Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-26
The Military Force Bill as it Finally
Passed

The following is correct copy of this bill,
as passed by both Houses of Congress:
WHRRrAs, No legal Stare Governments or AIDES
Q1aIt protection tor lie property nuw exists IN
the Rebel States OF Virginia, Nor'h Car"!in" South
CarOia". Georgia, Mississippi At"oaW", Louisiana,
FiO:idh, TEX :, a"d Arkansas:
AND WHEWRAs 1t is necessary that peace and
good order, should be etiOrced in said States and
l0yal and TepuUli' an State governments be legally
ESTABLISHED therefore.
lie il enacted by the Senate aud House of Repre-
sentauves OF tue United S,tes OF Arneric' in Con
gress assembled, That said Rebel States stall lie l.
Tedei into military sIricls, and made subject 10
the military authority OF the United States, here
matter prescribed and tor that puIpuSe VIr.iuia
shall constitute the FIRST DisIric', North Carolina
aud South Caro- the Second DI IricI-Georpia
Alabama aud Flo IDA The Third DIsIric-MissssiIpi
and Arkansas tue Fourth District, and Louis ana
and Texas the Filth District
Scion And be 1t. further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the President 10 assign TO tia
cOmmtnd OF cacn 9f said districts an officer oilhe
army not below the rank of brigndier geaera and
to detail sufficient military force 10 Gu be such
officer TO pcritTth his duties and enforce his nulhO-
itE within The district 10 which lie is assigned.
Section B. And be il further enacted, That il shan
be the duty OF each officer assigned as aforesaid
to prusc; all person in cir rights OF person and
ProPerty-;o suppress insurrec"iGn; disorder and
violence, and 20 punish cause be punished all
dlS'uTher- At the public Peace and crimInAlS-and
to this end he may allow IGcaI civil tribunals to
take Jurisdiction at aud 10 try Llruders-or hen,
Ia his Jnu men, II may Ge necessary tor the Trial
OF feEderS, lie Shat! !Isve power TO organize mil
tary commissions tribunals that purpose aud
All interference "n er color Stale authority. with
the OK rCI>e OF military authority under tins act
shall be null and void.
Sec 4 Aud he it turtI enacted, ta, all persons
put under military GCTe b. virtue this shall
be uieu without unnecessary delay, and cruel
unusual punishment shall be ficted-aud no SEN
Ience Oi aut military commits sion tribunal Hereby
authorized affecting the life liberty of any
Slalbe executed until il is approved Up the officer
III command OF the dis'ric'-"a tie laws and reg
uiaGo"s Tor The gOTernm' nj of he army shall not
ne affected BY thfs set, except IN SO lar they con-
tiCt With lis provisions; provided that OSeuence of
death under the provisions Of ;his shall be
fied effect without the approval OF the Presi-
dent OF The uHied S:..es.
Section 3 BE i; further enacted, That when the
people Of any one Of SAID Rebel States slai have
lpTIned constitutional govern mcut IN CIufJrnIi-
respects. framed by convention OF delegates elect
ed by the Hllc citizens OF said State, twCnty-Onc
yIarsUld aud upwards, of whatever race, color,
Pr V:0us cOndtlOh w:o have been reside ns IN said
taic previous to he day Of such cleo tJn,
except such may be G,stram hlscd for PIgtcipa-
tIen IN rebellion OF for felony at common law AMI
wdGn s::ch Constitution shall vide that the cleo
tive franchise shalt sc enjoyed 10y all such prra0na
as have the "a IECaliOns herein stated for election
of Delegates, and when such Constitution shall he
adopted by 'ritY of the persons voting On, The
question Of ratification who GA lifted electors
TOR delegates, aid when such CouslIiutIun shall
have been submitted to Congress for cxanliua ton
and approval, AMI Congress shalt have approved
tho sane, and vixen sa;d State, by a vote OF its
Legislature, elected under said Constitution, shall,
have adopted the amendment to the Constitution
Congress, and know as aTi:CIr.lI and when said
article shall have c1nea part of the Constitution
of the United States, said State shall be declared
cnttied I" representa- tim tOug Senators
aEd Representatives, shall be admitted ihcrerUm
thrir taking the oath prescribed by law, and there
after the preceding scCtUs ut this act shall not be
in!Upceatun in said State; Provided, That 10 per
sur secluded from the PrIvicS of holding off; by
the said proposed amendment to t &c COustiG uliUn
vi the United States shall eli iblc to election as
a mcmibcr OF a convention fame n CUhsIiuIlCn
for ANY said Rebel States. she'll any such per-
son E":c i"r a mcnibcr Of said co"vcntIom.
Section 6, Aud be il further cuactcG. That until
thc people of SAID Rebel shall &c by adj
United to rcrr' scntaI"n III the Congress Of the
United Stats any CIV! government which may
exist therein shall be deemed IrruvIsiorI only and
n all aspects subject to the paramount authority
OF the United States at any TING to ABOLISH Tl"diy
control l2erccdc the and in 4 II elections
To any Ut'c uIccr such provisional governments ali
persons shall te cu:iIcrI t" vote. aud other,
ao are n.!'ed to vote under the provisions of tbs,
Nth sc:ti OF this act, aui no person shall be cIigi-
Die u any "ttc.: under such PROVISIONAL Sovc.u
ment no III be dsqu 'iItief ;r..II holding office
S1ic' the pr visions the third article OF III
constitutional aIncuGIn. ut.