The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-25

lieyed it. Congress was !, simply,
losing time considering this bill. Eff
the reco nstru ctiop po Icy could stand.
Congress Ought to protect ,it. q They
ought to protect; their action, their
honor as legislators and themselves
Butlsr's time expired. Beck appealed
70 the House not to pass the bill;
mot to consign those States to reck.
less adventurers;gnot arm q negro
constituency against peaceful white
inhabitants; but rather leave, these
States under the protection of the
troops of the United States. The
Ebill passed By a. Strict party vote,
except John Baker, iof iii noois, who
voted with the Democrats The bill,
as passed, is as follows: y, ~. issTs
A Bill to provide = for the more
speedy Reorganization of the
States of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas, and for other purposes.
Bel u enacted, De-, That for the bet
ter security Of persons and property
in Texas, Virginia and Mississippi,
the Constitutional Conventions OF
each Of said States, heretofore elect
ed under and in pursuance of an Act
of Congress, passed March 2, 1867,
entitled, can Act for the more eff
cient government of the, rebel
States" and the several Acts of Con
gress supplementary thereto and
amendatory thereof, shall have and
is hereby authorized to exercise the
following powers, in addition to
the powers now authorized by
law, to wit: To make removals
and appointments of all officers of
the provisional governments of said
States respectively; to authorize the
Provisional Governor of said re-
spective States to remove and ap-
point registrars and judges of cleo
tions, under said Act of Congress.
which registrars and judges of cleo
tlons shall not be eligible to any
elective office under such provisional
government, and shall observe the
provisions of said Act of Congress:
to organize and maintain constabu,
larry force in each of said States, to
preserve the peace, and aid in the
execution of the laws; to provide by
ordinance for the re-assembling Of
the said several Conventions from
time to time, and for holding all
elections authorized by said Acts of
Congress; and for ascertaining and
declaring the result of such cleo
tions, and especially the result of any
election which may be held for the
ratification or rejection of any con-
stitution which said several Conven-
tlons may submit to the people of
either of the States; and to pass
such ordinances rs are consistent
with the Constitution and law, of the
United States, as it may deem neces-
sary, to protect all persons therein in
their lives, liberty and property.
SEC. 2. .And be it, further enacted.
That the several ordinances which
may be passed by the Constitutional
Convention of either of said States,
and as herein provided, shall be en-
forced by the Provisional Govern
ment OF such State, until such are
dlsapproved by Congress, or until
such State shall have adopted a Con-
stitution of State Government. and
when the same shall have been an
proved by Congress: Provided, That
nothing in this Act shall deprive any
person of trial by jury in the courts
OF said States, for offences against
the laws of said States.
SEC. 8. BE IL fw'Aer enacied, That
the military commanders in each of
said States, shall give aid to the
officers OF the Provisional Govern
ment of each of said States, in pre-
serving the peace and enforcing the
laws, and especially in suppressine
unlawful obstructions and forcibIe
resistance to the exercise of the laws.
Sec. 4. Be ii further enacted, That
on the fourth Wednesday after the
passage of this Act, tho said Conyen-
tions of Mississippi and Virginia
shall re-assemble; and the said Con
vention of Mississippi shall proceed
to frame Constitution of State Go
vernment, and submit the same to
the people, under and in pursuance
off tic provision of the said Acts of
Congress, and of this Act.
SEC. 5. If any one of said States,
or any person shall, during the year
1868, vote for any candidate for cleo
tor Of President or President of
the United States, or shall act as an
officer at any election for such can
dldate, every person so offending
shall be deemed guilty of high mis-