The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-27
reconstruction.
The Hea,ure FiRaIIr Adopted.

Tie following j. the Reconstruction Bill finally
adopted by Congress
An ACT for the More Efficient Government Of
the Rebel State:
WHEREAs. No legal State Government or ade-
quate protection for the life or property now ez-
isr- in the rebel states Of Virginia, North Caro-
lima. South Carolina. Georgia. .AiaIet!na. Loui-ia-
na. Florida. Texas and Arkansas and.
NBEEEA>, IL i Necessary that peace and good
order should be enforced in said States until loval
and Republican state Governments can be es;aJ-
li-Lci; therefore.
b. II eHaa'od. &c. That said rebel States be
divided into military districts. and made subject
- the military authority Of the United state. a.
hereinafter prescribed. and for that purpose Vir-
ginia shall constitute the fret district North
Carolina and South Carolina the second district.
Georgia. Alabama and Florida the third district:
Ni-is-ippi and Arkansas the fOuI.!t district:
Louisiana and Texas tie fifth district.
SIC ,. That IL shall hc the duty Of the Presi-
dent - assign 70 tho Command vi each of said
districts an Oi'S Sof the army not below the rank
Of Brig;.y.sr General, and u detail a sufficient
~miiijaTy force 70 enable such officer - perform
his duties and to enforce his authority within the
district To which he i assigned. s-''
SIC. ;. That IL shall be the duty Of each Officer
assigned ~ aforesaid To protecr al Icr-1Hs IL
their rights Of person and property; 10 suppress
m-IrrecUIOn. di-sr.cr ana violence, and u punish.
and cause - Le IanishcI. all Iieturbcrs OF the
~ n-+" L-@"@ aAA ~ tAaT 'lAA III
Ilav allow loval civil tribunals 70 take iuri-dic-
ton Of and try offenders: or. when. in his iud.-
lcnt, IL may be necessary. for the trial of affend-
ers. he shall have power u organize military
commissions or tribunals for that purpose. and all
Interference. under color of State authority. with
the exercise Of military authority under this act
shall he null and void.
SEC. /. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue of this act, shall be ried without
unneeessary delay. and no cruel or unusual pun
I-hinent shall be inflicted, and no sentence Of any
III hillary commission or tribunal hereby author
lied, affecting the life or liberty Of any person.
shall DC executed until it i approved BY the Off
Ger in command Of the district: and the laws and
regulations for the government Of tie army shall
not be affected by this act. except in 80 far Us
they may conflict with its provisions.
SIC. ,. That when the people Of any one of
said rebel States shall have formed a constitutions
al Government. in conformity with the Constitu-
ton of the United States in all respects. framed
by a convention Of delegates elected br the per
sons who may vote upon the ratification OF reicc-
ton thereof, rs hereinafter provided and when
sad Constitution. - framed. shall have been
ratified by 4 majority of the male citizens of said
State, twenty-one years old and upwards. of
whatever race, color or previous condition of
who may have been resident in said
State for one year previous To the day of voting
on the question Of r~atifying such Constitution.
except such as may he DISTINGUISHED for particle
IatIn@ in the rebellion, or for felony at common
law, and when such Constitution Shall provide
the elective franchise shall be enioyed by all
persons that have the qualifications herein
stated, and shall have been submitted To Con-
grcss for examination, and Congress shall have
approved the same; and when said State. by a
vote Of its Legislature. elected under the said
Constitution, stall have adopted the amendment
10 the Constitution of the United States. proposed
by the ThiTty-ninth Congress, and known a. arti-
Gle fourteen, and when said article shall become
part Of the Constitution Of the United States.
such States shall be declared entitled 10 repre-en-
tatiOn III Congress, and Senators and Representa-
tives shall he admitted thercupon. on their taking
the oath prescribed by law: and then and there
after the preceding sections of this bill shall be
imperative in said State.
SEC. d. proposed by Mr.. Doolittlc). Provides
that the penalty of death shall not he inflicted hv
the military power without the approval OF the
President.
SIC. :. CIR. Shellabarger's amentmeuO. That
until the people of said rebel states shall. by law,
be admitted to representation in the Congress of
the United States. the civil governments that NAV
exist therein shall be deemed provisional only.
and shall DC in all respects subject To the para
mount authority of the United States, which may
N any time abolish, modify, control and super
cede the same, and in all elections to any olfce
such Provisional Governments. all persons
.hal be entitled TO vote, and none others who are
entitled 10 vote under the provisions of the fifth
section of this Act. aud no person shall be eligible
- any ONCE unIer such Provisional Governments,
would be disqualified from holding Office
the provisions OF the third article of said
constitutional Amendment.
The following is the third section of the Tend-
ng Constitutions Amendment, which is made Il
Of the above bill
SECTION 3. No person shall be a Senator. Rep
in Congress. Elector Of President and
Vice President, or hold any office, civil or mill
under the United States. or under any State.
Who, having previously taken an oath as IA mem
,er of Congress, or as an officer of the United
states, or as a member of any State legislature,
~ as an executive or judicial officer of any State,
o support the Constitution Of the United States.
hall have engaged in instruction and rebellion
.gainst the same, or given aid or comfort to the
ucmies thereof; but Congress may, by n vote of
wO-thirds of each House, remove such disability.