The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-01-31
THE ERE-SVPEEMENTAL
RY-RE-RECONSFR ACT.

The following is the latest amendment
to the Reconstruction" Acts, which
has passed the lower house of Congress,
and is now under consideration by the
Senate, which body it will also pass:
Be ii enacted, &C., That in Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, GeOr-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas, Florida and Arkansas, there are
no civil State governments republican
in form, and that the sO-called civil
governments in said States respective
ly shall not be recognized as valid or
legal o. State governments either by
the executive or judicial power or au-
thOrity of the United States.
Sec. =. And be it further enacted,
That for the speedy enforcement OF the
act entitled an act to provide for the
more efficient government OF the rebel
States, passed March ID, 1867, and the
several acts supplementary thereto, the
General of the Army of the United
States is hereby authorized and requir-
ed to enioin by special orders upon all
officers in command within the sever
al military departments within the
several .otates, the performance OF all
acts authorized, to remove at his dIScre-
ton, by his order, from command, any
or all Of said commanders. and detail
other officers of the United States ar
my, not below the rank Of colonel, to
perform all the duties and exercise all
the powers authorized by said several
acts, to the end that the people Of said
several States may speedily reOrganize
civil governments, republican in form
in said several States, and be restored
to political power in the Union.
See. 3. And be it further enacted,
That the General of the army may re-
move any or all civil officers now act
ing under the several provisional gov
ernments within said several dis
organized States and appoint Others to
discharge the duties pertaining to their
respective offices, and may do any and
all acts which by said several laws "a
bove mentioned are authorized to be
done by the several commanders of
the military departments within said
States and so much of said acts or OF
any act as authorizes the President to
detail the military commanders OF
said military departments, or to
remove any officers who may be detail
ed as herein provided, is hereby repeal
ed.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted,
That it shall be unlawful for the Pres
ident Of the United States to order any
part of the army or navy of the United
States to assist, by force of arms, the
authority ofeither of said provisional
governments in said disorganized
States, to oppose or obstruct theauthor-
ity of the United States, as provided
in this act and the acts to which this
is supplementary.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted,
That any interference by any person
with intent to prevent by force the
execution of the orders Of the General
of the Army, made in pursuance of
this act, and Of acts aforesaid, or any
refusal, or wilful neglect, of any per-
son to l. sue any order or do any act
required by this act, or other of the
acts to which this act is additional and
supplementary, with intent to defeat or
delay the due execution of this act, o.
of either of the acts to which this IL
supplementary, shall be held to be a
high misdemeanOr, and the party guilty
thereof shall, upon conviction. be fined
not exceeding $1,000, and imprisOn-
ment not exceeding two years.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted,
That so much of all acts and parts of
acts as conflict or are inconsistent with
the provisions of this act, is hereby re-
pealed.