The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-01
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto:

''Be it enacted by tie Senate and House f Repre-
sentatiges J tie Utitea StteS IF AInerica in Congress-
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any fo~"gn Power, eX-
Guiding Indians not taxed, ar hereby declared
to be citizens of tnc United States; and such cti
zens of every and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servlludc, except as Il 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 sccuri-
ty of person and property us is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shalt he subj ject to like punishment,
palms. AM penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute, ordnance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC. ,. 4td be ii 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 inhabtant of any State
or Territory to the deprivation of amy right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains, or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held i'll
condition of slavery or involuntary servitudc, eN
cept punishment for rilne whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color or race, than is prescribed for the pun
isiinent of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of Il misdeIneanor and on conviction, shall bl.
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year,
BOTH in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 3. 1ti be it tisrttsr ejta:'ed, That the dis
trict courts of the United States within their re-
spcctive districts, shall have, exclusively of the
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 are de-
MED or cannot enforce in the courts or Judicial
tribunals of the State locality where they may
be, of the rights secured to them by the first
section of this act; and if any sait or prosecution
civil or criminal, has been orshall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
canSc whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
military, other person, for arrest or impri
sonment trespasscs, or wrongs done or commit,
ted by virtue under color of authority derived
from this act the act establishing bureau for
the relief Of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
am"ndatory thereof; or for refusing to do any
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 i'll the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to- haJedS c0,pUS and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases approved
March three, eighteen hundred and sixty-thrcc,
and all acts amenlatory thereof. The jurisdic
ton in civil and criminal matters hereby confer
red on the district and circuit courts of the Unit
ed States shall be exercised and enforced i'll con-
ormity with the laws of the United State;, 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, deficient in 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 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
i criminal nature, in the lntlictiOn OF punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. +. Ind be Il tsIfhcr 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
blii!n" offenders against the laws OF tiic United
States, the Officers and agents OF the Frcedntns
Bureau, and every other officer WHO may bc spc-
cialy empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they are hereby, specially
authorized and required, at the expense of the
tniJcd States, to institute proceedings against all
and every person vino shall violate the provisions
Of this act, and cause him them to be arrested
and inprisoncd or bailcd as the case NAV be-
trial before such of the United States or
territorial court IL by the act has comniZlncr of
the o.T-lcc And with the view to utfurdins rcu-
Sonabie protection tn all persons in thcr consti-
tutional rrIt, oI equality before the law without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
tion of slavery or involuntary sCrvirude, except
as Il punishment for crime, whereof tie party
shall have duly convicted and to the prompt
discharge the duties this act it shall be the
duty Of the circuit courts of the United States
and the superior courts of the Territories of the
Cnitrd States, from time to time, to increase the
number of commissioners, Is to afford speedy
and teiIiciIt for the arrest and eXaInina
ton of persons charged with violation of this
act. And such COMMISSIONERS arc hereby author
Ized and required 10 exercise ana discharge all
the powers and duties conferred on them ny tins
act' ana the same du'iGs WIN regard 10 oIences
created ov t.i!E ACT, lis ,ney are tnorlzea Dy Jaw
10 exercise VIVA [r2''ru 10 otier ohehces against
tiS iMS Oh tiit = = iii'[u y. ~ 9tatcs. IT.. :. ,r
, 9o' -, -it 81, M " L Ii az I I ma ia. @ II e.tii
nc tiic uitH vi I'LL al i' III ~ 'it cPitt MAJ it.ie
10 "ney ana tEecutS al warrants an ana trecGpts Is
sucd under the provisions Oh lhls act, when 10
tiein dlrIctGd ana silouid any marshal or dep-
nty lnarsiih REUSE 10 reetNe sucn warrant var OF
"'icf PTocesS 'it Gu vi W use All proper
means diligently to execute the same he shall, on
c"hNlctl0h Lnercoi DC hned IN Lhe sum OF one
iLodSaIu uoil"ls' ~ liiT usS VI the PeiSoh upon
Whohl INC acciSeu Is dilcScu 10 hNe Coiuihittcu
the Offence. And the better TO enable the SAID
commissioners 10 execute thelf dutles Iaithiuily
and efficiently in conformity with the Constltu-
tion OF the Omtcd states ana tie requirements OF
TINS act, tney are hercDy authorized ana empoW-
cred, within thelr countles respectively, TO ap-
point IN MrilinS, VIII nlte[ tnelf n;lnas; any one or
more Suitiuie PERSONS rom te 10 tlie, 10 exc
cute all such warrants and otner process as may
ne issued oy !iie IN l'Ie IL"tul M performance oi
llGlr rgSPectiro uu.ics anu .ne persons 50 aP
Pcihlcu - eneGute G any an VI Piocese 's
c,Ii to thpir aid tire bvstanders or thc a'ose ram
ifItns of the proper county, or such portion of
the land and naval forces of the United States or
the militia os nav he necessary TO the Dcrfor-
,nInrn Of thc duty with which they are charged
and TO insure a faithful observance of the clause
of the Constitut on which prohibits slavery i'm
conformity with the provisions of this act: and