Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-20
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.


as finally passed and sent to the President
SECTION 1. That it is hereby declared to |
have been the true intent and meaning of
the act of the I'd day of March, 1867, enti- |
tied ian act to provide for the more efficient |
government of the rebel States," and the |
act supplementary thereto, passed the .wen- |
ty-tbird of March, 1857, that the govern |
ments then existing in the rebel States of
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas and Arkansas, were not legal
State governments, and that thereafter said
governments, if continued, were to be con-
tinued subject in all respects to the military
commanders OF the respective districts, and
to the paramount authority of Congress.
SEC. 2. That the commander of any dis
trict named ir said act shall have power,
subject to the disapproval Of the General of
the army of the United States, and to have
effect till disapproved, whenever, in the
opinion of such commander, the proper ad
linistration of said act shall require it, to
suspend or remove from Office, or from the
performance of official duties, and the exer-
else official powers, any officer or person
holding of or exercising, or protesting to ex-
ercise, any civil or military office or duty in
such district, under any power, election, ap-
pointment or authority derived FROM or
granted by, or claimed under, any so-called
State or the government thereof, or any
municipal or other division thereof, and
upon such suspension or removal such COM
mander, subject to the disapproval of the
General, as aforesaid, shall have power to
provide from time to time for the perform
ance of the said duties of such officer or
person so suspended or removed by the de-
tail of some competent officer or soldiers of
the army, or by the appointment of some
other person to perform the same, and to fill
vacancies occasioned by death, resignation,
or otherwise ,.. n-ff
Sec g. That the General of the army of
the powers ofsuspension, removal, appoint
ment and detail granted in the preceding
section to district commanders.
Sec. a. That the acts of the officers of the
army already done, in removing in said dis
tricts persons exercising the functions of
civil officers, and appointing Others in their
stead are hereby confirmed; provided that
any person heretofore or hereafter appoint
ed by any district commander to exercise
the functions of any civil Office, may be re-
moved either by the military officer in CON-
mand of the district, or 10y the General OF
the army; and it shall be the duty of such
commander to remove from Office as afore.
said all persons who are disloyal to the
Government OF the United States, or who
use their official influence in any manner to
hinder, delay, prevent, or obstruct the due
and proper administration of this act aud
the acts to which this is supplementary.
SEC. 5. That the Boards of registration
provided for in the act entitled San act sup.
Elementary TO an act entitled An act to pro-
vide for the more efficient government OF
the rebel States,n passed March q 1867
"and to facilitate restoration" passed March
%, 1857, shall have power, and il shall be
their duty, before allowing the registration
of any person, to ascertain, upon such fac.
OF information as they can obtain, whether
such person is entitled to be registered un
der said act, and the oath required by said
act shall not be conclusive on such ques.
tion; and no person shall be registered un
less such board shall decide that he is en-
titled thereto and such board shall also
have power to examine under oath, 20 b,
administered by any member of such board
any one touching the qualification of an,
person claiming registration; but in ever
case of refusal by the board to register al
applicant, and, in every case of striking hi
name from the list as hereinafter provided
the board shall make a note or memoran
dun, which shall be returned with the re
gistration list to the commanding general o
the district, setting forth the ground OF sucl
refusal or such striking from the list : PRO
Vided, That no person shall be disquslifie
as member of any board of registration b
reason OF race or color.
SEC. @. That the true intent and meanin
of the oath presented in said supplemental
act is (among other things) that no perso
who has been q member of the Legislator
of any State, or who has held any executiy
or judicial Office in any State, whether b
has taken an oath to support the Constitl
tion of the United States or not, or wheths
he was holding such Office at the commenc,
nent of the rebellion, or had held it befor
aud who has afterwards engaged in insu
rection or rebellion against the Unite
States, or given aid or comfort to the EN-
mics thereof, is entitled TO be registered {
10 vote and the words executive or jud
cial" Office in any State, in said oath mel
toned, shall be construed to include all civ
Offices created by law for the administra.io
of any general law of State, or for the NJ
ministration Of justice.