Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-04-13
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.


SECTION l. That all persons born in
the United States and not subject to any
foreign power, excluding Indians not
taxed, are hereby declared to be citizens
of the United States and such citizens,
of every race and color, without any
previous condition of slavery or involun-
tary service, except as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall have the same
right in every State and terriotory to
make and enforce contracts, to sue, to be
sued, 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
proceeding for the security ofperson and
property as are enjoyed by white citizens;
and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains and penalties, and to none other
any law, statute, ordinance, regulation
orcustom to the contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC 2. And that any person who.
under color of any law, statute, ordi-
nance, regulation or custom, shall sub
ject, or cause to be subjected. any in.
habtant of any State or territory to the
deprivation Of any right secured or pro-
tected by this act, or to punishment,
pains and penalties on account of such
person having at any time been held in
a condition of slavery or involuntary
servtude, except for the punishment of
crime, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted, or by the reason of
his color or race, than is prescribed for
the punishment of white persons, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
on conviction, shall be punished by
fine not exceeding 81 600, or imprison-
ment not exceeding one year. or both,
10 the discretion of the court.
SEC. 8. That the District Courts of
the United States, within their respec-
tive districts, shall have, exclusively Of
the courts of the several States, cogni-
zance of all crimes and offences commit
ted against the provisions of this act,
and also concurrently with the Circuit
Courts of the United States, of all causes,
civil aud criminal, affecting persons who
are denied, or cannot enforce in the
courts or judicial tribunal Of the State or
locality where they may be. any of the
rights secured to them by the first Sec
ton of this act; and if any suit or pro-
secution, civil or criminal, has been or
shall be commenced in any State court
against any such person for any cause
whatsoever, civil or military, or any
other person, any arrest or imprison-
ment, trespasscs, or wrong done or COM
mtted by virtue or under color of au-
thority derived from this act or the act
establishing Bureau for the relief of
freedmen and refugees. and all acts
amendatory thereof, or for refusing TODD
any act upon the ground that it would
be Inconsistent With this act, such de-
PENDANT shall have the right to remove
such cause for trial TO the proper dis
trict or circuit court in the manner pre-
scribedby the act relating to haJeas cor
pms and regulating judicial proceedings
in certain cases. approved March 3rd,
1868, and all acts amendatory thereto.
The jurisdiction in civil and criminal
matters hereby conferred on the District
and Circuit Courts of the United 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 in all
cases where such laws are not adapted to
the object, or are deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable
remedies and punish offences against The
law, the common law as modified and
changed by the constitution and statutes
Of the State wherein the conrt having
Jurisdiction of the cause, civil or cri-
mipal, is held. 70 far az the rame is no.