Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-19
Military Governments for the South.

construction ~ of which Thad Stevens was
chairman, establishing military governments in
the Southern States, passed the House OF Rep
resentatives, on Wednesday last by vote OF
100 ayes to IS nays-within one of being two
thirds vote. In the language ofthe Lynchburg
Vrginidn, 1t makes General Grant military
dictator in these States, repudiates the late de-
cision of the Supreme Court, suspends the writ
of habeas corpus, and efectually deposes the
government of the Southern States is concern
ed. As will be seen, it contains no provision
whatever for the restoration of these States to
their Iightful place in the Union; and does not
intimate that this is a provisional arrangement,
looking to the final rehabilitation of the States
concerned. For all that the bill intimates to
the contrary. it is plan for the subjection for
ever, of the Southern States to an absolute and
irresponsible military government. How this
system is to be incorporated with our form OF
republican government, it is difficult to appre-
bend. Its introduction and continuance here
cannot but end in the final overthrow Of the
constitutional government of the United States.
/
stride in the direction of absolutsm, and its in
evitable tendency is to military dictatorship
for the whole country.
The following is this most remarkable and in
iquitous bill:
Whereas, the pretended State governments
| of the late so-called Confederate States of Fir-
ginia North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Tex
as and Arkansas were set up without the au-
thority of Congress, and without the sanction Of
the people; and whereas the said pretended
governments afford no adequate protection for
Life or property, but countenance and encourage
lawlessness and crime; and whereas it is neces-
sary that peace and good order should be en-
forced in the said so-caled States until loyal
and republican State governments can be legal
ly established; therefore,
''Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States Of Ameri-
ca in Congress assembled, That the so-called
States shall be divided into military districts,
and made subject to the military authority of
the United States, as hereinafter prescribed
and for that purpose, Virginia shall constitute
the LIST district; North Carolina and South Car
DINA, the I'd district Georgia, Alabama and
Florida, the Sd district; Mississippi and Arkan-
sas, the 4th district; and Louisiana and Texas,
the 9Th district.
SECTION g And be it further enacted,
| That it shall be the duty of the General of the
army to assign to the command of each Of the
said districts an officer Of the regular army, not
below the rank Of Brigadier-G General; and to
detail sufficient military force to enable such
officer to perform his duties and enforce his au-
thorty within the district to which he is assign
ed.
''SEcTToN g. And be it further enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of each officer assigned
as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights
Of person and property, to suppress instruction,
disorder and violence, and to punish, or cause
to be punished, all disturbers ofthe public peace
and criminals and to this end he may allow
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try
offenders, or when in his judgment it may be
necessary for the trial of offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or trl-
bunals for that purpose, anything in the con-
stitutions and laws of the so called States to the
contrary Notwithstanding and all legislative OF
judicial proceedings or processes to prevent Oh
contest the proceedings Of said military tribu
mails, and all interference by said pretended
State governments with the exercise ofmilitary
authority under this act, shall be void and Of nc
effect.
SECTION l. 4And be 1t further enacted
/ That courts and judicial officers Of the United
States shall not issue writs Of h0beas corpus IL
behalf Of persons in military custody unless
some commissioned officer on duty in the dis
trict wherein the person is detained shall en-
dorse upon said petition statement certifying
upon honor that he has knowledge or informa
ton as to the cause and circumstances of the
alleged detention, and that he believes the same
to be wrongful and further. that he believe!
that the endorsed petition is preferred in GOOD
faith and in furtherance of justice, and not tt
hinder or delay the punishment of crime. Al
persons put under military arrest by virtue o.
this act shall be tried without unnecessary de
lay, and no cruel or unusual punishment shall
be inflicted.
SECTION s. Ind be 1t further enacted
That no sentence of any military commission Of
tribunal hereby authorized affecting the life OF
liberty Of any person shall be executed until il
is approved by the superior officer in command
Of the district, and the laws and regulations fol-
the government of the army shall not be affect
ed by this act except in so far as they confiic
with its provisions
In commenting upon the outrageous charac
ter of this bill, the Lancaster Pa. intelligence
says that it was devised by the Reconstruction
Committee for the purpose of completing anc
perpetuating a dissolution of the Union. NJ
man possessed Of ordinary judgment can read il
without being shocked. It proposes to destroy
at one sweep every vestige of civil government
in one-half of the country, and to set up under
the exclusive control Of the Radicals in Con
gress, military despotism, pure and simple
Ten States are to be at once blotted from exist
ence. They are to be reduced, not to the con
dition Of other territories: but to the sad state
of hostile provinces, Military satraps are to be
appointed over them. The people are to have
no choice in the selection of their rulers. These
arbitrary governors, these minions Of a military
despotism are not expected to rule in accordance
with any known Oh recognized laws. With THEN
dictates no civil court can interfere. There are
to be no laws throughout the South, except the
rules of the camp and the will of military
chieftain. In order that there may be no mis-
take about the arbitrary features Of this new
form of government, the bill expressly provides
that there shall be no interference by any civil
authority with the military control. No court
can grant the privilege Of hearing On writ OF
ha6eas corpus without the consent of some mil
itary satrap. Every citizen is made liable tc
arrest, to summary trial, to conviction and ex-
ecution, by an irresponsible and unconstitution
al military. tribunal. from which there is to be