The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-10
The Civil Rights Bill.
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 + Repre-
Sentatircs Of the United States Of Anerica in Congress
assembled, That all persons born IN the United
States and not subject to any fo-eign Power, eX-
| cluding Indians, not taxed, are hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such citi
! zens of every race and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, 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 in 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 oTa!l laws and proceedings for the securi-
| ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject TO like punishment,
palms. and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute ordinance, regulation, OF custom to the
| contrary Notwithstanding
SEC. :. As,d be it further enacted, That any per
! son who, under color of any law, statute Ordl
| nance, regulation, or custom, shall SUBJECT or
cause be subjected, any inhabitant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation OF any IgnI sc.
punishment pains. or penalties on account oil
! such person having at any time been held III
condition of slavery or involuntary servltude, ex-
| cept as punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
his color race, than is prescribed for the pun
ishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
| of a misdemcanor and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, or Imprisonment not exceeding one year, OF
both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 3. Antd be it FURTHER enacted That the dis
trict courts of the United States, within their re-
spectivc districts, shall have exclusively OF the
| courts of the several States, cogniZance OF all
| 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 dc.
| MED cannot enforce in the courts or Judicial
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 prosecution
| civil or criminal has been orshall be commenced
| in any State court against any such person, for
any canse whatsoever, against any officer, civil
mr. Ililit nr L l.
sonment, treSpasses or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue under color of authority derived
from this act or the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing to do any ac-
upon the ground that 1t would be inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have the right
to remove such for trial to the proper dist
trict circuit court in the manner prescribed by
| the Act relating 10 hd6eGS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases, approved
| March three eighteen hundred and siXty-three,
and all acts amcndatory thereof The Jurlsd1c-
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-
formity with the laws the United States, so far
as such laws 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 law, the common law, as
| modified and changed by the constitution and
statuteso 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
a criminal nature, in the lntlctlon OF punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC f. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys marshals, and deputy marshals OF OF
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts OF the United
States, with powers of arresting imprisOning, or
baing offenders against the laws OF the United
States, the officers and agents of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spe-
clally empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they are hereby, specially
authorized and required, at the expense of the
United States to institute proceedings against all
and every person who shall violate the provisions
of this act and cause him or them to be arrested
and Imprisoned, or bailed the case may he,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court by the act has cSrlliZance of
the offence. And with the view to afordlng rea-
sonable protection to all persons i'll their consti
tuiona rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous eondi-
ton of slavery involuntary scrvitude, except
As n 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 United States
and the superior courts of the Territories of the
United States, from time to time, to increase the
number of commissioners, SO as to afford speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and examina-
ton of persons charged with violation of this
act And such commissioners are hereby author
lied and required to exercise and discharge all
the powers and duties conferred on them by this
act, and the same duties with regard TO offences
created by this act, they are authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other okcaces against
the laws of the United States.
SEC. s. And be 1t farther enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals andh2eputy maYshalS
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts is
| sued under 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 ,Fhen rendered, to 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. And the better TO enable the said
1 commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently in conformity with the Gonstltu-
tion of the United States and the requirements Of