s_ it is necessary that peace and good
order should be enforced in said States until loyal and
republican State governments can be legally established:
therefore,

"_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That
said rebel States shall be divided into military districts
and made subject to the military authority of the United
States, as hereinafter prescribed; and for that purpose
Virginia shall constitute the first district, North Carolina
and South Carolina the second district, Georgia, Alabama,
and Florida the third district, Mississippi and Arkansas the
fourth district, and Louisiana and Texas the fifth
district.

"SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_, That it shall be the
duty of the President to assign to the command of each of
said districts an officer of the army not below the rank of
brigadier general, and to detail a sufficient military force
to enable such officer to perform his duties and enforce his
authority within the district to which he is assigned.

"SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_, That it shall be the
duty of each officer assigned, as aforesaid, to protect all
persons in their rights of person and property, to suppress
insurrection, disorder, and violence, and to punish, or
cause to be punished, all disturbers of the public peace and
criminals; and to this end he may allow local civil
tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or
when in his judgment it may be necessary for the trial of
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 under this act shall be null
and void.

"SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_, That all persons put
under military arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried
without unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unusual
punishment shall be inflicted, and no sentence of any
military commission or tribunal hereby authorized, affecting
the life or liberty of any person, shall be executed until
it is approved by the officer in command of the district;
and the laws and regulations for the government of the army
shall not be affected by this act, except i