The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-20
The Reconstruction Act.


The following is correct copy OF the act
"to provide for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States" as itpassed:
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE Eff
c1ENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES.
WHEREAS, no legal State governments or ade-
uuate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana
Florida Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas, It'll necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legally es-
tablished; therefore,
Be it enacted By the Senate and House Of itepre-
sentatiues Of the United States Of america in Con-
greSs assembled, That said rebel States Shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
ject to the military authority OF the nlted States
as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district; North
Carolina and South Carolina the second district;
Georgia. Alabama and Florida the third district
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district, ard
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district
SEC. 2. Andbe it FURTHER enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand OF each of said districts an officer OF the
army not below the rank of brigadier general,
and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he is
assigned. .
said to protect all persons in their rights OF per-
son and property, to suppress Instruction, dis
order, and violence, and to punish or cause to be
punished all disturbcrs of the public peace and
criminals and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try
offenders, when in hi Judgment it may be
necessary for the trial OF offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all interference
under color of State authority with the eXer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That 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 in
ficted; and no sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person, shall be cXecu-
ted until it is approved by the 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 rs they may conflict
with its provisions Prooided, That no sentence
of death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval OF the
President.
SEC ). And be Htufher enacted, That when
the people of any of the aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed constitution of government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed by
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twenty-Onc years old and
upward, of whatever race, color, or previous
condition, who have been resident in said State
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partci-
patton in the rebellion for felony at common
law; and when such constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons as have the qualifications herein
stated for election of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
persons voting the question of ratification who
are qualified as electors for delegates, and when
such constitution shall have been submitted to
Congress for examination and approval, and
('nnUrpSS shall aDDrOVPu
when said State, by vote Gifts Legislature elect
cd under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and ,nown as article IA, and when said article
shall have become part of the Constitution of
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress and Senators
and Representatives shall be admitted theretrom
on thciI taking the oath prescribed by law and
then and thereafter the proceeding sections OF
Il is act shall be imperative in said State PrOUi
ded, That no person excluded from the privilege
of holding Office by said proposed amendment to
the Constitution of the United States shall be
eligible to election as member OF the convention
TO frame a constitution for any of said rebel
States nor shall any such person vote for mem-
bers of said convention.
SEC. g. Ind belt FURTHER enacted, That until
the people Of said rebel States shall be, by law ad
mittcd to representation in the Congress of the
United States, any civil governments which may
exist therein shall be deemed provisional only,
and in all respects subject to the paramount au-
thOrity of the United States at any time to abol-
ish modify, control OF supersede the same and
in all elections to any office under such provs-
iOnal governments all persons shall be entitled to
vote, and none other, who are entitled to vote
under the provisions of the filth section of this
act and no person shall be eligible to any office
under any such provisional governments who
would be disqualified from holding office under
the provisions of the third article of said consti-
tutional amendment.