The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-03-15
TmE nEcONsrRUCTION nIIL.


nil for the Establishment of Martial
Law In the Rebel states, for Setting Up
Legal Government Therein, aud for
their Restoration 20 Congress.
The following is the bill as Il passed both
Houses over tho Presidents veto
WHEREAS, No legal State governments or ade-
quate protection for life property now exist IN
the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama Mississippi, Jodsi-
ana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas; and whereas
IL is necessary that peace and good order should
be enforced in said States until loyal and repub-
icau State governments can be legally tstablishedj
therefore, al.
Do 4 enacted, &C., That said rebel States shall be
divided into military districts, and made subject to
the military authority of The United states, as
hereinafter mentioned and for that purpose Vr-
gnia shall constitute the First District North Car
nlina tho Second District, Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the Third District, Mississippi and Arkan~
sas the Fourth District, and Louisiana aud Texas
the Fifth District.
Sac. 2. That II shall be the duty Of the Presi.
dent tn assign IN the command OF each OF said dis.
tricts an officer Of the army not below the rank Of
brigader general. aud IN detail sufficient mill
tnry foros 10 enable such officer to perform bis
duties aud enroce his authority within tho district
10 which he Is assigned.
SIC. 3. That il shall be the duty of each officer
assigned aforesaid to protect all persons in their
rights Of persons aud property, to suppress insur-
cause ~ be punished all disturbers OF the public
peace and criminals and to this end he may allow
local civil tribunals 10 take jurisdiction OF and try
offenders, or, when IN his Judgment II may be
necessary for the trial Of offenders he shall have
power 10 organize military committees or tribunals
for that purpose and all interference under color
of State authority with the exercise OF military
authority under this act shall be null and void
SIC. 4. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue Of this act shall be tried without
necessary delay, and no cruel or unusual punish
ment shall be inflicted, and no sentence OF any
military commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty Of any person, shall bc
executed until it is approved by the commanding
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.
SEC O.. That when the people of any one Of
said rebel States shall have formed constitution
aud government in conformity with the Constitu-
ton Of the United States in all respects, framed
bv convention Of delegates elected by the male
citizens of the said State twenty -one years old and
upward, Of whatever race, color, or previous con-
ditiOn, who have been resident in said State for
on year previous to the day Of such election, ex
cept such as may be DISTINGUISHED for particpa-
ton in the rebellion, or for felony at common law,
aud when such Constitution shall provide TINT the
elective franchise shall be ehjOvcd by all such
persons as have tho qualifications herein stated
for electors OF delegates, and when such COusti-
tuition shall be ratified hy majority OF persons
ting on the question of ratification who n re quail
lied rs electors for d le ,ates, and when such Con
sttuliou shall have been submitted to Congress for
examination and approval, and Congress shall
ave approved the same, and when said State, by
n vote ofits Legislature, elected under said Con-
stitution, shall have adopted the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, proposed by the
Thirty ninth Congress, and known as article IA,
and when said article shall have become part Of
IN, Constitution of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled TO representation in Con-
gross, aud Senators aud Representatives shall be
admitted therefrom on their taking the oath pre-
scrbed by law and then and thereafter the preced
ing sections of this act shaN be imperative in said
State provided that no person excluded from the
privilege of holding Office by said proposed amend
mcnt to the Constitution of the United States shall
b, igiblc to election as member of Convention
to Const tution for any of said rebel States;
nor shall any person vote for members of such
Convention.
SEQ. g. That until the people Of the said rebel
States shall by law be admitted to representation
tn Congr ss oi the United st tie any civil gov
ernments that may exist therein shall be deemed
provisional only, and shall be deemed in all respect
subject to the paramount authority of the United
Stltes at any time to abolish, modify control and
superccde the same; and in all elcctious TO any
office under such provisional government all per
sons shall be entitled to vote and none others, who
are entitled to vote, under the provisions of the
fifth section of this act and no person shall be
eligible to any office under such provisional gov
crnments who would be disqualified from holding
office under the third article Of said constitutional
amendment