The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-27
ssReconstruction,, Bill, So-called.

the President for his action:
Whereas no LEGAL State governments or
adequate protection for life or property
now exists In the rebel States Of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas and whereas it is ne
cessary that peace and good order should
be enforced ia said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be le-
gally established therefore,
Be iteAacted Jy,de Senate and House
of Representatives. eftAc United Stotesef
Amertcn ~ Conga'ess assembled, 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 pur-
pose Virginia shall constitute the first dis
trict North. Carolina and South Carolina.
theseoond district; Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the third district Mississippi and
Arkansas the fourth district and Louisi-
ana and Texas the fifth district. 2
SEC. q And 5e.ttJurtlset enaste2, That
it shall be the duty Of the President to as
sign to the command Of each Of said dis
triets an officer Of the army, not below the
rank Of brigadier general, and to detail a
sufficient military force to enable such Of
Gcor to perform hisduties and enforce his
authority within the district to which be is
assigned
SEC. 3. Aa95eit JutAcreaoctcd, That
il shall be the duty ofeaoh officer assign
ed as aforesaid to protect al persons in
their rights Of person and property to sup
press instruction, disorder, and violence,
aud to punish, Or cause to be punished, all
disturbers Of the public peace and crimi-
mails, and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take Jurisdiction Of and
T try offenders, OF. when in his Judgment It
may be necessary Tor the trial Of offenders,
he shall have powers to organize military
commissions or tribunals for that purpose
and allinterferenee under color Of State.
authority with the exercise Of military au-
thority, under this act shall be null and
void.
SEC. 4. And belt fimther. enacted, That
all persons put under military arrest by.
virtue of this act shall be tired without
unnecessary delay, and no cruel or nnusu-
al punishment shall be inflicted aud no
sentence Of any military commission or
tribunal hereby Authorized, affecting the
life or liberty Of any person, shall be
executed 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, ex-
cept in 50 far as they conflict with its
provisions: P.odiasd, That no sentence Of
death under the provisions Of this act shall
be carried into effect without the approval
| of the President.
SEC. 5. And be itJfurther enacted, That
when the people Of any one Of said rebel
States shall have formed a constitution Of
government in conformity wish tie Con
stitution Of the United States inallrespects.
framed by eonvention Of delegates elect
ed by the male citizens Of said State
twenty-one years old andsapWard, Of What
lever race, color, or previous condition. who
have been resident in said State for one
year previous to the day Of such election,
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for
participation in the rebellion CT for felony
at common law, and when such constitu-
ton shall provide that the elective iran
ehise shall be enjoyed BY IL such persons,
g have the publications herein stated
Tor election on 81 delegates, and when such
constitution shall be ratified BY ma
jority Of the persons voting on the
question Of ratification, Who are qualified
IS electors for delegates, and when such
constitution shall have been submitted to
Congress for examination and approval,
and Congress shall have approved the
same, and when said State, BY vote Of
| its Legislature elected under said constitu-
| ton, shall have adopted the amendment
to the Constitution Of the United States,
proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and known as article fourteen, and when
said article shall have become part of
| the Constitution Of the United States,
I said State shall be declared entitled to rep
lesentation ia Congress, and Senators and
Representatives shall BE admitted there
ff'on: On taeir taxing the oasn prescribed
py law ana then ana thsreaisef the pre-
cedlns secflons 8, q TINS blHshall De nope
ratlve IN sad state ~ r'optf1ea, That no
person excluded from the privilege Of
holding Office by said proposed amendment
sball ~ o1:a;SIa =. o1oot;s, - '1 ~
# ii : oonyEant;oa - 800 ca,s4;t,'t;or
for anv Of said rebel States nor sbaIl anT
sncb ,,ersons vo5e f. manbers If sa;d