The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-04
sRECoNsrRUCTIoN.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFF

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE Eff
GENT GOVERNMENT OF TILE REBEL STATES.
WHEREAS no legal State governments or ade-
quate protection for life or property now exists
in the rebel States of Virginia. North CaroLna'
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, and
whereas, 1T is necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said States until loyal ana
republican State governments can De legally es-
tablished; therefore, ---
Be it enacted 6y the Senate and House Of Repre-
seatatiues Of the United States Of America in Con-
gress assembled, That said rebel States shall
be divided into military districts, and made sub
ect to the military authority OF the States,
as hereinafter prescribed, and Tor that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district; North
Carolina and South-C 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. 2. And be it further enacted, That 1t shall
be the duty of the President to assign to the COM
mand of each of said Districts ali officer OF the
army not below the rank OF brigadicr general,
and to detail sufficient military force to enable
such officer to perform his duties and enforce
his authority within the district to which ne is
assigned.
SEC. 8. And be 1t 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 10 be
punished all disturbers of the public peace and
criminals and to this end he may allow local
civil tribunals to take jurisdiction or and try
offenders, or when in his Judgment IL may DC
necessary for the trial OF offenders, he snail nave
power to organize military commissions or TIL
bunals for that purpose and all interference
under color of State authority with the eXer-
else of military authority under this act shall be
null and void. .
SEC 4. And be it further enacted, That all
persons put under military arrest by virtue OF
this act shall be tried without unnecessary delays
and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be in
hicted: and no sentence of any military COM
mic ion ri hereby authorized. affecting
the life liberty of any person, shall be cNecu.
ted until it is approved by the officer in command
of the district; and the laws and regulations Tor
the government of the army shall not be affected
by this act except in SO far as they may conflict
with its provisions PtoUided, That no sentence
OF death under the provisions OF this ACT shail De
carried into effect without the approval OF the
President"
SEC. s. And be it. further enacted, That when
the people of any one the aforesaid rebel States
shall have formed a constitution OF government
in conformity with the Constitution of the
United States in all respects, framed by
convention of delegates elected by the male
citizens of said State twenty 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 i'm 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 have the qualifications herein
stated for election of delegates and when such
constitution shall be ratified by majOflty OF the
persons voting on the question of ratification who
are qualified us 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 Gifts 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 ,.nown article IA, and when said article !
shall have become Il part OF the Constitution of /
the United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress. and Senators
Oh their taking the oath prescribed by law, and !
then and thereafter the preceding sections OF
Il is act shall be imperative in said State Iy0Vi-
Ted, That no person excluded from the privilege
If holding office by said proposed amendment to
he Constitution OF the United States shall he
Eligible to election rs a member OF the convention
10 frame constitution for any of said rebel
States, nor shall any such person vote Tor MEM
Jrrs OF said convention.
SEC. o. Ind he ii further endcted, 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
.Nist therein shall be deemed provisional only, |
md in all respects subject to the paramount aI-
hurity of the United States ut any time to ahol-
sh modify, control suprrsede the same and
n all elections to any Office under such provis-
onal governments all persons shall be entitled to
;ote, and none other, who entitled to vote
lndcr the provisions of the filth section of this
let and person shall be eligible to any Office
lnder any such provisional governments who
y ould be disqualified from holding office under
he provisions of the third article of said consti-
utional amendment.