The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-07-11
REcoNsrRUcrros BILL.

stevens Reconstruction bill, whose pas
sage through the House of Representatives
has been announced, was substantially a. fol.
lows:
Be ii enacted, That it is hereby declared to ha We
been the true intent and meaning of the act of the
I'd day of March, 1857, entitled "An act to pro-
vide for the more efficient government of the reb-
el States, and of the act supplementary thereto,
passed on tho 22d Of March, in the year 1867.
that the governments then existing in the rebel
States-Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina
Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Texas
and Alabama-were illegal and void and that
thereafter said governments, if continued were 10
be continued subject, in oil respects, to the militia
ry commanders in the several districts, and to he
authority Of Congress.
SEC. 2. That the said acts to which this ia q
supplement shall be construed so as to authorize
the officer assigned TO the command Of any militia.
ry district under said act when he shall deem /,
necessary to the due performance of bis duties
under said act, to remove or suspend from Office
any municipal or State officer, or person EXERCISING
authority under by virtue Of any socalIed
state government existing in his district; and
said officer soassigned to command as aforesaid
is hereby empowered to appoint another person
instead OF the officer or person removed, if he
shall deem proper so to do; and when he NAV
deem 1t necessary, as aforesaid, to prohibit. sus
penu, or set asiae any act or proceeding of such
6e"eV " isHfctpat government, or any act tn
done under or by virtue of its authority all acts
heretofore done by such officer in accordanee here
with shall be deemed valid
SEC. 3. That the boards of registration of the
several military districts established by the acts
TO which this is supplementary shall admit to re-
gls,ranon only such persons as they deem enti-
tied to be registered by the acts aforesaid. They
shall not regard the taking Of the oath prescribed
in the act Of March 20, 1867, as conclusive eyi.
dence OF the right Of persons taking il to be roy
istercd, but ~ prfssd fdcia only and may receive
such evidence under oath relating thereto a. they
may deem proPef, either from the person applying
to be registered Or others; and either of the me M
bers Of said board is authorized to administer
oAths or afirmstions and examine witnesses toucb.
ing the right of any persons to be registered
buch board of registration may strike from the
list OF voters the names of any one already regis.
.ereo, VINO, IN the,. judgment, improperly took
the oath prescribed In the acts to which This Il
supplementary, or was not entitled BY said net.
to DO Fcgistefed. Record evidence shall not he r.
quired by such board to prove facts but parole
evidence shall be sufficient to establish such parti.
ciPation: and said board shall not be bound or
Of tho United States Government. eAee'
SEC. 4. That no civil court of the yTnited Sta,..
shall have jurisdiction Of any act, civil or or;mi
nal, against such district commander or any on
Ger or person acting by his authority by for or nm
account OF this discharge Of duties imposed ON
Nun W TINS act, or fhe acts to which it is supple
mentary. Ff'N
SIC. 5. That no district commando .ha,I ho :.
levsd from the command assigned TO hin, MAJ,
the aforesaid acts unless the Senate sh.u h.vs -.
advised and consented thereto. or miles, hy 80
tence Of court martial, he shall BE- casb;eroa :,
dismissed from tho army, or uple,s he .bau 90,
sent to be relieved.
SEC 8. That the time for the comnlet;o, ar ~.
registration of persons properly qualified ID Vote
may be extended by orders of said distr;et com
manders to any day prior to the iii Of 0ctoba,
A, D. 1857.