The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-03-06
RECONSTRUCTION.
Plan for n Military Despotism
Passed by the Congress
ofthe United states.
The Bill ms Il Finally Passed.


The following il a correct copy Of the act
''tS proyide for the more eihcientrovssn-
ment OF tho; rebel States" as il passed
botn Hous.s
"WHEREAs, No legal State government
or adequate protection for HE or property
now exists N the rebel States OF Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas; and
"WHRREAs, 1t is necessary that peace
and good order should be enforced in said
States until loyal and republican Stale gov
ernments can be legally e=tapiished; there
fore
BE ii enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives. of the United States oi
America, in Cong. ess assembled, That said
rebel States shall be divided into military
districts, and made subject TO the military
authority of the United States, ss hereinaf
ter prescribed, and for that purpose Virginia
shall constitute the first district; North
Carolina and South. Carolina the second
district; Georgia, Alabama and Florida the
third district: Mississippi and Arkansas the
fourth district and Louisiana and Texas the
fifth district.
SEC. 9 And be it further enacted, That
it shall be the duty of the President to as
sign to the Command OF each Of said dis
tricts an officer of the army, mt below the
rank of Brgalicr General, and to detail
sufficient military force to enable such olh
Ger to perform his duties and to enforce his
authority within the district to which he Is
assigned.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted,
That II shall be the duty OF each officer as
signed as aforesaid to protect all persons IN
their rights Of persons and property, to
suppress instruction, disorder and violence,
and to punish, or cause to be punished, all
disturbers o. the public peace, and criml--
| mails, and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to
try offenders, or, when in his judgement 1t
| may be necessary for the trial OF offenders.
| he shall have power to organize military
commission, or tribunals for that purpose;
and all interference under color Of State au-
tority with the exercise Of military authority
under this oct shall he null and void.
SEC. A. And be it further enacted,
| That all persons put under military arrest
by virtue OF this net shall be triad without
unnecessary aelay,s ,sand no cruel or .unusua!
punishment ball be inflicted; and no sen,
tence of any military commission or tribunal
| hereby authorized, affecting the life or lib
erty of any person, shall be executed until
it Is approved by the officer in command of
the district. aud the laws and regulations
for the government of the army shall not be
affected by Mis- act, except 10 so far as they
conflict withits provisions: Provided, That
nc sentence If death, under the provisions
of this act, shll be- carried into effect with
out the arproral Of the President.
SEC. And be it further enacted,
| That when thh people of any one Of said
rebel States shall have formed a constitution
or government in conformity with the Con
stitution of tile United States in all respects
framed by convention Of delegates elected
by the malo rriZens of said twenty one
years old aud 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 a:
may be diSfapchised for participation in thu
rebellion, oriUr telory at common law, anc
when such constitution shall provide tha
the elective fanchise shall be enjoyed ly
all such persons as have the qualification!
herein stated for election of delegates, ant
when such constitutions shall be ratified b.
majority 5s the persons voting on thu
question Of ratification, who are Guahitt
as electors for delegates. aud when sucl
= constitutions shall have bctn submitted t,
Congress for examination and approval an'
Congress shall have approved the same ant
when said State, by vote OF it. Legislature
elected under said constitution, shall have
adopted the amendment to the Constitution
of he United States, proposed by th'
Thirty Ninth Congress. and known as articl
fourteen, aud when said article shall hav
hecnme part of the Constitution of tn
United States. said State shall be declared
, entitled to representation in Congress, an
Senators and Representatives shall bc ad
, mitted therefrom OH their taking the oatl
prescribed BIZ law, aud then and thereafte
s the preceding sections Of this bill shall b
imperative in said State: Provided Tha
e No person excluded from the privilege G
!; holding Office by said proposed amepdmen
! to the Constitution of the United State
shall be eligible to election as member {
the Convention to frame Constitution 70
any of said rebel States, nor shall any sue
person vote for members of said Convef
! tion.
j SEC. 6. AMI hcit further enacted Tha
until the people OF said rebel States ,sha
be by law admitted to representation in tn
0 Congress Of the United States, any civ
I governments which may exist therein sha
be deemed provisional only, an1 in al IT
: spects subject 70 the paramount autborit
Of the United States at any time to abollsl
modify, control or snperceed the same; an
" in all elections to any Office under such pre-
visional government. all persons shall b
u entitled to vote, and none other, who ar
E entitled to vote under the provisions Of tn
fifth section Of this act; and no person sha
: be eligible to any Office under any such prt
y visiona governments who would be d
qualified from holding office under the pre-
!, visions Of the third article Of said consti
3 tutional amendment