The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-03-08
RECONSTRUCTION
Plan Proposed by the Con-
gress of the United States.
ORDER TO COME FOURTH OUT
OF CHAOS.
Liberty, Loyalty, and Law 10 be
Established, Protected,
and Respected.
Tho Bill as it Finally Passed the
Senate.

SeEat0s
The following Is a correct copy Of the act
" 60 provide for the more efficient govern.
nIent Of the rebel States" AS ii passed the
Senate on Wednesday evening
Whereas no legal State governments or aG-
equate protection for iifO or property now ex-
lists in the rebel States Of Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Arkansas
and whereas It iS necessary that peace and
good order should be enforced In said States
until loyal and republican State governments
can be legally established therefore,
Be il enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep.
resentatiUsS Of he Cnitsd States Of Americd in
COAgrsSS assembled, That said rebel States
shall be divided into military districts and
made snbjetI 10 the military authority Of the
United States, as hereinafter prescribed, and
for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the
first district North Carolina and South Car
Olina the second district; Georgia Alabama
and Florida the third district, Mississippi
and Arkansas the fourth district and Louis
lana and Texas the fifth district.
SEC, 2, And be Il further enacted, That 1t
shall be the duty Of the President 10 assign
to the command Of each Of said districts al
officer Of the army, not below the rank Of
brigadier general and TO detail 4 sufficient
military force to enable such officer to per-
form his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
SIC. 3. ARd be Il further ENACTED, That 1t
shall be the duty Of each officer assigned as
aforesaid to protect al! persons In their rights
Of person and property, to suppress inBur-
~rectiOn, disorder, and violence, and to pun
ish, or cause to be punished, all distubers Of
the public peace aAd criminals and to this
end he may allow local civil tribunals to
take jurisdiction Of and TO try offenders,
or, when in his judgement il may be neces-
sary for the trial OF offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or
tribunals for that purpose; and all interior
ence under color Of State authority with the
exercise Of military authority under this
act shall be null and void.
SEc. 4. And be IL CHrfhn enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue
Of this act shall be tried without uhneees-
sary delay, and no cruel or unusual puaish-
ment 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 It Is APP
proved by the officer in command Of this dis
trict, and the laws and regulations for the
government Of the army shall not he affected
by this ACT, except in so lar rs they conflict
with itS provisions Provided, That no SEN
tenee Of death under the provisions Of this
act, shall be carried into effect without the
approval Of the President.
SEC. s. And Be Il further enacted, ThA. when
the people Of anV one OF said rebel States
hal have formed a constitution OF govern
meEt in conformity with the Constitution Of
the United States In all respects, framed by
a convention Of delegates elected by the male
citizens OF said State twcniy-One years old
and upward, Of whatever race, color, or pre-
viOus condition, who have been resident OF
said State for one year previous 20 the day
OF such election, except such rs may be dis
franehised for participation in the rebellion
or for felony Mt common law, and when such
constitution shall provide that the elective
franchise shall be enjoyed by all sneh per.
sons as have the qualifications herein stated
for election Of delegates, and when such
constitution shall be ratified by y majority
Of the persons voting on the question Of rat
ifca.ion, who are qualified as electors for del
egates, and when sush constitutions shall
have been submitted to Congress- shall have
approved the same, and when said State, By
a vote Of its Legislature elected under said
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment 10 the Constitution Of the Upited
States, proposed by the ThiIty-Ninth Con-
gress, and known as article fourteen, and
when said article shall have becomes a part
OF the Constitution Of the United States,
said State shall be declared entitled 10 rep
resentation In Congress, and Senators and
Representatives shall be admitted theFefrom
on their taking the oath prescribed by law,
and then and thereafter the preceding sec
tions Of this bill shall be imperative In said
State: Provided, 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 q member Of the convention 10 frame q
constitution for any Of said rebel States, nor
shall any such person vote for members Of
said convention.
the people Of said rebel States shall be by
law admitted 10 representation In tho Con-
grsss Of the United States any civil goveru-
mentS which may exist therein shall he deem
ed provisional only, and In all respects sub
ject TO the paramount authority OF the Uni
ted States at any time to abolish, modify,
control, or SuperSede the Jane and in all
elections in any ONCE under such provision
al governments all persons shall be entitled
10 vote, aud none other, who are entitled 70
vote uHdsr the provisions Of the hnh sec
tiOn Of this act and no person shall be ell
gible to any oaee under any suck provision
al governments who would be disqualified
from holding Office under the provisions 81
the third article Of said constitutional
Amendment.