The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-22
-, 2 = q - = ss,.,-.g4 -
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto: n

States and not subject to any foreign ROVER, eX
GLIDING Indians, not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States; and such cit
zens Of every race and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, except a punishment 1or CRIME
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
shall have the same right in every State and Ter
ritory in the United States to make ana 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 ofall laws and proceedings Tor the securl-
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
palms. and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom TO the
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. A,d be 1t further enacted, That any per
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
cause to be subjected any inhabitant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains, penalties on account of
such person having at any time been held i'll a
condition of slavery involuntary servitude, eN-
cept as punishment for crime WHEREOF the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
his color race, than is prescribed for the pan
ishmcnt of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of Il 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. 5. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States, within their
spcctive districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cognzance of all
crimes and offences committed against the proVi-
sions of this act and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts of the United States, of all causes
civil and criminal, affecting persons who arc de-
MED or cannot enforce in the courts or judicial
tribunals of the State OF locality where they may
be, any of the rights secured to them by the first
section of this act; and if any suit or prosecution
civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced
i'll any State court against any such person, for
any cansc whatsoever or against any officer, civil
or military, or other person, for arrest or impri
sonnent, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue under color of authority derived
from this act or the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amcnd2tory 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 ha6eaS 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
such laws are suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, or are deficient i'll the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
punish offences against law, the common law,
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 rs the 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, aud if of
n criminal nature, in the ntiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. +. And be further enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys, marshals, and deputy marSlals 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 Frecdmen's
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spe-
cIaly empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they hereby, specially
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, or bailed as the may be,
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court as by the act has cognzance of
the offence. And with the view to affording rea-
sonablc protection tn all persons in their consti-
tutonal rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
ton of slavery involuntary scrvtudc, except
punishment for crime, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, and to the prompt
discharge of the duties of this act, it 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, as to afford Il speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and eXamina-
ton 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
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 execute 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 committed
the offence. And the better to enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu-
ton of the United States and the requirements of
this act, they are hereby authorized and cmpow-
cred, within their counties respectively, to ap-
point in writing. under their hands, any one or
more suitable persons, from time to time, to exc
cute all such warrants and other process may
be issued by them i'll the lawful performance of
their respective duties; and the persons so APP
pointed to execute any warrant process as
aforesaid shall have authority to summon and
call to their aid the bystnnders or the posse
itdtLS of the proper county, or such portion of
the land and naval forces of the United States or
the militia, as may be necessary to the pcrfor-
nance of the duty with which they are charged |
and to insure 4 faithful observance of the clause
of the Constitution which prohibits slavery, in
conformity with the provisions OF this act; and
said warrants shall run and be executed by said
officers anywhere in the State Territory within
which they are issued.
SEC. &. and be it further enacted That any per-
son who shall knowingly and willfully obstruct |
hinder prevent an, officer, other person
charged with the execution of any warrant or
process issued under the provisions of this act |
or any person or persons lawfully assisting him |
or them, from arresting anv person for whose APP
prehenSiOn such warrant or process may have
been issued, shall rescue or attempt to rescue
such person from the custody of the officer 9TH |
or persons persons, those lawfully assisting
as aforesaid, when arrested pursuant to the |
herein given and declared, or shall aid
abet, assist any person arrested us aforesaid
directly indirectly, to escape from the custody
of the officer or other person legally authorized
us aforesaid, or shall harbor conceal any person
for whose arrest warrant process shall have
been issued aforesaid, as to prevent his dis
covcry and arrest after notice or knowledge of the
fact that warrant has been issued for the appre-
hcnsion of such person, shall, for either of said
offences, be subject to fine not exceeding one
Thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceed |
ing six months, by Indictment and conviction be-
fore the district court Ofthe United States for the
district in which said offence may have been |
or before the proper court of Grim
inal jurisdiction, if committed within any one Of
the organized Territories of the United States.
SEQ. z. And be it further enacted That the dis |
tict attorneys, the marshals, their deputies, and
the clerks of the said district and Territorial |
courts shall be paid for their services the like |
fees as may be allowed to them for smil.r scrvi |
ces in other cases; and in all where the pro-
ceedings are before commissioner, he shall be |
entitled to fee of ten dollars in full for his serv
ces in each case inclusive of all services incident
to such arrest and examination. The person or
persons authorized to execute the process to be |
Iy,cr F~,,t