The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-30
The Reconstruction Act,

The Reconstruction Act.
The following is correct copy of the act
to provide for the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel States" as it passed:
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE Eff
GENT GOVERNMENT OF THE REBEL STATES.
w WHEREAS no legal State governments or ado
quate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina,
Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas it is necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
tablished; therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentdiues Of the United States Of A,erca in Con
gress. assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
Ject to the military authority the United States
as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district; North
Carolina and South Carolina the second district;
Georgia, Alabama and Florida the third district
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district, and
Louisiana and Texas the fifth district
SEC 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand of each of said districts an officer of the
army not below the rank of brigadier general
and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he is
assigned.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as afore
said to protect all persons in their rights of per-
son and property, to suppress Instruction. dis
punished all disturbers of the public peace and
criminals and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take Jurisdiction of and try
offenders, or when in his judgment it may be
necessary for the trial of offenders, he shall lave
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all Interference
under color of State authority with the exer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void.
SEC. 4. Amd be it further enacted, 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 in
ficted and no sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person, shall be execu-
ted until it is approved by the officer in command
Of the district and the laws and regulations for
the government oil the army shall not be affected
by this act, except in so far as they may conflict
with its provisions Provided, That no sentence
OF death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval of the
President
SEC. 5. And be itfu,ther enacted That when
the people of any ofthe aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed 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 resident in said State
for year previous to the day of such election,
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partici-
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common
law; and when such constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons have the qualifications herein
stated for election of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
persons voting on the question of ratification who
qualified as electors for delegates, and when
such constitution shall have been submitted to
Congress for examination and approval, and
Congress shall have approved the same; and
when said State, by vote ofits Legislature elect
cd nrhh nil tutin hal hay na6n ntaH
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and hnown article Ii, and when said article
shall have become part of the Constitution of
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress, and Senators
and Repre- sentatives shall be admitted there from
on their taking the oath prescribed by law, and
then and thereafter the proceeding sections of
this act shall be imperative in said State Frovi
ded, That no person excluded from the privilege
of holding office by said proposed amendment to
the Constitution of the United States shall be
eligible to election as member of the convention
to frame constitution for any of said rebel
States, shall any such person vote for mem
bers of said convention.
Sec 6. And belt further enacted, That until
the people of said rebel States shall be, by law, ad
mitted to representation in the Congress of the
United States any civil governments which may
exist therein shall be deemed provisional only,
and in all respects subject to the paramount au-
thority of the United States at any time to abol-
ish modify, control OF supcrsede the same and
in all ell ctions to any office under such provis-
ional go ernments all persons shall be entitled to
vote, an none other, who are entitled to vote
under provisions of the fifth section of this
act and person shall be eligible to any office
under any such provisional governments who
would be disqualified from holding office under
the provisions of the third article of said cOnsti
tutional amendment.
Supplementary Reconstruction Bill.
The following is copy of the bill as it
finally passed both Houses:
An act supplemental to an act entitled an act
to provide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States passed March 2, 1867,
and to. facilitate restoration.
Be it enacted, de-, That before the list day
of September, 1867, the commanding general
in each district defined by an act entitled
can act to provide for the more efficient gov
eminent of the rebel States" approved
March second, eighteen hundred and sixty
seven, shall cause registration to be made
of the male citizens of the United States
twenty-one years of age and upwards, resi-
dent in each county or parish in the State
or States included in his district, which reg
istration will include only those persons who
are qualified to vote for delegates by the
act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and
| subscribed the following oath or affirmation :
81, do solemnly swear (or afirm)
in the presence of Almighty God, that I am
citizen OF the Otate OF -, LldC nave
resided in said State for - months next
preceding this day, and now reside in the
| county Of, or parish of -, in said
State, as the case may be; that am TWEEN
| ty-one years old; that have not been dis
franchised for participation in any rebellion
or civil waragainst the United States, nor
for felony committed against the laws ofany
State or of the United States; that I have
never been member of any State Legisla-
ture nor held any executive orjudicial office
in any State and afterwards engaged in in
surrection against the United States, and
given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; ;
that have never taken an oath as member
of Congress of the United States, or as an
officer of the United States, or member
of any State Legislature or as an executive
or judicial officer of any State, to support
| the Constitution of the United States, and
afterwards engaged in instruction or rebel
lion against the United States, or given aid
or comfort to the enemies thereof; and that
1 will faithfully support the Constitution
and obey the laws of the United States :;
and will, to the best of my ability, encour-
age all others to do $3.50 help me God."-
Which oath or affirmation may be admins
tered by any registering officer.
SEC O. That after the completion of the
registration hereby provided for in any