The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-19
The Military Government bill.

WHEREAS, No legal State governments o
adequate protection for life or property nov
exists in the rebel States of Virginia, Nortl
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia Missis
sippl, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas anC
Arkansas; and whereas, it Is necessary thai
peace and good order should be enforced il
SAID States until loyal and republican State
governments can be legally established
Their fore,
BE it enacted &c, That said rebel states
shall be divided into military districts and
made subJectto the military authority Of the
United states. As hereinafter prescribed; and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute til e
III st district, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima the second district, Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the third district, Mississippi and Ar
kansas the fourth district, Louisiana and Tex
as the fifth district.
Sec. ,. That it shall he the duty Of the Pres
ident to assign to the command Of each Of said
dis tricts an officer of the army not below the
rank of brigadier general, and TO detail suf-
hcient military force to enable such officer to
perform his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
See. 3. Tbatit shall be the duty of each OIL.
Ger assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons
in their rights of person and property, to sup
press instruction, disorder and violence and
to punish or cause to be punished all disturb
ers of the peace and criminals, and to this end
he may allow local civil tribunal, to take juris-
dictiOI. of and try offenders, or, when in his
judgment it may be necessary for the trial OfOf-
commission or tribunals for that purpose; and
all interference under color Of State authority
with the exercise of military authority under
this act shall be null and void.
Sec. 4. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue of this act, shall be tried with
out unnecessary delay, and no cruel unu-
sual punishment shall be inflicted; and no SEN
tence of any military commission or tribunal
hereby authorized etfecting the life or liberty
Of any person, shall be executed until it is APP
proved by the officer in command Of the dis
trict; and the laws and regulations for the gov
eminent of the army shall not be effected by
this act, except IN so far as they may conflict
with its provisions.
See s. That when the people of any one of
the said rebel States shall have formed a
constitution of government IN conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
in all respects, framed by convention of
delegates elected by the male citizens of said
State twenty-one years old and upward of
whatever race, color or previous condition,
who have been residents III said State for
one year previous to the day of such cleo
ton, except such as may be DISTINGUISHED
Tor participation in the rebellion, or for felo-
nv at common law and when such cOnsti-
buttons shall provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as
have the qualifications herein stated, for
election of delegates and when uch con-
stitution shall be ratified by majority of
the persons voting on the question of ratIti-
cation who are qualified as electors for dele
gates and when such constitution shall have
been submitted to Congress tor examination
and approval and Congress shall have APP
proyed the same /; and when said State, by
A vote of its Legislature elected under said
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con
Dress and known as article Ia, and when
such article shall have become part of the
Constitution of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled to representation
in Congress- and Senators and Representa-
twas shall be admitted therefrom, on their
taking the oath prescribedlby law, and then
and thereafter the preceding sections of this
act shall be imperative.
Provided, That no person excluded from
the privilege of holding office by said pro
posed amendment to the Constitution OF the
limited States, shall be eligible to election as
a member of the convention to frame con
stitution- for any of said rebel States, nor
shaU any sueh person vote for members of
said convention
Sec 6. Aud be it further enacted, That
until the people of said rebel States shall be
nv law admitted to representation IN the
CONGRESS- of the United States, any civil gov
eminent which may exist therein, shall be
deemed provisional only and IN all respects
subject to the paramount authority OF the
United States at any time to abolish, modify,
control or supersede the same and IN all
elections to any office under such provision
nj governments, a persons shall be entitled
to vote under the provisions of the NTH sec
ton of this act and no persons shall be ell
,rible TO any Office under any such provision
nj government, who would be disqualified
from holding office under the provisions of
the third article of said constitutional
amendment.