Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-17
TIE CTVIL RIGHTS BILL,
Its Provisions in Full
The Law as 1t Passed Congress.

- au O1ACldI copy OI Lue ClVlI
Rights bill, as passed by both Houses of Con-
gress. and which is now law:
''Be 1t enacted Gy tie .Srnafe and House
IF RrP"eSe"t0"urS If tie United .Stufex Of
Aner'cd al Congress u$Seo,LteG, That all per-
. SONS born in the United States and not sub
ject to any foreign Power. excluding Indians.
Mt taxed. are hereby declared to be citizeus
! OF the United States; and such citizens 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 have been duly con-
vIcted, shall have the same right in every
, State and Territory i'll the United States to
! make and enforce contracts, tosue, be parties
! aud give evidence, TO inherit. purchase, lease,
sell, hold, and convey real anu personal prop
! erty, and to full and equal benefit Of all laws
( and proceedings for the security of person
and properly as is enjoyed by white citizens.
and shall be subject to like punishment pains
aud penalties. and to none other, any law.
statute. ordinance. regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding
| Section 2. AMd Le it further enacte1, That
any person who, under color of any law, stat
| ute, ordinance, regulation. or custom, shall
subject, Or cause to lie subjected, any iphabi,
tant OF any tate or Territory to the depriva>
I'Ch vi SeCuTGu UT pTOt6cIeU DV TINS
act or to different punishment, pains, or pen
a'ties on account of such person having at
any time been held in condition of slavery
or involuntary servitude, except as a punish
me"t for crime. whereof the panty shall have
been duly convicted. Or by reason Of his col
or or race than is prescribed for the punish
memt Uf white persons, shall be deemed guilty
OF "A m'sdcmeanor, and. on conviction, shall
lee punished by tiue not exceeding one thou
| sand dollars, or Imprisonment not cxcccdn"
Que year, Or both, in the discretion OF the
, court.
Section 5. Amd be II t~rihcr enacted, That
the district courts Of the United States within
their respective districts, shall have, cxclu-
sIvely OF the courts of the several States cog
nizancc Of al crimes and offences committed
against the provisions of this act, and also,
c"ncurrenty with the circuit courts OF the
United States, of all causes, civil and crimi-
nal, affecting persons who are denied or can
not enforce III the courts or judicial triL unas
of the State or locality where they NAV lie.
any OF the rights secured to them by the first
section OF thus act and If a.y suit or prose
cutIOn. civil or criminal has been or shall be
commenced IN any State court against any
STch person. TOR any cause whatsoever Or
against amy officer. civil or military or other
person. t"r any arrest or imprisonment. tres
passes or wrongs done or committed by virtue
or undtr color of authority derived from this
act or the act establishing bureau for the
relief ot freedmen and refugees. and all acts
arnemdatory thereof, or for refusing to do any
act upon the ground that it would be ucon-
slstent with this act, such defendant shall
have the right to remove such cause for trial
t" the proper district or circuit court in the
manner prescribed by the 'act relating to ha-
b"GS corpus and regulating judicial proceed
IngS IN certain cases, approved March three
eighteen hundred aud sixty-ihrce. and all
acts amcndatory thereof. The jursd in
civil aud criminal matters hereby Conferred
On the district aud circuit courts Of the United
States shall be exercised and enforced in con
torm'ty 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 iaptcd to the object, or are de-
hcIent III the provisions necessary to furnish
suitable remedies aud 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 as the
same Is not inconsistent with the Constitution
and laws of the United States. shall be ex-
tended to and govern said courts in the trial
anti disposition of such cause. and. if of a
criminal nature. in the innction of punish
ment on the party found guilty.
''SectiOn 4. A"dhr II FURTHER enacted. That
the district attorneys. marSlals and deputy
marshas of the United States the commits
siuncrs appointed hy the circuit and territo-
rial courts of the United States. with powers
OF arreStin", imprisoninw or bajlimg offenders
against the laws of the United States the off
and agents of the Frecdmen's Bureau,
and every other officer who may be specially
empowered by the President Of the United
| States. shall be, and they are hereby special
~ auth"rlZed 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 case may 'e. for iai before such
court of the United States or territorial court
MS by this act has cUgnizance of the offence.
And with Il view to affnr,iimg reasonable pro
lection t. all persons in their constitutional
rights OF equality before the law without dis
tlnctium OF race or color or previous con .ition
OF slavery or involuntary Servitude, except as
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 aud the superior courts of the
Territories of the United States. from time to
time. to increase the number of commission
ers, so rs t" afford speedy and convenient
means for the arrest and examination of per-
sons charged with violation of this act
And such commissioners are hereby author
lied and required to exercise anu discharge
all the powers and duties conferred on them
by this act, and the same duties with regard
t" offences created by this act. as they are
authorized by law to ,xercise with regard to
other offences against the laws of the United
States.
Section 5. An8 be at further enacted:
Tha: it shall be the duty Of all marshals and
deprty marshns to obey and execntc all