The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-02-22
SENATOR siuERMAN's BILL
The Military Government Bill,
m IL Passed the Senaetc.

m IL Passed the Senaetc.
WHEREAs, No legal State Govern.
ment or adequate protection for life
or property now exists in the rebel |
States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Ar
kansas; and whereas it Is nece essary
that peace and good order should be
inforced in said. States, until loyal
aud republican State Governments
can he legally established; therefore,
Be II enacted, &c, That said rebel
States shall be divided into military
districts, and made subject to the
military authorities of the United
States, as hereafter prescribed; and
for that purpose, Virginia shall con
stitute the First District; North Car
olinia and South Carolina the Sec.
ond District; Georgia, Alabama and
Florida the Third District; Nlisssis.
sipi and Arkansas the Fourth Dis
trict, aud Louisiana and Texas the
Fifth District .f.
SEC 2 That it shall be the duty oil
the President 10 assign to the com
mand of each of the said districts an
officer of the army, not below tue
rank OF Brigadier General, and to
detail sufficient military force to CHI
able such officer TO perform his du
tics and enforce his authority within
the district TO which lie Is assigned
SEC. 3. That it should be the duty
OF each officer assigned aforesaid,
to protect all persons in their rights
of person and property, to suppress
linsurrection, disorder and violence,
and to punish or cause TO he punish
ed, all disturbers OF the public peace
and criminals; and to this end he may
be allow local civil tribunals to take
jurisdiction of and try offenders: or
when, in his Judgment, 1t may be nee
essary for the trial of offenders, he
shall have power to organize militia.
Try commitions or tribunals for that
purpose, and all interference under
cover OF State authority with the eX.
ercise of military authority under this
act shall he null and void ts
SEC 4. That all persons put un.
der military arrest by virtue of this
act shall he tried without delay, ant
no cruel or unusual punishment shal
he inflicted, and no sentence Of any
military commission ortribunaI here
/ Ivy authorzed, affecting the life o
, liberty of any person, shall be exc
euted until it is approved by th
officer in command of the district
. and the laws of and the regu lation
+ for the government ofthe army shal
!, not he affected ny this act, except il
so far as they may conflict with it
provisions. ..f h'" ..|-
e Sec ). That when the people G
s any one of said rebel States sha
q have formed constitution of GOV
erninent in conformity with tile Cor
stitution Of the United States in a
= respects, framed by a convention c
= delegates elected by the persons VIII
may vote upon the ratification or re
lection thereof, as hereinafter prov
J. anu NHtH Stl't CDusliIullDI,
- famed, shall have been ratified Ivy
majority OF the male citizens of sal
v State twenty. one years old and NJ
e ward, OF whatever race, color, {
=. lprevious condition of servitude, VII
=. may have been resident in said Sta
for one year previous to the day I
10 voting on the question Of ratifyin
'ffsuch constitution, except such as ma
h be dislranchised for participate
in the rebellion or for felony at con
mon law; and when such Constitl
! ton shall provide that the clccti,
franchise shall be enjoyed by q
e such persons that have the qualii
. cation herein stated, and shall ha,
been submitted to Congress for e,
, animation and approval; and Col
o g:ess shall have approved the sam
and when said State by vote Of i
"a Legislature, elected under said Coz
stitution, shall have adopted Il
% amendment to the Constitution Of IL
1t United States proposed by the Thi
ninth Congress, and known as Art
Gle II, and when said article sha
, have become part Of the 'Cons,it'
tion OF the United States, said Sta
. shall be restored to representation
- Congress, and Senators and Repr
seniatiyes shall be admitted thcret,
. on taking the oath prescribed by Law
, and then aud thereafter the prcceeC
ing sections of this bill shall be il
y operative in said State.