The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-02-27
Military Rule in hesouth.

The following is Sherman's substitute
for Thad Stevens's Military Organization
bill, as it came from the HOUSE of Rep.
resentatives, the title Of which, Mr..
DoOlittle says, should head, "a Bill to
Organize He'll in the Southern States -
Hhereas, No legal governments or ad.
equate protection for life or property now
exists in the rebel States Of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas and Whe-eas, it is
necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until
loyal and republican state governments
can be legally established; and therefore
Be IL enacted &C., That said rebel
States shall be divided into military dis.
tricts and made subject to fhe military
authority of the United States, as here.
matter mentioned ;and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the First Dis.
trict, North Carolina and South Carolina
the Second District, Georgia, Alabama
and Florida the Third District, Mississip.
pi and Arkansas the Fourth District, and
Louisiana and Texas the Fifth District.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty Of
the President to assign to the command
Of each Of said districts an officer of the
Amy not below The rank of Brigadier
General, and to detail a sufficient militia.
ry force to enable such officer to perform
his duties and enforce his authority with.
in the district to which he is assigned.
Sec, 3, That it shall be tie duty Of
each officer as aforesaid to protect ali per.
sons in their rights Of person and proper.
~, to suppress insurreotion, disorder aud
violence, and to punish or cause. to be
punished all disturbers Of the public
peace and criminals : aud to this end, he
may allow local civil tribunals to take iu.
dlsdiction ofand try offenders, or when in
his judgment it shall be necessary for
the trial Of offenders, he shall have pow
er to organize military committees OF
tribunals for that purpose; ; and all inter.
ference 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 without unnecessary delay, and
no cruel or unusual punishment shall be
inflicted, and no sentence Of any military
commission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty Of any person
shall be executed until il is approved by
the officer in command Of the district
and the laws and regulation for the gov.
eminent Of the army shall not be affected
by this act, except in 50 far as they may
conflict with its provisions.
SEs. s. No sentence Of death under
this act shall DO carried into execution
without the approval Of tho President.
SEC, 6. When the people Of any one
Of said Rebel Status shall have formed O
Constitution and Government, ID con.
formity with the Constitution Of the Uni,
Ted States, in all respects, framed ly q
convention Of delegates, elected by The
male citizens Of said state, 81 years old
and upward, of whatever race, color or
previous condition, who have been resi-
dent In such state one year previous 10
the day Of such election, except such as
may be ~disfraucbised. for nartininaiion In