The national Republican., 1867-07-10
CoNGREss HESTERDAY.

In the House, yesterday, the reconstruc.
ton bill introduced by Mr.. SrEvKss was
considered, amended, and passed--for the
bin as amended, yeas lls; nays 81.
Speeches were made by Messrs. OHASLkR,
woop, and MusoKs against the measure,
and by Messrs. BNoHAx, GARFIELD, and
STEVENS for il. Mr.. STEVENS, as usual,
was listened to with undivided attention.
We give below the bill as amended:
De 10 enacted BY the Senate aud House Of Rep.
rsishfatipei Of tie United !Sfatss Of America IN
Congysss assembisd, That II 10 hereby declared
10 have been the true intent and meaning Of the
act Of the second day Of March, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty -ssvsn, entitled "An act
70 provide for the more efficient government Of
the rebel States, " and Of the act supplements
thereto, passed on the twenty third day Of March,
In the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty that the governments then existing
in the rebel States Of Virginia North Carolins,
South Carolina, 0eorgis, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, aud Arkansas, were
illegal and void; and that thereafter said gov.
srnmsnts, II eoatinusd, were to be continued
subject In all respects to the military command.
s Of the respective districts, and to tho author.
ity Of Congress.
SEQ. 2. And bs 10 further enacted, That the
said acts 70 which this Is . supplement, shall be
construed to authsriss the ofioer assigned TO the
command Of any military district under said
aots, whsnevcr he shall deem Il necessary TO the
due performance Of his duties under said aots, 10
remove or suspend from Office any municipal or
State officer or person exercising authority under
| or BY virtue Of any so.oallod State government
existing In his district, and the said ofiicer 90
| assigned to command, as aforesaid, 10 hereby
| empowered to appoint another person In the
stead Of the officer or person 90 removed II be
| shall deem proper so TO do, and whenever he may
deem 1t necessary. as aforesaid, to prohibit, sus
pend, or set aside any act or proceedings Of any
such State or municipal government, or any act
or thing done under or BY virtue Of its authority
| and all acts heretofore done by any such ofioel
| In accordance herewith shall bs deemed valid.
Sec. g. Aud Be IL further enacted, That the
boards Of registration Of the several military dis
tricts established BY tho acts to which this Il
supplementary, shall admit to registration only
| such persons as they deem entitled TO be regis
tered by the acts aforesaid. They shall no,
regard the taking Of tho oath prescribed In th,
act Of March twenty three, eighteen hundred
and sixty-seven, conclusive evidence Of tn,
| right Of the person taking Il 10 be registered
but prima facie only, and may receive suot
evidence under oath relating thereto as they
may deem proper, either from the person apply
ing to be registered or Others and either Of th,
members Of said boards 10 hereby authorized t,
administer oatbs or afirmationS and sIamin,
witnesses touching the right Of any person to b,
registered. Said boards Of registration ma,
strike from the list Of voters the name Of AM
ono already registered who, In their judgment
improperly took the oath prescribed In the act
TO which this is supplementary, or was not en-
titled by said acts TO be registered. Record evi
dcnce shall not bs required by said boards Il
prove participation in the rebellion, but parole
evidence shall bo sufficient to establish the fac
Of such participation; and said boards Of regis
tratiou shall not be bound or governed In thei
action by any opipion Of any officer Of the UniteS
States Government: Provided, That the right o
Of any person to be registered as . legal vote
shall In no respect, bc changed or Affected b,
virtue Of any pardon granted to such person BY
the President Of the United States for partcipa-
tion In the rebellion.
Sec. 4. And Be IL furthe- enacted That nc
civil court Of the United States or Of any State
shall have Jurisdiction Of any action or proceed
ing. civil or criminal, against any such district
commander, or any officer or person acting BY
his authority, for or on account OF the discharge
Of the duties imposed upon him BY this act or
the acts to which II is supplementary.
Sec. 8. And Be IL further enacted That no dis
trict commander shall be relieved from the com
mand assigned TO him under the aforesaid acts
unless the Senate shall have hrst advised and
consented thereto. or unless by sentence Of court
martial he shall be cashiered or dismissed frou
the army, or iu arrest for an offence punishabl,
BY dismissal from the army, or disqualified b,
sickness for the performance Of his duty
SEQ. 9. And 6s IL further enacted, That th,
time for the completion Of the registration o
persons properly qualified to vote may be OF
tended by orders Of the said several district CON
manders to any day prior to the first day Of %
tober, ammo Domini eighteen hundred and sixty
seven.
Soc. I. And BE- h further enacted, That any
person or persons who shall prevent, or attempt
to prevent or obstruct the execution Of this act
or either Of the acts to which this act Is supple
mentary, shall be guilty Of q misiemeanor, ant
on conviction thereof shall bo hned In a sum no
exceeding i've thousand dollars, or imprisoned
one year, or both, At the discretion Of the court