16 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS journment of the predecessor. The president was deprived of the command of the army by a "rider" to the army appropriation bill, which provided that his orders should only be given through the general, who was not to be removed without the previous consent of the senate. The bill admitting Nebraska provided that no law should ever be passed in that state denying the right of suffrage to any person because of his color or race. This was vetoed, and passed over the veto. On March 2, 1867, the "bill to provide efficient governments for the insurrec tionary states," which embodied the congressional plan of reconstruction, was passed, vetoed, and passed over the veto. This divided the southern states into military districts, each under a brigadier- general, who was to preserve order and exercise all the functions of government until the citizens had formed a state government, ratified the amend ments, and been admitted to the Union. On March 2, 1867, the tenure-of -office bill was passed over the veto. This provided that civil officers should re main in office until the confirmation of their succes sors ; that the members of the cabinet should be re moved only with the consent of the senate; and that, when congress was not in session, the presi dent could suspend, but not remove, any official, and, in case the senate at the next session should not ratify the suspension, the suspended official should be reinducted into his office. The elections
