American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1865-12-07
A B ILL
To be entitled an Act to amend the Vagrant
LQWs of tbs State.

!. turs Of the State Of Mississippi, That al
rogues and vagabouds, idle and dissipat
ed persons. beggars, jugglers, or per
sons practicing unlawful games'er plays
runaways, common drunkards, common
night walkers, pilferers, lewd. wanton, oil
lacivious persons, in speech or behavior
common ralers and brawlers, persons
who neglect their calling or employment,
msspend what they earn, or do not pro-
vide support for themselves or the il
families, or dependents, and all other
idle and disorderly persons, including all
who neglect all lawful business, or hsb-
itually misspend their time by frequenting
houses Of i'll fame. gaming houses or tip.
pling shops, shall be deemed and con-
sidered vagrants under the provisions Of
this act, and on conviction thereof shall
be fined not exceeding one hundred dol
lars, with all accruing costs, and be i'm.
prisoned at the discretion Of the court,
not exceeding ten days.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That all
freedmen, free negroes and mulattoes in
this State, over the age of eighteen years,
found on the second Monday in January,
1866, or thereafter, with no lawful en-
ployment or business, or found unlawfully
assembling themselves together, either in
the day or night time, and all white per-
sons SO assembling with freedmen, free
negroes or mulattoes. or usually associat-
ing with freedmen, free negroes or mu-
lattoes, on terms of equality. or living in
adultery or formation with a freed.wo.
man, free negro or mulatto, shall be
deemed vagrants, and on conviction there
Of, shall be fined in the sum of not ex.
ceediug-the freedman, free negro or
mulatto. $50 and the white man 5000,
and imprisonment at the discretion of the
court-lhe free negro not exceeding ten
days. and the white man not exceeding
six months.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That all
justices of the peace, mayors and alder
men Of incorporated towns and cities OF
the several counties in this State, shall have
jurisdiction to try all questions of vagran-
cy, in their respective towns. counties
and cities, and it is hereby made their
duty, whenever they shall ascertain that
any person. or persons, in their respect
i've towns, counties and cities, are VIC.
latiag any Of the provisions Of this act,
to have said party or parties arrested and
brought before them and Immediately
investigate said charge and on conviction,
punish said party or parties as provided
for herein. And it is hereby made the
duty of oil sheriffs, constsbles, town con-
stables. city marshals and all like officers,
to report to some officer having juris.
dction, all violations of any of the pro.
visions of this act, and it shall be the du.
ty Of the country courts to inquire if any
officers have neglected any of the duties
required by this act, and in case any off.
Ger shall fail or neglect any duty herein,
it shall be the duty Of the county court TO
fine said officer, upon conviction, not ex- 1
ceeding one hundred dollars, to be paid
into the county treasury for county pur- {
poses !
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That t
keepers Of gaming houses. houses Of pros,
litution, all prostitutes, public or private,
and all persons who derive their chief
support in employments that initiate
against good morals or against law, shall
De deemed and held to be vagrants.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That all
ines and forfeitures collected under the :
provision Of this act shall be paid iato the
county treasury for general county pur.
'oses; and in case any freedman, free CT
egro or mulatto shall fail to pay for FIVE oI
lays the imposition Of any fine or forfeit .
Ire upon him or her. for violation Of any - ;,
{ the provisions Of this act, that il shall vi
nd is hereby made the duty Of the sher- m
I of the proper county, to hire out said pl
reedman free negro or mulatto to any g g
erson who will, for the shortest period en-
{ service pay said fine or forfeiture. and OF
u costs. provided preference shall be la
iven to the employer, il there be one, N
! which case the employer shall be en-
lied TO deduct and retain the amount 60