The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-11
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

thu, the civil rights bill gives the negroes
right 20 vots. This il an error. Congress
csnnet confer that right upon any one. Con-
ersss has no power to NEEDLE with the mat
ter of suffrage. The states, each for itself,
are the sole and only judges of that matter.
Nor can congress (as 10 illegally attempted
to be done In the civil rights billy make
citizens of any persons except those OF for
eign birth. This is the only power conferred |
on congress to legislate concerning citizen. |
ship viz: to prescribe uniform rules of nat.
uralization.
We refer our readers to the message of
President johnson vetoing this bill, and to
the decisions of the supreme court, in regard
to this subject. for q more elaborate explana-
ton of the powers of congress.
The following is copy OF the bill, as it
passed congress:
Section l. All persons born In the United
States, and not subject to any foreign power,
except Indians not taxed, are hereby declar-
ed to be citizens, of every race and color,
without regard to any previous condition OF
slavery or involuntary servtude. except as
punishment for crime, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall have
the same right in every state and territory
to make and enforce contracts, to inherit,
purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real
and personal property, and to the full and
equal benefits of all Tvs and proceedings for
the securely of persons and property, as is
enjoyed by white citizens; and shall be sub
iect to like punishment, pains aud penalties,
an to none other, any law, statute, ordin-
ance, regulation or custom of the country
Notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. And that any person who under col
or of any law, statute or ordinance, regulation
or custom, shall subject or cause to be sub
iected, any inhabitant of any state or terri
| tory to the deprivation of any right secured
| or protected By this act, or to punishment,
pains or penalties on account OF such person
| having at any time been held In condition
| of slavery or Involuntary servitude, except as
| q punishment for crime, whereof the party
| shall have been duly convicted, or by reason
of his color or race, than is prescribed for the
punishment of white persons, shall be deem
| ed guilty of misdemeanof, and, on conviction,
| shall be punished by fine not exceeding 81.
900. or imprisonment not exceeding one
| year, or both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC D. That the district corrts OF the
United States within their respective districts
shall have, exclusively of the courts OF the
several states, cogulzance of all crimes and
offences committed against the provisions OF
| this act and also concurrently with the OFF,
| Quit courts of the United States OF all causes,
| civil and criminal affecting persons who
| are denied or cannot enforce, IN the courts or
| tribunals of the state or locality where they
| may be, any of the rights secured to them By
| the first section Of this act and If any suit
or prosecution, civil or criminal, has been or
shall be com ;senced in any state court against
| any such person for any cause whatsoever,
civil or military, or other person for any ar
rest or imprisonment, or wrongs done or COM
mitted by virtue or under color OF authority
derived from that act, or the act establishing
a bureau for the relief of freedmen or refu-
gees and all acts aIuendatory thereof, or for
refusing to do any act upon the ground that
il would be inconsistent with this act, such
defendant shall have the right TO remove such
cause for trial to the proper district or circuit
court, in the manner prescribed by the "act
relating to hdbeas corpus. and regulating lu-
dciai proceedings in certain cases, approved
Msrch Sd, 1868, and all acts amendatory
| thereto The Jurisdiction in civil and Grim
inal matters hereby conferred ON the distrio1
aud circuit courts of the United States shall
be exercised aid enforced in conformity with
the laws of the United States so far as such
laws are suitable to carry the same into Ell
feet; but in all cases where such laws are
|
provisions necessary TO furnish suitable rem
edies--and punish offences agalnst the laws
the common law, as modified and changed by
the constitution and statutes of the states,
! wherein the courts having jurisdiction of thu
| cause civil or criminal, il held, 30 far as tn,
same is not inconsistent with the oonst tutior
! and laws of the United StaJes, shalt be ex
, tended to and govern said courts in tria
and disposition Of such cause; and Ct q CT ian
inai nature, 10 the infiction of punishment OF
the party found guilty.
Sec. 4. That the district attorneys, mar
shass and deputy msrshals of the United
States the commissioners appointed by tn
circuit aud territorial courts of the UDite'
States, with powers of arresting, i'm prsoning
or baiing offenders against the laws OF tn
United States the officers and agents OF th
fraedmen's bureau, and every officer who ma,
1 be ca specially empowered by the president o
= the United States shall be and they are here
o BY specially authorized and required, at To
. expense of the United States, to institute pre-
=. ceedings against all and every person W.T.
shall violate the provisions OF thls act, an
!, cause HIM or them to be arrested and inprif
Q | oned, or bailed, as the case may be, Tor trla
n before such court of the United States or TEL
ritorial courts as by this act has eognizane g
} of the offence And with view to affor'
J. reasonable protection to all persons II
their constitutional rights OF equality peior
| the law. without distinction OF race or COLO
| or previous condition OF slavery or lnVoiun
y tary servitude, except as punishment 10
|. crime whereof the party shall have been con
l. yicted and to the prompt discharge OF To
;. duties of this act, it shall be the duty OF tn
| circuit courts of the United States, and tn
. superior court of the territories of the Unite
9 States from time to time, to increase the mum
Der of commissioners, so as to afford speed
and convenient means tor arrest and examlu
alton of persons charged with violation
n | this act.