The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-04-18
TIE CIVIL RIG BIG; s BILL. :

which was,3vetoet bS,the PFesSdehs:aS
again passed b Congress, and is poy
Jaw ofthc land: < ',.es L ~. Il
src1lois' l. All persons person 5 bro, r;' 10 III
the United States, and pot:satject to an,
Foreign power, excepting Indians no
taxed, are hereby declared TO be citizen
! Of tho United States, and such citizen
Of every race and color, without regar'
to any previous condition slavery o.
involuntary. ssrvitude' except asa pun
ishncnt for crime. whereof the party
shall haro been duly convicted, shal
have tho samc right in every State auc
Territory to mako ADD enforce onsracts
to inherit, purchase, lease, sell; hoN anl
coDreyreul and personal property,>and
to the full and equal beno6s Of oil luHs
and proceedings for the security; Of per
Bon ondspJoperty, os is enjoyed by:white
citizens; and shall be subject TO- like
punishment, pains aud penalties, and te
none other, any law, statute, ORDNANCE
regulations or custom TO the contrary
Notwithstanding. -.
SEC. .. Audthat any person who, uu'
der color cfany law, statute Or ordinance,
regulation or custom, shall subject OF
cause to be subjected, auy inhabitant OF
any Stataor Territory to the deprivation
Of auy right secured or protected BY this
act, or 10 punishment, pains or penalties
on account Of such person having at any
time been held ia q condition oil slavery
or Involuntary scrvi:udc, except %
punishment for crime whereof tho party
Shall have been duly convicted, or by
reason OF his color or race, than is pre-
scribcd for the punishment Of Willie per
sons, shall be deemed guilty Of misdo.
mcanor, aud on conviction shall be pun.
ished BY fiue not exceeding $1,000, or
Imprisonment not exceeding one year,
or both, 10 the discretion Of the Court.
SEC. 3. That the District Courts OF
tho United States within their respective
districts shall huYe, exclusively tho
Courts Of tho several States, cognizance
Of all crimes aud ofeuses committed
against tho provisions Of this act, and
also concrrrcu!ly H;th'!he Circuit Courts
Of the United States Of all causcs, civil
und criminal, affecting persons who arc
denied or cannot cuforce,'in tho Courts
or judicial tribunals Of tho State or local.
ity where they may be, any Of the rights
secured to tham' ny the irst section OF
this act; aud Il any suit or prosecution,
civil or criminal, has beon or shall be
commenced in any State Court against
any such person for any cause whatso.
ever, civil or military, or other person.
for any arrest or Imprisonment, trespaSS-
cs or wrongs douc or committed, by'vir.
tue or under, color Of authority derived
from this act, ortho oct establishing u
Bureau for tho relief Of freedmen and
refugees, and oil nets amendatorythcre
Of, or for refusing to do any act upon
the ground that il would DO inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have
the right to remove such cause for.tria'
to the proper District or Circuit Cour. in
the manner prescribed by tho act rc'
lx;ing to habaas corpus, and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases, },
approved March 80, 1868, aud all acts
amenda,ory thereto. The jurisdiction
10 civil and criminal matters hereby
conferred on the District and Circuit
Courts Of the United States shall be ex.
crcised and enforced in conformity. with
tho laws Of the United States, so far Us
such laws are suitable to carry tho same
into effect; but 10 all cases nhero such
laws ore not adapted to the object, OF
arc deficient in the provisions necessary
to furnish suitable remedies aud punish
oGcnses against. the laws, the common
law, as modified aud changed by the
Constitution aud Statutes Of tho States
wherein the Court having jurisdiction %
the cause. civil OR criminal, is held, &c
FIR as the same is not Inconsistent with
tho Constitution aud laws CT the UniteC
States, shall be extended to and govern
said Courts in the trial and disposition
Of such cause; and if of criuina
nature, u;lhc iut!iction Of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SIC. i. That the Di,lrict Attorneys
Malshals and Deputy MarshalS Of TIT
United States; tho Commissioners ap
pointed by tho Circuit and 'Tsrritoria
Courts Of tho United States, with power
Of arrestinS. imprisoning or balm;
offenders again! the LAWS Of the Uni,e'
States the officers and agents of tn
Frcsdmcn's Bureau, aud every othe
officer who mxy TO specially empowered
By the President Of the United States
shall be, aud they arc hereby special.
authorized and scquirsd, at ,ac expchs
Of the United States, TO Institute. pro
cscdines against all aud every person
who shall violate tho provisions df TIL
act, aud causc him or then to be arrest
cd and imprisoned, or bAisd, as the cas-
may be-, for ni4l before such Court o
the United States, or Territorial Court
us By this! act has cosn;zaucc Of ID
cGeusc. And, with, q view to aiiordin;
reasonable protection to, all persons il
their constitutional rights Of: cqual;.,
before the laxSy Sitholsjaist!nction Q
race or color, or previous condition c
slavery or Involuntary scrrisude, cxcep
~ mn ni,hmeo 10. o.;n.S -bor,ne Oh