The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-06
Government OF the Late Insurrectton.
AIRY states.
WAsHINaroN, February 4, lS6

wAsHINaroN, February 4, 1867.
Senator Williams, of Oregon, to-day
submitted bill to the Senate I'to pro-
vide for the more efficient government
of the insurrectionary States" 1t was
referred to the Joint Committee on Re
construction. The bill is as follows:
WHEREAS, The pretended State gov
ernments Of1he late so-called Conied-
crate States of Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Missis-
sippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and Arkansas were set up with
out authority of Congress and are of no
constitutional validity and
WHEREAs, They are in the hands
and under the control of the unrepent-
ant leaders of the rebellion, and afford
no adequate protection for life and
property, but countenance and encour-
age lawiessness and crime; and
WHEREAS, 1t is necessary that peace
and good order shall be enforced in the
said so-called States until loyal aud re-
publican governments can be legally
| formed therefore,
Be 1t enacted, DC, That each of the
said sO-called States shall constitute n
military district, TO be subject to the
military authorities of the United
States AS herein enacted and prescribed.
SEC 2. That it shall be the duty of
authority of the President of the United
States, to assign to the command OF
said district an officer of the regular
army, not below the rank of Brigndier
General, and to furnish such officer
with military force sufficient to ena-
BILE him TO perform his duties and en-
| force his authority in the district to
| which he is assigned. -
SIC. 3. That il shall be the duty OF
each othcer assigned Rs aforesaid, to
! protect all peaceable and law-abiding
persons in their rights of person and
| property; to suppress insuTrectiOn, dis
order and violence; and to punish or
cause to be punished all disturb bers OF
! the public peace and criminals. To this
| end he may allow the local tribunals TO
take jurisdiction and try Offenders, or
| when, in his Judgment, it be necessary
| for the trial of offenders. he shall or
! ganize Military Commissions or Tribu-
nails, for that purpose, anything in the
| constitution and laws of the so-called
| States, TO the contrary Notwithstanding
and all legislative and judicial proceed
ings of said Military, Commissions or
Tribunals, and all Interference by said
| pretended government with the eXer-
else OF military authority, under this
! act, shall be void and OF no effect.
SEC 4. That courts and judicial
| officers of the United States may issue
writs of habeas corpus in behalf oi
| prisoners in the military custody, only
when some commissioned officer on
duty in the district where the petition
originates, shall endorse on said peti-
ton statement certifying upon honor,
that he has knowledge or information
as TO the cause and circumstances oil
the alleged detention. and believes the
same to be wrOngfully enforced, and
that he believes the endorsed petition
Is made in good faith that Justice may
be done, and not to hinder or delay the
! punishment of crime; and all persons
put under military arrest by virtue OF
this act shall be tried without unneces-
sary delay, and no cruel or unusual
punishment shall be inflicted.
SEC. 5. That no sentence of any mill
tary tribunal affecting the liberty or
i life of any person shall be executed
until approved by the officer in com
mand of the proper district; and the
laws and regulations for the govern
ment of the army shall not be effected
by this act, except in so far as they
\ conflict with its provisions.