Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-04-20

We publish below the whole Of
the plan for tho reconstruction Of
the Southern States, rs finally pass
ed by both Houses Of Congress over
the veto Of the President, Our
readers should preserve it for refer
encc;
THE MILITARY BILL.
The following is correct copy OF
the act ''to provide for the more ct,
ficicnt government Of the rebel
States" us il finally passed.
Whereas, no legal State govern
mcnts or adequate protection for lite
or property now exist in the rebel
States ofVirginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Arkansas; and whereas, it is
necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States
until loyal and republican State
governments can be legally cstab-
lishcd therefore,
BE it 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 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, Mis-
sissippi and Arkansasthe fourth dis
trict, and Louisiana and Texas the
fifth district.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty
of the President to assign to the
command of each Of said districts an
officer of the army not below the
rank of brigadicr general, and TO
detail Il sufficient military force to
enable such officer to perform his
duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is
assigned.
SEC. 3. That it 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 be punish
ed all disturbcrs of the peace and
criminals, and to this end he may
allow local civil tribunals to take
jurisdiction of and try offenders, or,
when in his judgment it may bencc-
cssary for the trial of offenders, he
shall have power to organize militia
nv commissions or tribunals for that
purpose and all interference under
color of State authority with the eX-
orcisc of military authority under
this act shall be null and void.
SEC. a. That all persons put un-
der military arrest by virtue of this
act shall be tried without unneces-
sary delay, and no cruel or unusual
punishment shall be inflicted and
no sentence of any military com
mission or tribunal hereby author
lied, affecting the life or liberty OF
any person, shall be executed until
it is approved by the officer in com
mand 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
may conflict with its provisions,
SEC. ). That when the people O
any one of the said rebel States shall
have formed a constitution OF gov
ernmcnt in conformity with the Con
stitution Of the United States in al
respects, framed by Il convention o
DELEGATES elected by the male citi
zens of said State twentyone years
old and upward, of whatever race
color, or previous. condition, wh'
have been residents in said State toi
one year previous to the day ofsucl
election, except such as may be dis
franchised for participation in th'
rebellion or for felony at common
law and when such constitution
shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all sucI
persons as have the qualification
herein stated for election Of dele
gates; and when such constitution
Shall be ratified by a majority of th
persons voting on the question Q
ratification who are qualified as elec
tors for delegates, and when sucI
constitution shall have been submit
ted to Congress for examination AM
approval, and Congress shall hav
approved the same and when SAT-
State. by vote of its Legislator,
elected under said constitution, shaI
have adopted the amendment to th
Constitution of the United State
proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con
Grcss. and known as article IL, an
when such article shall have becom
a part of the Constitution of tn
United States. said State shall b
declared entitled to representatio
in Congress, and Senators and Rel
aesentatives shall be admitted there
from on their taking the oath PR
seribed by law, and thereafter til
preceding sections of this act sha
be inoperative in said State:
PROVIDED, That no person exelu'
ed from the privilege of holdin
Office bvsaid proposed amendmel
10 the Constitution Of the Unite
States shall be eligible TO election
a member Of theconvention to fran
a constitution for any Of said reb
States. nor shall any such perso
vote for members Of said convei
ton.
SIC. C. And be It furtherenacte
That until the people Of said reb
State= shall be by law admitted
representation in the Congress
the United States any civil Cover
meut which may exist therein shi
= be deemed provisional only, and
}. All respects subject n The Paramoui
|. authority Of the United States
anv time to abolish, modify, eontr
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