The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-02-28
The BiH 10 Establish Military
Governments in the south
eFn states.

The following is correct copy Of
this bill, rs passed BY both Houses Of
Congress
Whsrras, No legal State governments
or adequate protectio for life or prop.
erty now exist in the Rebel States Of
Virginia, North Carolina, Soa,h Caro-
lima, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Arkan-
sas
Ana WitreGs, II is necessary that
peace and good order should be enfor-
ecd in said States and loyal and repub-
lican State governments be legally %.
tablished; therefore.
BE IL enacted by nc Sente aud House
Of Representatives Of the United States
Of Americu IN Congress assembled, That
said Rebel 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 Virgins shall consti.
tute the FIRST District,, North Carolina
and, South Caroliua fse Second District
GourIia Alabama and Florida the Third
District; Mississippi and Arkansas the
Fourth District, and Louisiana and
Texas the Fifth District.
Section 2. And be ID further enacted,
That it shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent to assign to the command Of each
Of said districts an officer of the army
not below the rank Of brigadicr general
and to detail sufficient military force
to enable such officer to perform his du.
ties and enforce his authority within
the district to which he is assigned.
Section 8. ARa be IL further enacted,
That il shall be the duty Of each officer
assigned as aforesaid to protect all per-
sons in their rights of person and prop.
erty, to suppress instruction, disorder,
and violence, and TO punish or cause to
be punished all disturbers Of the public
peace and criminals; and to this end he
may allow local civil tribunals to take
jurisdiction Of and to try offenders; or
when, in his judgement. it may be ne
ccssary for the trial of offenders, he
shall have power to organize military
commissions or tribunals for that pur.
pose, and all interference, under color
OF State authority, with the exercise OF
military authority under this act shall
be null and void.
Section 4. And be Il further enacted,
That all persons put under military ar.
rest By virtue Of this act shall be tried
without unnecessary delay, and no cruel
or unusual punishment shall be inf icted;
and no sentence of any military com.
mission or tribunal hereby authorized
affecting the life or liberty of any per.
son. shall be executed until it is sppro,
we'd by the officer in command of the
district; aud the laws and regulations
for the government of the army shall
not be affected by this act, except in SC
far as they conflict with its provisions;
provided, that no sentence Of death un.
der the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval
Of the President Of the United States.
Section 5. Be IL further enacted, Tha:
81 States sb,li have fnymoJ -. -
t;on,I covornmn,, - oonc,.,,;.,' ~; y
the Constitution of the United States,
of DELEGATES elected bv he ,ooIo c;t;,ons
NJ said St,te ,won,v ono na.rs al - "ns
unwards Of wb,,oyor 80 ooI". ~" =.
nrevious cood;,;on Who hayo haan 80 y
dents in so;d st,,n for ono 80 80. 80
ous 70 the dav Of sncb eleo,;on a L.,
sucb as NAV IL d;se.a,oh;soa g.. ~
cipation in robell;on or fnr coIodm pa ~
common law and when snob cnn:,;,"
ton shall provide that tho el.c,;vo c..u
chise shall bo en;oved hv Ill sroh ~"
SON, AZ have thc nn,l;Soa,;ons - pV'
quoted for olect;nn If S.,,ora,os -. nS
when sucb Constitution sbaII h. ~ an'
ted bv a majority Of ,bs n".'on " 4uop
on the ouesiion of r,,;sos,ion mh. g
qualified as oloc,ors co. 49, Nv az
when such Constellation shall b,ya r.
submitted 10 CONGRESS for axan,;.a 80
and .nnroval III Csns NIm
approved the same and whom sa;a s,a,o
by vote of lis LerisIatnrc oioc,ad mu'
der said Cons,;tpt;on sLaI ~ 49, ~
ted the amendment, ~ tbe cons,;,n,; op
of the United State, proposod hv ,So
Thirty.uinth Concres, and toog, ~" =.
article IA; and when said ,rt;c,a shar