Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/317

Rh intended to open the way for more radical legislation toward the South to follow in the near future. It was also provided that the first session of the new Congress (Fortieth) should meet immediately upon the close of the Thirty-ninth Congress, on March 4th, instead of December, 1867. This was to give a continuous session of Congress till the congressional reconstruction plan was fairly put in operation, and so that the President could not cause delay. General Grant's power as commander-in-chief of the army was increased, and he was made in a measure independent of the President. On March 2d, just before the close of the Thirty-ninth Congress, the "reconstruction" law was passed over the President's veto, to the effect that the reconstruction already completed by the President was null and void, and the work was to be done under the direction of Congress. The ten States were divided into five military districts, under the absolute command and control of generals of the army, backed by a sufficient military force to carry out any program. They were to ignore State organizations and officers, to treat the State governments as illegal and not affording protection to life and property. These generals were to give this protection, and use their pleasure in trying offenders by military commissions, or by suspended local civil tribunals, if they so desired, but such cases were to be reviewed by them. The generals were to proceed to register as voters all male citizens, whites and blacks, over twenty-one years of age, of whatever race or previous condition, who had been in the State for one year, except such as were disfranchised under the proposed Fourteenth amendment for participation in the war. A convention was to be called under stringent regulations to form a constitution, which should provide that such persons as Congress had designated should have suffrage, and contain such other conditions as had also been named. The constitution passed by this convention was to be submitted to the