mlttee promise the protection of the
House to accomplices who have not
been tried or sentenced, who may
give valuable evidence. The rules
were suspended and the resolution
passed.
Mr.. Stevens, from tho Committee
of Nine, introduced the following
bill:
/ BE ii enactedby tie Se"ate and House
Of Representatives Of tie United States
Of america, in Congress assembled,
That it is hereby declared to have
been the true intent and meaning of
the Act of the I'd day of March,
1867, entitled can Act to provide for
the more efficient government of the
rebel States" and of the Act supple
mentary thereto, passed on the Odd
day of March, in the year 1867, that
the governments then existing in the
rebel States of Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
sissippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Flo
rida, Texas and Arkansas, were illegal
and void; and that thereafter said
governments, if continued, were to
be continued subject in all respects
to the Military Commanders OF the
respective Districts and to the all
thority of Congress.
SEC. 2. That the said Acts to which
this is supplement, shall be con-
structed to authorize the officer as
signed to the command Of any mill
tary district, under said Acts, when
ever he shall deem it necessary to the
due performance of his duties under
said Act, to remove or suspend from
office any municipal or State officer,
or person exercising authority under
or by authority of any so-called State
Government existing in his district;
and the said officer assigned to the
command as aforesaid, is hereby en-
powered to appoint another person in
the stead of the officer or person so
removed, if he shall deem proper so
to do; and whenever he may deem it
necessary as aforesaid to prohibit,
suspend or set aside any Act Oh pro-
ceeding of any such State or munici-
pal government, or any act or thing
done under OF by authority of its au-
thorities; and all acts heretofore done
by any such officer in accordance here
with, shall be deemed valid.
Sec. 3. That the Boards of Regis
tration of the several military districts
established by the Acts to which this
issupplementary, shall admit to regis
tration only such persons as they
deem entitled to be registered, by the
Acts aforesaid; they shall not regard
the taking of the oath prescribed in
the Act OF March %, 1867, as conclu-
sive evidence of the person taking it
to be registered, but prin,a facie only;
and may receive such evidence under
oath relating thereto as they may
deem proper, either from the person
applying to be registered or others;
and either of the members of said
Boards is hereby authorized to admi-
mister oaths or affirmations and ex-
amino witnesses, touching the right
of any person to be registered; said
Boards of Registration may strike
from the list of voters the name Of
any one already registered, who, i'll
their judgment, improperly took the
oath prescribed in the Acts to which
this is supplementary, or rs not enti-
tied by said Acts to be registered; the
record of evidence shall not be re-
quired by said Boards, to prove their
participation in the rebellion, but pa
role evidence shall be sufficient to
establish the fact of such participa-
ton; and said Boards of Registration
shall not be bound or governed in
their action by any opinion of any
officer of the United States Govern
ment.
SEC. 4. That no civil court Of the
United States, O. Of any State, shall
have jurisdiction cf any action or
proceeding, civil or criminal, against
any such District Commander, or any
officer or person acting by his au-