Year: 1867

The following is correct copy OF the act "to
provide for the moro efficient government of the
rebel States"


Whereas, no legal State government, or adequate
protection for life and property, exists in the
rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida
Texas and Arkansas: and whereas, it is necessary
that peace and good order should be enforced in
said States until loyal and republican State govern
ments can be legally established therefore,


Be it enacted, ETC., That said rebel States shall be
divided into military districts and made subject 10
the military authority of the United States here
matter prescribed, and for that purpose Virginia
shall constitute the first district North Carolina and
South Carolina the second district, Georgia, Ala
bams and Florida the third district Mississippi and
Arkansas the fourth district and Louisiana and
Texas the fifth district.


SEC. q That it shall be the duty of the President
20 assign 70 the command of each of said districts
an officer OF the army not below the rank of Brig
adler General, and 10 detail n sufficient military
force 70 enable such officer to perform the duties
and enforce his authority within the district to
| which he is assigned.


! SEC g. That if shall be the duty Of each officer
assigned aforesaid TO protect all persons in their
rights of persons and property; 10 suppress insur-
rection, disorder and violencei and TO punish or
cause 70 be punished all dsturbers Of the peace and
criminals and TO this end he may allow local civil
tribunals to take jurisdiction of and try offenders
or when, in his judgment, it may be necessary for
the trial of the offenders, he shall have power to
organize military commissions or tribunals for that
purpose; and all interference under color OF State
authority with the exercise of military authority
shall be null and void


SEC 4 That all persons put under military ar
rest by virtue Of this act shall be tried without un-
necessary delay, and no cruel or unusual punish
ment shall be inflicted and no sentence OF any
! military commission or tribunal hereby authorized,
affecting the life or liberty of any person, shall be
vaal b,-f hc m
mand Of the district and the laws and regulations
for the government of the army shall not be afec-
ted by this act except in far they may conflict
with i:s provisions.


SEC. ;. That when the people of any one of the
said rebel States shall have formed constitutional
of government in conformity with the Constitution
Of the United States in all respects framed by s
convention Of delegates elected by the male citizens
Of said States twenty-one years old and upward OF
whatever race, color or previous condition, who
have been residents in said State for one year pre-
vious 10 the day Of such election, except such as
may be dsfranchsed for participation in the rebel
/ lion or for felony at common law; and when such
constitutions shall provide that the elective franchise
shall be enjoyed by all such persons as have the
qualifications herein stated for election OF delegates
and when such constitution shall be ratified by &
majority Of the persons voting on the question o
ratif cation who are qualifed electors for dele
| GATES and when sucn constitution shall have beer
I submitted 10 Congress for examination and approx
al, and Congress shall have approved the same
and when said State by vote of It's Legislatur,
elected under said constitution shall have adopeS
the amendment 20 the Constitution of the Unite'
States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress ans


known as article "a, and when such article shal
nay nave become part of the Constitution Of the I'm


80 osates said State shall be declared entitled &
representation m Congress, and Senators and Rep
: feSeh'atSes shall be admitted therefrom on thei


taking the oath prescribed by law. and then an,


thereafter the preceding sections Of this act sbai
e be imperative in said State 7'-'


Provided, That no person excluded from tho mr.,
I ilege Of holding Office by proposed Amendment :


the Consultation Of the United States shall he eIi
9 bic 10 election SIS a member of the Convention Z
e frame a constitution for any OF shid rebel State
O nor shall any such person vote for members Of sal
, convention.


. SEC. 6. And be il further enacted, That until u
: people Of said rebel States shall be by law admitte
: TO representation in the Congress Of the Unit;
. States any civil government which may exist ther
. in shall be deemed provisional only and in all r
= speets subject 10 the paramount authority Of q
i United States at sny time to abolish, modify, Co
troll, or snpersede the same and In all elections