The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-30
The Reconstruction Bill.
The following is the RecOnstruc.

The following is the Reconstruc-
tion bill, as passed the House
Src. l. Be it enacted. &C., That
in virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis-,
sissippi, Louisiana, Texas, Florida
and Arkansas there are no civil
state governments republican in
form, and that. the 50 called civil
governmental in said states respec-
lively shall not be recognized as
valid or legal stats governments
either by tho executive or the ju.
iicial power or authority of the
United States. do
Sec. 2. And be IL further enact
ed, That for tho speedy enforce
ment Of the act entitled "An act
10 provide for the more efficient
government of the Rebel States. !"
passed March 2, 1867 and the sew
eral acts supplementary thereto,
the General of the Army OF the
United States is hereby authorized
and required to enjoin by special
orders upon all officers in command
within the several military depart
ments within said several states,
the performances OF all acls author.
izeI by said several laws above re.
cited, is authorized to remove. at
his discretion, by his order, from
command, any or all of said com.
manders, and detail other officers
of tho United States army, not be
low the rank Of Colonel, TO perform
AL tho duties and to exercise al!
tho powers authorized by the said
several acts, 10 the end that the
people Of tho several states may
speedily rcorsanizo civil govern
mcnt-, republican in form, in the
said several states, and be restored
TO political power IN the Union
Sec 3. Bo. ii further enacted,
that the General OF the army may
remove any OF all Of tic civil of
GERS now acting under the several
provisional governments within
ihcsaid several disorganized States,
and appoint Others TO discharge
tho duties pertaining to their re.
spectivc Offices, and may 90 any and
all acts which by said several laws
above mentioned arc authorized
to be donc by tho several com.
manders Of tho military depart.
mcnts, within said States, and so
much of said fcts, or ofany act,
as authorizes the President to de-
tail the military commanders to
sail military departments, Or to
remove any officers who may be
detailed as hcroin provided, is
hereby repealed. s
See. 4 And be it further enact.
ed, That it shall bo unlawful for
tho President Of the United States
to order any part of the army or
navy of The United States to assist
by force Of arms tho authority Of
either Of the said provisional gov.
ernments in said disorgnnized
states to oppose or obstruct tho
authority OF the United States, as
provided in this act and acts to
which this is supplementary.
Sec 8 And be it further enact.
cd that any interference by any
person with Gn intent 10 prevent
by lorco the execution ofthc orders
of the General Of tho army, made
in pursuance OF this act and of the
acts aforesaid, or any refusal or
wilful neglect Of any person to is.
sup any order or do any act re.
qairod by this act or other Of the
actp to which this act is additional
and supplementary, with intent TO
dcIcNtor delay tho duo execution
oflhis act or Of other OF the acts to
which this is supplementary, shall
be- held 70 be II misdemoanor, and
the purity guilty thereof shall, up.
on conviction, BE- fined not exceed.
ing G5 1000 and Imprisonment not
exceeding two years.
Scc. 9, And bo it further enact.
cd, that so much Of all acts aud
paris OF acts as conflict, or arc in.
consistent with tho provisions Of
this act, arc hereby repealed,