Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-04-18
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
An Act to protect all persons in the United States
in their civil rights, and furnish the means
of their vindication.

BE q enacted bY the Ser6te Iid h0HSe OF htD-
yrs,utati,,s of the United States Of Amertc4 i,a
Congress assembled, That all persons born In the
United States and not subject to any foreign pow
err excluding Indians not taxed are hereby de-
clared to be citizens OF the onlteo states anu
such citizens, of every race ana color, without
regard 10 auy previous condition Of slryery or
involuntary seryitude. except As punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted shall have the same right IN every
State and Territory in the United States, TO make
and enforce contracts 10 sue, be parties aud give
evideace, to inherit. purchase, lease, sell hold
and convey real and personal property, ana to
full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings
for the security of person and property. as is
joyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to
like punishment, pains, and penalties and to
none other. any law, statute, ordinance. reguia-
ton or custom, to the contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC 2 A1sf Be 1t further enacted That any per-
son who. under color of any law, statute, oIdin-
ance regulation custom. shall subj ct, or cause
| to be subjected. any inhabitant of any State or
Territory TO the deprivation of any right. secur-
ed or protected by this act, or to different pun
ishment, pains pen alties, on account of such
person having at any time been held IN condi
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude except
as punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted. or by of
his color race, than is prescribed for the pun
ishment OF white persons. shall be deemed guilty
Of a misdemeanor; and, on conviction. shall be
punished by fine, not exceeding one thousand
dollars OF imprisonmen ent not exceeding one year
or both in the discretion of the court.
| See 3. A1td be 1t further ssactea That the dis
trict courts of the United States within their
spective districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, coguizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the proyis
ions of this act, and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts of the United States. of all causes
| civil and criminal affecting persons " ho de-
MED cannot enforce in the courts Judicial tri
bunals of the State or locality W here they may be
any of the rights secured to them by the frst Sec
ton of this act; and if any suit or prosecution
civil criminal, has been or shall be menced
| In any State court against any such person. for
any cause whatsoever, or against any officer civil
or military, or other person, tor any arrest or i'm
pIisonment, tresspasses or wrongs done or com
mitted by virtue under color of authority de-
rived from this act the act establishing Bu-
reau for the lief of Freedmen and Refugees and
all acts amendatory thereof, refusing to do any
act upon the ground that it would be inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have the
right to remove such for trial TO the prop-
district circuit court in the manner prescri-
bed by the Act relating to habeas corpus and
regulating judicial proceedings in certain cases"
approved March 3D. eighteen hundred aud sixty
three. and all acts amendatory thereof. The ju-
risdiction in civil and criminal matters hereby
conferred the district and circuit courts of the
United States shall be exercised and in conform-
ty with the laws of the United States so far as
such laws suitable to carry the same into eff
feet; but in all cases where such laws are not
ada pied to the object. deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
punish offences against law, the common law as
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 the is not inconsistent with the
Constitution and laws of the United States sha
be extended TO and govern said in the trial
and disposition of such cause, and if of a Grim
inal nature, in the infiction of punishment on
the party found guilty.
Sec. 4. A1,d be 1T further eaarted, That the dis
trict attorneys marshals, and deputy marsh ais
of the United States the commissioners appoint
ad Y a md farr rial
nited States. with powers of arresting impri son.
ing, or bailing offenders against the laws of the
United States, the officers and agents of the Freed
mems Bureau. aud every other officer who NAV
be specially empowered by the President of the
United States; shall. be, and they are hereby spe.
cially authorized and required at the expense of
the United States to institute proceedings against
all and every person who shall violate the provis-
ions of this act and cause him them to be ar.
rested and imprisoned, or bailed as tho case may
be, for trial before, such court of the United
States territorial courts by this act has cog
nizance of the offence And with . view of al
fording reasonable protection TO all persons m
their constitutional rights of equality before the
law without distinction of race or color or pre-
vious condition Of slavery or involuntary servi
tude, except as a 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 Uni
ted States and the superior courts of the Terrific
res of the United States from time to time to in
crease the number of commissioners SO as TO af- |
ford speedy and convenient means of arrest and |
examination of persons charged with n violation |
OF this act and such commissioners are hereby !
authorized md required to exercise and discharge
all the powers and duties conferred them by |
this act, and the same duties with regard to Of
fences created by this act, they are authorized
by law to exercise with regard to other offences
against the laws of the United States
SEC. B. Akd be ii further enacted That it sb all |
be the duty of all m marshals and deputy marshals |
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts is
sued u.der 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 |
the offence. IND the better 10 enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently. in conformity with the Constitu-
ton OF the United States and the requrem nts of
this act, they are hereby authorized and empov-
cred, within their counties respectively to an
point, IN writing, under their hands any one or
more suitable persons, from time to time to exc
cute all such warrants and other process as NAV
be issued by them in the lawful perform ance of
their respective duties; and the persons SO ap-
pointed to execute any warrant or process as
aforesaid shall have authority to summon and |
call 10 their aid the bystanders or posse conita.
tus of the proper county, such portion Of the
land and naval forces of the United States or of
the militia, as may be necessary to the perform. |
ance of the duty to which they are 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
oiheers anywhere in the State or Territory within
which they issued.
SEC. 6. And be It further enacted, That
any person who shall knowingly and wilful-
y obstruct, hinder, or prevent any officer.
Or other person charged with the execution
't any warrant or process issued under the
provisions of this act, or any person or per-
IONS lawfully assisting him or them, from
lrresting any person for whose apprehen-
non such warrant or process may have been