The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-07-31
The IeccOnstructson LAWS.

N0hS'Veoi as unn1 hHfe eAPIesSeu desire
to obtain accurate cep,es:
THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT.
AN ACT to provide for the NOR. cfiric nj,
government OF the rebel States. Tpnss
cd over the Presidents Veto, March "a,
1867
WRRRsAs. no legal State governments or
adequate protection for life or property
now exists in the rebel States Of Virgin
Ia, Norti tannlina, South Carnln Geor
gin. Mississippi, Alabamr, Louisiana.
Florida, Texas, md Arknn~n~; and
whereas. II Is necessary that peace and
gnOi orIrr should ue enforced III snch
States until Io,aI and R"pnblicrn State
Governments can be leg ally establrshed ::
Therefore.
BE it enacted bv The S.na and House
| of REPRESENTATIVES Of the UuIted States of
America in Congress- assembled. That said
rebel States shall be divided into mill arv
districts and made subject TO the niIitnr"
authority of the United States n- herein
ntlcr prescribed, and for that purpo-. VIr.
ginin 'hnll constitute the first di-trirt +:
North Carolina and South Carolina the
second district; Georgia. Alabam, ard
Florida, tie third district; Mississippi and
Arkarsas the fourth district and I.ouisia
ma and Texas the fifth dis rct
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That
il shall De the duty Of the President to IA
sign To the command "f each Of ~n'l dS.
'rIctS nm officer of the army, not be'ow the
rank ot MiEhdIer general. ami To detail "A
sufficient mptrv frrce To -nabi. surh eli
Ger l." uerf"r.n his duties and eniorrr his
authority within the district in which he II
assigned
See And be it further enacted. That
it shall be the duty of "nrh officer assign
ed as aforesaid to protect all persons in
their rights of person and property. to sup
press in~urre,tlon, disorder and violence.
ard To punish or cause to be punished n'l
dsiurhcrs 0f the public pence ard rrimi
mails and 10 this end ne NAV allow local
civil tribunals 10 take jurisdiction df and TO.
try offenders or, when in his Judgment it
NAV b" necessary for the trial Of ntf.ndrrs
he shall have power Ia organize military
commissions or tribnnus for that ~ Irpn.r.
and all Interference. under color uf Stst,.
authority. with ihr exercise Of military an .
'h"rty under this uct shall be null and
void
Sec s, Ard be il rurth"r enacted. Th,,
NV It'~'H@ phl NihltT flll|l'1r' arrest M
virtue of his act shall br ticd without nm
n"r"-Narv DELAY. mud no cruel or uuuSual
prnjNhmcnt slali tee Inflicted : nrd mo- son
'rnr" "t nnv m.i,ar, commission or irihu
n"I LrrrhN aaIh"tlz-G. ALTERING the liz. ar
ho"rly OF any p-r'pn. shal! u. eXrruted nm
tai it - approved hv The officer H. command
Il the district nnd the laws aud regulations
OF Ih" government OF the AMY shall tot
a" effected by this act. except in 40 Gar a.
they conflict In H. pr"vrsirns Protidrd
That no s"nr"nc" of death. und"r the prn
visions of tins act, shall hc carried irto e
feet "i'h"nt t." approval of the President
Soc. :. And b- it fur her enacted, That
hen the people of anv s,i rebel State.
shni! hnv. frrmed constitution Of r,v.ru
meut N conformity with th. Consultation
Of the UuIird States in al respects, framed
hv convention of delegates ercIeG by the
mmlr citizens Of sHid State, twenty ON.
Years old and upwards, OF " ,aieyrr race.
color or prrvI"us condition. who have b..r
r"sdrni in sid STATE for on. year pT.v ious
10 the dtv "f such election. cx-ept such 80
uay bu Gt~trunchis'd for partcipatIun in
Ia" rebellion, "r frr felony at common la,,.
and when surh constitution shall provid,.
thut the: 1'ectve trHnch-c shall be -nion ed
by all Such p"rsO - have the QualIfca
iions herein stated for cl.cl0rs "f drlrpntr-;
and when s"ch constitution shall be- raiI
hrd BY majority OF the pcrs0us, voting on
the question df ratiiicI ion. wLo ARE aua9i
iI"d ~ electors for Delegates aGi whvu
such Constitution -halI have been submit,
ted I" Congress for examination and appro
Val. and C"ngtess shall have approved the
snme and wien th- -,id State. by.a vote
,ot its Legislature. elected under sad con
-iiiu,l"n. shal! have adopted the amend
mrnt 10 the constitution If the United
State, proposed by the rhirt, ninth Ton
9ress. and kuo" Rs Rrtich fourteen aud
when Sard Hr'iclr shall have become a pnr,
Of tie c"n-ti,uton Of he Undrd States
said State shall be drrlared ertit ed 10 rep
re~en alton IN orgr-s-. and Senui ars .nI
Representatives. shall be admitted there
om, on heir tnking the oath pre.rrib-d by
law ; and thrn aud thereafter tn" preceding
sec'irns OF this ret shaIi be innpesativr il,
rhId Stale. Prnv'd-d. That no p-rson.y
GUIDED from the privilege cf hold,ny ":fi:.-'
bv said amendment Ia the constitution of
The United States stall be Wig bI. 10 el,c
'i"n AL member OF tho cnnyeutinn to
f'ame aeonsli'urion tor any Of said rsber
members Of -uvh convention
See. And be il furiher enacted. That
until the people Of said reheI States sigII
b- bv law rdmrtr-i 70 representation ia
the C0ng-cs' OF the United States, any civ
IL government which msy exist therein
shr i be deemed provisional only and in all
respects subject 10 the para uounl auLhhri
" Of the U.itrd States nt mny Iinfr Ia sbnl
i-h. modiy, c"EtroI or sup'r-rde the same !;
Hnd in all r'tcrior-to any "ftict under such
Provisional gov ernmeut- ali persons -hall
Ire entitled To- vote, md none others who
are entitled To vote under the pro Wis, ons uf
the NTH section OF this act and no persra
shall be eligible 10 any Office under such
pr"vi-iona' g"vtrnment- no SnnId be d>
qualified ir"m holding Office under the pro
VISIONS "f.rh. lhird article of sa d con stu.
tional ameHGm-nt
SCHUYLER COLFhX,
Speaker iiomse Of Representatives..
LAFhYE rrE = FOSTER.
pFs.Iis isntF Of tha