Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-11
A Practical Reconstruction Bill.

The new committee appointed by the
House Of Representatives on Recon-
structiop, on Saturday unanimously
agreed upon supplementary bill, which
seems to be adapted to the practical pur-
poses for which it was intended, and
which will be satisfactory TO the cOun-
try at large. The outlines Of the bill
are briefly as follows:
First The act is intended to be sup
Elementary to the acts of March last,
providing for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States, declaring it to
have been their true intent and mean
ing that the governments existing
in Virginia, North and South Carolina,
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisi-
ana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas were
illegal, and were to be subject in all re-
spects to the military commanders and
Congress only, thus superceding all
other existing governments.
Second. This clause declares valid all
acts of the commanders done under the
laws hitherto passed, giving them full
power, whenever they shall deem it nee
essary for the proper performance of
duty, to remove or suspend any NUM-
cipal or State officer, and make new
appointment; and also authorizes them,
when in their judgement it is neces-
sary, to prohibit, suspend or set aside
any act or proceeding of the State or
municipal government, or any act done
by virtue of its authority, declaring it
to be the intention of the two previous
acts that the rebel States were to re-
main only as subordinate and subject to
the control of the respective military
commanders and Congress.
Third. This section is intended to OBJ
literate the recent Interpretation given
to the laws of March by the Attorney
General on the question of the registry
of votes, giving the several boards Of
registration power to admit the names
of such persons only as they deem enti-
blCu W ~, dub tuC wv thS
Of their action, and that the oath is to
be only prima tacie evidence of the right
to be registered as voter, and may
waive evidence of other parties touching
that point, giving them authority to
erase any names already on the roll in
cases in which there is reason to believe
the oath was improperly taken. Parole
evidence of the fact of participation in
the rebellion is to be deemed sufficient to
effect the disfranchisement provided for
in the former acts.
Fourth. No civil court of the United
States or any State, shall have jurisdic-
tion of any action or proceeding, civil or
criminal, or any distinct commander or
any officer or individual acting under his
authority, for any act done by him in
his official capacity.
Fifth. The last clause puts it out of
the power of the President to remove at
his own caprice any one of the military
commanders, requiring that no removal
bahC HidtS ouiSsb Vic CGudlS SUdli
have first advised and consented thereto,
or by sentence of court martial.
The House bill of which we have
given summary, preserves the main
features of the Senate bill introduced by
Senator Edmunds. The latter clause OF
the act In connection with the previous
vote, sustaining the District comman-
ders, shows how strongly they stand be-
fore the nation, and how fully the PEG
pie approve of the energetic and earnest
course they have pursued in the per
Torrance of their high duty. With this
positive approval of their acts and po-
sition, by these unequivocal evidences of
the public confidence they will proceed
in the discharge OF their important du-
ties largely encouraged and strength
ened.