Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-02-21
Reconstruction.

hC latC lCOC1h0ao otNeSo 33af AA :
rejected tbs Constitutional Amend,
ment, passed at the last session oi
Congress, that body is now proceed
ing to fix other and more stringent
terms for the admission of those
States. On the 18th the House
passed the bill for the reorganization
of Louisiana, which, it is supposed,
is but the precursor of policy to be
extended to the ether. States. The
Cincinnati Commercial gives the fol
lowing concise statement of the pro.
visions of this bill:
By the provision of this bill, a
Governor is to be appointed by the
President, the Senate approving,
who, it is required, shall be some
man who took no part in the REBEL
ion, and he is to appoint,a provision
al council of nine persons, all OF
whom must be equally guiltless, and
the provisional government SO con-
stituted shall exercise all legislative
powers in the State. Ne one is to
be allowed to hold an Office in the
State who can not take the test oath,
and all persons who engaged in the
rebellion or aided it in any way, arr
to be disfranehised. They are il
reality tos take back seats while the
process of civil re organization is
going en-. A State convention is
provided for, which is to proceed to
frame constitution for the State in
which there are to be no civil or po-
litical distinctions on account of col
or; the payment of all debts in behalf
of the rebellion are to be prohibited,
and the perpetuity of the Union is to
be expressly recognized.
Until the work of civil reorganiza-
tion has been completed and ap-
proved, the State is to be virtually
governed by military authority; at
least, military power is to be employ
ed to enforce laws which the civil
authorities neglect. and no law OF
the provisional government shall be
valid till approved by Congress.
In connection herewith the Com
mercial remarks:
The lofty gentlemen who, the mo-
ment they were pardoned, turned
round and advised the people not to
ratify the amendment, and so end
the business, who assured them that
nothing had been settled by the war
who were proud to proclaim the fact
that they had committed no treason
in making war on the Government oi
the United States, and styled them
selves patriots, and gloried in the
part they had taken in the war, will
have themselves to thank for the
condition in which they will be
placed if the Louisiana plan is put ir
operation. They will discover thai
it is possible to punish as it has beer
common of late to reward treason
and that certificate of having fought
to destroy the Union will not pass a:
satisfactory evidence of patriotism
and loyalty. If they had not beer
blind as bats they would have urged
upon their fellow citizens the prompt
ratification of the amendment, which
we have good reason to believe
would have been speedily followed
by representation on the floor o.
/ Congress.
Since the above passage of thu
Louisiana bill, the House has passet
a new bill, reported by the Recon
struction Committee, for the NOR,
efficient government Of the insurrec
tiopary States. It divides thos'
States into five military districts, t;
be presided over by an officer of th'
army not below the rank of Briga
dier General, whose duties are Sc
forth az follows, to wit:
That it shall be the duty of eacl
officer assigned as aforesaid, to pro
tect all persons in their rights of per
son and property, to suppress insur
rection, disorder and violence, an(
to punish, or cause to be punished
all disturbers of the public peace anC
criminals, and to this end he may al
low local civil tribunals to take ju
risdiction and to try offenders. Or
when in his judgment it may be ne
cessary for the trial of offenders, h'
shall have power to organize militia
ry commissions or tribunals for tina
purpose, anything IN the Constitution
and laws of the so-called States t
the contrary notwithstanding; ant
all legislative or judicial proceedings
or processes to prevent or contro
the proceedings of said military tri
bunals, and all interference by said
pretended State governments will
the exercise of military autherit,
under this act, shall be void and o
no effect.
This bill came up in the Senate OF
Saturday. It was so amended, OF
motion of Mr.. Sherman, as to pro
vide that on establishing universe
loyal male suffrage, and framing con
stitutions acceptable to Congress, to
gether with the ratification of amend
ment, restoration of State govern
ment and representation in Congress
may be secured. In this shape
passed by a vote of 90 yeas to l
nays. II now goes back to tn
House for its concurrence. 1t
stated that the Republicans of th
House held caucus and agreed t.
accept of the Senate amendments
thus insuring the passage of the bill
The N. Y. Tribune, says Of Sher
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