The tri-weekly standard., 1866-07-31
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

''Be enacted by the Senate and House + Repre-
sentatiyes Of the United States Of america in Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eX-
Guiding Indians, not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such citi-
zens of every race and color, without regard to
| any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
| Servitude, except as punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
| shall have the same right in every State and Ter
ritory i'll the United States to make and enforce
contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence,
to inherit purchase lease, sell, hold, and convey
real and personal property, and to full and equal
benefit of all laws and proceedings for the secur
| ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens and shall be subject to like punishment
pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law,
| statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
| contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC. 2 Aasd be it further enacted, That any per-
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance regulation, or custom, shall subject, or
cause to be subjected any inhabitant of any State
or Territory to the deprivat alton of any right Sc
punishment, palms, or penalties on account of
such person having at any time been held in a
condition of slavery or involuntary seryitude eX-
| cept punishment for crime whereof the party
| shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color or race than is prescribed for the pun
| ishmcnt of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
| of misdemeanor, and on conviction, shall be
| punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
| lars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
| both, in the discretion of the court
| SEC g. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trict courts of the United States, within their re-
spective districts, shall have, exclusively OF the
| courts of the several States, cognizance of all
| crimes and offences committed against the provi-
sons of this act and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts of the United States all causes,
civil and criminal, affecting persons who are de-
MED or cannot enforce in the courts or judicial
tribunals of the State or locality where they may
be, any of the rights secured to them by the first
section of this act; and if any suit prosecution
civil criminal, has been shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
any canse whatsoever, or against any officer civil
military, other person, for arrest or lmpr1-
sonment, trespasses or wrongs done OF commit
ted by virtue or under color of authority derived
from this act the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees and all acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing to do any ac-
upon the ground that it would be inconsistent
with this act such defendant shall have the right
to remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbedS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and sixty three,
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdic-
tion in civil and criminal matters hereby confer
red on the district and circuit courts of the Unit
ed States shall be exercised and enforced in con-
formity with the laws of the United States, SO far
as such laws suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, are deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
punish offences against law, the common law, as
modified and changed by the constitution and
statutes OF the State wherein the court having
jurisdiction OF the cause, civil or criminal, is
held, so far the same is not inconsistent with
the Constitution and laws of the United States,
shall be extended to and govern said courts in
the trial and disposition of such cause and, if of
a criminal nature in the infliction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC T. And be it further enacted, That the dis |
trict attorneys, marshas, and deputy marshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers OF arresting, imprisoning, or
bailing offenders against the laws of the United
States, the officers and agents of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spe- |
cIally empowered by the President of the United
Gfotac hall hn and hlrn
authorized and required, at the expense of the !
United States, to institute proceedings against all
and every person who shall violate the provisions
of this act, and cause him or them to be arrested
and imprisoned, bailed AS the case may be- !
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court as by the act has cognlzance OF
sonable protectiontn all persons in their consti-
tutonal rights of equality before the law without
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, and to the prompt
discharge of the duties OF this act 1t shall be the
duty of the circuit courts of the United States
and the superior courts of the Territories of the
United States, from time to time, to increase the
number of commissioners, SO as to afford speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and examina-
tion OF persons charged with violation of this
act And such commissioners are hereby author
lied and required to exercise and discharge all
the powers and duties conferred on them by this
act, and the same duties with regard to offences
created by this act, as they are authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts is
sued under the provisions Of this act, when to
them directed and should any marshal or dep
uty marshal refuse to receive such warrant or
other process when rendered. or to use all proper
means diligently to eyecute the same he shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one
thousand dollars, to the use OF the person upon
whom the accused is alleged to have eOmrRitted
the offence And the better to enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu-
ion of the United States and the requirements OF