Year: 1867




gone to the President The Chicago Til
bune gives the following synopsis of the
Reconstruction Law, as it stands, includ-
ing the Constitutional Amendment and
the Supplementary Act:


1. 1t is declared in the preamble that
no legal government or adequate protec-
ton for lite and property exist in the ten
rebel States.


2 Tie rebel States are divided into five
military Districts. and their limits defined.


8 The President is required to assign
to each ee these Districts Commander
not below the rank of a brigader Gen
eral, and detail a sufficient military force
to enable such officer to enforce his au-
thority.


4 The Commanders are required to
protect all persons in their rights.


5 All persons arrested by the military
authority are to have speedy trial, and
cruel or unusual punishment is prohibit
ed.


Before the lst of September next the
Commanding General is required to cause
to be made registration of all lawful
voters In their respective States Before
registration every applicant will be requir-
Gu IO CdhC Lie IOIlOWlnE OaCn


/ do solemnly swear or affirm, in the
presence of Almighty God, that [ am
citizen OF the State o.; that I
have resided in said State months
next preceding this day, and now reside
IN the county OF or the parish of


-, in said State. as the case may be;
that am twenty-one years of age; that
l have not been disfranchised for partici-
pating in any rebellion or civil war against
the United States, nor for felony commit
ted against the laws of any State, or the
United States that l have never taken
an oath as member of any State Legis-
lature OF any State to support the Con
stltutlon OF the United States and after
ward engage in lnsurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or given aid
and comfort to the enemies thereof that
l will faithfully support the Constitution
and obey the laws Of the United States,
and will to the best of my ability, encour-
age others so to Go; So help me God"


After the registration is complete
the Commander is to order an election
for delegates to the Constitutional Con-
ventlon, and to appoint the officers of
such election. At the same election in
which these delegates are chosen, the
people shall vote, yes or no, on the ques-
ton as to whether Convention shall be
held or not If I. majority vote to hold
one, the delegates are to assemble at the
time and place to be specified by the
Commander.


In the registration and in the cleo
tions, all male citizens stand on an equal
footing, irrespective of color, race or
former condition


9 The Convention, if ordered, by ma
iority, will proceed to form Constitution
10 The Constitution so framed shall be
submitted to the people for approval or
condemnation.


| IL If the Constitution is ratified by a
majority Of the votes OF the registered
electors. at least one half of the register
ed voters, voting upon the question of
ratification, and it shall appear to Con
gross the election was one at which all
the registered and qualified voters in the
state had an opportunity to vote without
restraint, fear Or fraud and if the Con-
stitution meets the approval Of Congress,
and If the government under it ratifies
the State shall be entitled to represen-
tation in Congress as soon as the pending
| amendment becomes part of the Con
| St1iutlou Oi tllC oillttG .CtdtcS
u Until the States, so admitted, all
the existing Governments therein, or any
that may be established, are to be pro-
visional only, and fully subject to the
paramount power of Congress, which
may alter, modify or abolish in its discre-
ton.


13 No one is entitled to hold office who
is prohibited by the third section of the
pending Constitutional Amepament-
that is those who have ever taken an
oath in assuming the duties OF certain
civil officers, to support the Constitution
Of the United States, and have supse-
quently engaged in the rebellion. The
purport Of the section will be readily seen
by reference to the oath prescribed for
voters.


| Such are the main features Of the Re-
construction Law as it now stands at
present; and it is not probable that Con
gress will materially modify any portion
| of If