The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-19
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto:

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House j. Repre-
se'etdtives Of the United States IF America IN Coagres
assembled, That all persons born In the Unltet
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 cti
zens OF every race and color, without regard tt
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, except as punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted
snail have the same right in every state ana Ter
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 securi
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. Amd be it further enacted, That any per.
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, OF
cause to be subjected, any inhabitant of any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
punishment, pains, or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held in a
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude eX-
cept as 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 a 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 3. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trict courts of the United States, within their re-
spectve districts, shall have, exclusively OF the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the provi-
sions OF this act, and also, concurrcntly with the
circuit courts of the United States, of all causes,
civil and criminal, affecting persons who are de-
MED or cannot enforce in the courts judicial
tribunals of the State 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 canse whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
ifnry fhnrr fNrn ir,,,Nr
sonmcnt trespasses or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue or under color OF authority derived
from this act or 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
trlct or 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-threc
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdic-
ton i'll 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 are suitable to carry the same into
effect; but i'll all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, or are deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable 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 criminal is
held, so far as 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
criminal nature, in the intiiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. 4. A',d be ii 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-
clally empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they are 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 the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court by the act has cognizance of
the offence. And with the view to affordng rea-
sonable protection to all persons in their consti-
tutiona rights of equality before the law without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
ton of slavery or involuntary servitudc, except
shall have been duly convicted and to the prompt
discharge of the duties of this act it shall be tie
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 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 us they 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 marshals 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 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 |
ia h,It fn 40 -nSIt
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 empow-
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 allsuch warrants and other process as NAV |
be issued by them in tue lawful performance of |
their respective duties; and the persons so APP
pointed to execute any warrant process as |
shall have authority to summon and |
call to their aid the bystanders the posse
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 Charged,
and to insure faithful observance of the clause
of the Constitution which prohibits slavery, in
with the provisions of this act and |
said warrants shall run and be executed by said
officers anywhere in the State or Territory within
which they are issued.
SEC. 6. Ind be it further enacted, That any per-
son " no 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 arrestiag any person for whose ap.
prehension such warrant process may have
been issued, or shall rescue or attempt to rescue
such person from the custody of the officer 9TH
rr persons persons, or those lawfully assisting
IS aforesaid, when arrested pursuant to the
authority herein given and declared, or shall aid
lbet, assist any person so arrested as aforesaid
directly or indirectly, to escape from the custody
Of the officer or other person legally authorized
Is aforesaid, or shall harbor conceal any person
for whose arrest warrant process shall have
been issued rs aforesaid, to prevent his dis
,overy and arrest after notice or knowledge of the
act that warrant has been issued for the appre-
lension of such person, shah, for either of said
offences. be subject to fine not exceeding one
houssnd dollars, and imprisonment not exceed
ny six months by indictment and conviction be-
ore the district court ofthe United States for the
district in which said offence may have been
or before the proper court of GRIM
nal jurisdiction, if committed within any one of
he organized Territories of the United States.
SEC. Z. And be it further enacted That the dis
lict attorneys, the marshals their deputies and
he clerks of the said district and Territorial
courts shall be paid for their services the like
ees as may be allowed to them for similrr servi-
les in other cases; and in all cases where the pro-
cedings are before commissioner, he shalt be
untitled to fee often dollars in full for his servi-