The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-21
MISREPRESENTATION.


AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR TIE MORE EFF
CLIENT GovERNdENT OF THE REBEL STATES.
WHEREAs, no legal State governments or ade-
quate projection for life or property now exists
In the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, Mississippi ana AIkansas, an 40
should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legally es
tablished; therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatiues of the United States Of america in Con-
1resS assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
ject to the military authority of the United States,
| as hereinafter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district; North
Carolina and South Caroline the second district !;
Georgia, Alabama and Florida the third district !;
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district, and
louisiana and Texas the fifth district
SEQ. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the
mand of each of said districts officer of the
army not below the rank of brigadier general,
and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which he is
assigned. -
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of each officer assigned as afore
said to protect all persons in their rights of per-
son and property, to suppress instruction, dis
order, and violence, and to punish or cause to be
punished oil disturbers of the public peace and
| criminals and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try
necessary for the trial of offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or tri-
bunals for that purpose; and all interference
under color of State authority with the exer-
null and void. ..l.r...
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue OF
this act shall be tried without unnecessary delay
and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be in
ficted and no sentence of any military COM
mission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
90 ,l,,11
ted until it is approved by the officer in command
of the district and the laws and regulations for
the government of the army shall not be affected
by this act, except in so far they may conflict
with its provisions Provided, That no sentence
of death under the provisions of this act shall be
carried into effect without the approval OF the
President.
SEC. 5. And be nt1,ther enacted, That when
the people of any of the aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed constitution of government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twenty-one years old and
upward, OF whatever race, color or previous
condition, who have been resident in said State
for one year previous to the day of such election
except such as may be DISTINGUISHED for partici- |
patton in the rebellion or for felony at common |
law; and when such constitution shall provide |
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons as have the qualifications herein |
stated for election of delegates and when such |
constitution shall be ratified by majority of the
persons voting the question of ratification who
are qualified as electors for delegates, and when
such constitution shall have been submitted to
Congress for examination and approval, and
Congress shall have approved the same; and
when said State, by vote ofits Legislature elect
ed under said constitution shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States proposed by the Thirty Ninth Congress,
and hnown article IA, and when said article
shall have become part of the Constitution of
the United States said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress. and Senators
and Representatives shall be admitted therefrom !
OH their taking the oath prescribed by law, and
then and thereafter the proceeding sections OF ,
i; is act shall be imperative in said State P'ovi-
led, That no person excluded from the privilege
If holding office by said proposed amendment to
he Constitution of the United States shall be ,
eligible to election as member of the convention
o frame constitution for any of said rebel 3
states, nor shall any such person vote for MEN, | :
,ers of said convention. +
Sec. 6. and be it further enacted, That until :
he people of said rebel States shall be, by law adj
nitted to representation in the Congress of the .
United States, any civil governments which may +
Xist therein shall be deemed provisional only, -
nd in all respects subject to the paramount au-
hority of the United States at any time to abol-
sh modify, control or supersede the same and =
D all elections to any office under such provis- .
onal governments all persons shall be entitled to
Ote, and none other, who entitled to vote g
nder the provisions of the filth section of this y
ct and no person shall be eligible to any office =
nder any such provisional governments who r
'ould be disqualified from holding Office under =
he provisions of the third article of said consti
ltional amendment. y