Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-24
Civil Law Restored
HEADQrAnrEEs 2p MILITARY DIST,

passed March 2, 1867, entitled "An Act
to provide for the more efficient govern
ment Of The rebel Ststes," and the Acts
supplementary thereto, which laws are
about to become imperative by reason of
the fulfillment Of the conditions and lini-
tations prescribed by the provisions thereof:
And tho state Of South Ga,olina having
Ly its Legislature ratified the constitutional
amendment known rs Article Fourteen, the
following Instructions are promulgated for
the Information and gpiIaace Of tic OFF,
GERS Of this command serving in the said
Stale:
l. Upon the issue OF the proclamation
Of the President Of the United States, pre-
ecribed hy Section 3 Of the Act Of June o5,
1868, announcing the ratification of tho
said constitutional amendment, the Com
Inanding Officers Of posts in said State
will cease to exercise any aud all authority
conferred under Said Reconstruction Acts
Of Congress, except SO far as necessary for
the inauguration Of the new State govern
!nent and to close up unfinished business.
2. The terms Of Office and all official
functions Of Registrars, Inspectors, Mana
gers or Judges OF Election, Military Com
missipners, or other military agents in
South Carolina, appointed under the ALL
thority Of the Reconstruction laws Of the
United States, will end at tho date Of the
proclamation Of the President, referred TO
in tho preceding section, aud all such cili-
GERS or agents will, without delay, forward
10 these Headquarters any books or records
relating 10 their official duties that may
he in their possession. They will also
transmit list of tho property purchased
with public funds, and exhibit the dispo>i-
tion made Of it.
2. The Provost Courts now EXISTING in
South Carolina, are abolished, and the re-
cords will be transmitted without delay TO
these Headquarters.
4. Tie tenure of all appointces to civil
office in the State of South Caroiipa, under
the authority of the Reconstruction laws of
tho United States. will terminate when
their SUCCESSORS, elected or appointed under
the Constitution and laws Of the said State,
sha|l be duly qualified.
5. All citizens who, at the date of the
proclamation above referred to, may he ip
the custody Of the military authorities, and
held for trial for acts in violation Of the lie.
construction laws Of the United States, or
ia violation Of military orders issued under
the authority of the said laws, will bs dis
charged from custody and the military
prosecution dismissed.
6: At the same time all prisoners (citi-
zens) held by military authority for trial
whether in confinement or on bail, 70,
crimes or offences cognizable under tho
. laws Of the provisional government. Of sale
State, will be turned over to the custody o
the proper civil authorities; and all bonds
undertakings, deposits or other security
for appearance of persons charged with
crimes or offences as above, taken by mill
.tary' authority in this District, il
pursuance of the provisions-of General Or
ders No. los, series 1867, from these Head
quarters, will be turned over 10 tho Attor-
pey-General of The State, with authority 10
enforce tile same.
The Judge Advocate Of tho District will
communicate to the Acknowledgement oil
the State the history Of eael, case so trans
ferred, together with the dispositions OF
other evidence or information upon which
the parties accused have been arrested and
held for trial. In ike mauucr, the Provos,
Marshal.G .Geperal will transfer to the Attor.
aey-General all dispositions, complaints OF
other information on file in his office in
relation 70 persons accused who have avoid
cd arrest or have escaped from confinement.
7. All prisoners (cilizens) who, when the
aforesaid Act Of March 2, 1867, BECOME.
imperative: under the conditions and limi-
tations prescribed by Tie fhh Section
tbersaf may be ip confinement Or custody
by virtue Of The final Judgment and sent en- &C
ofs Military Commission or otbe: .miitar,
tribunal authorized by the said laws, will
be continued in the said custody. until en-
titled to discharge by expiration of sen
tence, or until their cases are aherwis
dispaYed Of by proper authority. Upon ,
writ Of badras corpus or other process is
suing from Court of the United States i.
the case Of any prisoner SO held, the wri
will be promptly responded 10, ard. tI,e Of
fieer in making his return will set forth III,
material faeta ofihe case. Ifsuch writ b,
issued from Asla,e Court, the officer lay,
ing the custody Of any prisoner will max,
n respectful return to the writ, setting fortl
Che fact that 1'eprisoper is-Leld by vir,u,
ef, the final judgment and sentence of :,
Cont Of competent jnl isdie.lou, held junde,
the authority Of the, laws of the .Uaitei
states; and That the;jurisdiction is excId-
siyely in the*Gossfs ii the Uniteti States
~ The diyision bstye4ea. III ed States an,