The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-03-28
THE RECONsTRUCTION ACT.


The following is a correct copy Of the
Reconstruction Act Of Congress, passed on
Saturday, I'd inst, over the Presidents
Veto, in the Senate, Yeas, 3s nays 10
House, Yeas, 1855 nays, AZ.
An Act for the More Efficient
Government Of the Rebel
States.
"WHEREAs, Nolegal State Governments,
of adequate protection for life or property
now exist in the rebel States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas aud Arkansas and ...
"WHEREAs, 1t is necessary that pedce
and good order should be enforced in said
States until loyal and republican State gov
ernmcnts can be legally established there
fore,
BE il enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States Of
America, in Congress assembled, That said
rebel States shall be divided into military
districts, and made subject to the military
IauthOrity Of the United States, as herein
after prescribed, and for that purpose, Nir-
/ ginia shall constitute the first district
North Carolina and South Carolina tho
second district; Georgia, Alabama and
| Florida the third district Mississippi and
and Texas the fifth district.
SEC. ,. And it be further enacted, That
it shall be the duty Of the President TO as
sign to the command of each of said dis
tricts an officer of the army, not below the
rank Of Brigadier General, and to detail
sufficient military force to enable such Ufti-
Ger, to perform his duties and enforce his
authority within the district to which he il
assigned.
SEC. g. And be ii further enacted, That
il shall be the duty Of each officer assigned
AS aforesaid to protect all persons in their
rights of person and property, to suppress
insurrection, disorder and violence, and to
punish, or cause to Ire punished, all dis
turbers Of the public Ieace and criminals,
and to this end he may allow local civil
tribunals TO ttke jurisdiction Of and to try
offenders, or, when in bis judgment it may
be necessary for the trial of offenders, he
p shall have power to organize military COM
, missions or tribunals for that purpose :; and
! all interference under color Of State au-
thorty with the exercise Of military au-
, thorty under this act shall be null and
& void.
, SIC. 1. And be it further enacted, That
all persons put under military arrest by
e virtue of this act shall be tried without un-
i neces sary delay, and no cruel or unusual
q Ipuui- shall be inflicted and no SEN
tence Of any military commission or tri-
- bunal hereby authorized, affecting the life
6 or liberty OF amy person, shall be executed
l. until it is approved by the officer in com
= mand of the district and the laws and reg.
ulatiuns for the government of the army
shall not be affected by this act, except in
/, so far us they conflict with its provisions /:
r Provided, That no sentence of death, un-
der the provisions Of this act, shall be
carried into effect without the approval of
the President
IF SEC. .. And be it further enacted, That
V when the people of any of said rebel States
shall have formed a constitution Ofgovcrn-
ment in conformity with the Constitution
d of the United States in all respects, framed
E. Ly Il convention of delegates elected by the
a- male citizens Ofsaid State twenty-one years
. old and upward, of whatever race, color or
" previous condition, who have been resi-
1t dent in said State for one year previous TO
lr the day of such election, except such as
n may be DISTINGUISHED fer participation in
10 the rebellion, or for felony mt common law,
80 and when such constitution shall provide
I that the elective franchise shall be eniOyeL
Of by all such persons as have the qualitica,
10 tions herein stated for election Ofdelegates
49, and when such constitution shall be rati.
" fed by n majority Of the persons voting OF
20 the question of ratification, who are quail
ht fed as electors for delegates, and wheI
al such constitution shall have been submit
ed to Congress for examination and ap
'' proval and Congress shall have approved
O. the same, and when said Stale, by Il Yot,
nj of its Legislature elected under said con
no stitutiou, shall have adopted the amend
, ment to the Constitution Of the Unitet
II" ates proposed by the Thirty-Ninth Con
D. erpss, aud known as "ARTICLE XIV" AM
,ir when said article shall have become par
of the Constitution of the United States
said State shall be declared entitled to rep
resenyatiOn in Congress, and Senators anj
Representatives shall be admitted there
e- from on their taking the oath prescribe
III hy law, and then and thereafter the pre-
ic ced,ng sect Ons of this bill shall be inopera
y tive in said State: Provided, That no per
g son excluded from the privilege of hOldin
BY Office by said proposed amendment to tn
tie Constitution of the United States shall b
he eligible to election as a member oi the con
I'm ventOn to frame a constitution for any q
" said rebel States nor shall any such per
< son vSte for members of said conventions.
lg SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, Tha
until the people of said rebel States shul
he bv law admitted to representation ii
e. the Congress ofthe United States, any uivi
+o governments which may exist therein shal
w be deemed provisional only, and in all re
w spects subject to the paramount RuthOrit
IT. of the United States at any time to abolisl
a modify. control, or supercede the same
and in all elections 10 any office undo
such provisional governments all person
l shall be entitled to vote, and none othel
ID" who are entitled TO vote under the provision
20 of the hflh section OF this act, and no pei
his son shall be eligible to any Office undt
nd any such provisional governments wh
would be disqualified from holding ON,
under the provisions of the third article
, q said constitutional amendment
Oh Hon. John T. Wilson, of Adam
M county, has resigned his place as Sem
tor, (Ohio legislature in order to tai
10 his seat in the 4Oth Congress.