The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1868-07-17

An Ae, 10 Pr0rile for Ia more Eff
eienf Government Of tie Rete
.Ic,cs.
Whereas no legal State government
or adequate protection for life or prop
ert now exist 10 the rebel States o
Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
siss'ppi, Alabama, Louisiana, florida
Tsxas, and Arkansas, and whereas il !,
necessary thai peace and good order
should be enforced in said Stalcs unit
loyal and republican STATE governments
can BE- legally established. Therefore
Re IL enacted. ste, That said rebel
:s....s..c: .h.ll he divided into military dis
tricts and made subject 70 the military
authority Of the Unitcd States, a. here
matter prescribed, and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first dis
trict, North Carolina and South Caro-
lima the second district Georgia, Ala.
hama, and Florida the third districs.
Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth
district and Louisiana and Texas the
fifth district
Sra 2. That j, shall b the duty Of the
President 70 assign 10 the command Of
each Of said districts an oticer Of the
army, net below the rank OF brigadier-
general, and to detail a suhlcient mill.
tary force to enable such ofkccr to per.
form his duties and enforce his author.
ity within the dislrie, to which he is
assigned
SIC. 3. That il shall be the duty Of
each oticcr assigned ~ aforesaid to pro-
tcct al persona in their rights OF person
and property, 10 suppress insurrection,
disorder, and violence, and to punish, or
cause 70 be punished, all disturbers Of
the public peace and criminals, and 10
this end be may allow local civil tyibu-
mails TO take jurisdiction Of and To try Of
tenders, or, when in his Judgment II may
be necessary for the trial Of offenders,
he shall have power to organise military
or tribunals for thai pur.
pose and all interference under color
Of State authority with the exercise Of
authority under this act shall
be null and void
sEr. 4. That all persons put under
arrest by Tirtae ofthis act shall
he tried without unnecessary delay, and
no cruel or unusual punishment shall
be inflicted and no sentence Of any
commission or tribunal hereby
affecting the life or liberty
OF any person, shall be executed until Il
is approved by the officer in command
Of the district and the laws and rcguia-
tons for the government Of the army
shall not be affected BY this act, except
in 70 far ~ they conflict with il provis-
ions; Pyorided, That no seatence Of
death under the provisions cf this act
shall be carried into effect without the
approval Of the President
Src 5. That when the people OF any
ono Of said rebel States shall have form
cd constitution Of government in cen
formity with the Constitution Of the
United States in all respects, framed by
a convention Of delegates elected by the
male citizens of said State twenty one
years old and upvard, Of whatever race,
color, or previous condition, who have
been resident ia said State for one ycnr
previous to tie day Of such election, ex.
ccpt such as may be disfrsnchised for
participation in the rebellion, or for fcl-
ony at common law, and when such
shall provide that the elect
i've franchise shall be enjoyed by all
such persons ~ have the qualifications
herein stated for electors Of delegates,
and when such Constitution shall DO rat
lied ty majority Of the persons voting
on the question Of ratification who arc
qualified NJ electors fer 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 Of il legislature elected under
said constitution, shall have adopted the
amendment 10 the Consultation OF the
United States, proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and known "a article
fourteen, and when said article shall
have become part Of tho Constitution
Of the United States, said State shall be
declared entitled to representation in
Cossssss, and senators and Representa-
.ivcs shall be ndruittcd thercfrom on
their taking the oaths prescribed BY
law, and thcn and thereafter the pre-
ccding sections Of this act shall bc in
operative in said Stat, Provided, That
no person excluded from tho privilege
Of holding ofhcc by said proposed amend
mcnt to tho Constitution OF the United
States shall be eligible to election ~ I
fncmheY of the convention 10 frame I