The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-12
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto
'sBe it enacted By the Senate and House f Repre-
sentdtueS Of the United States OF america IN Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eX-
cluding Indians, not taxed, arc 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
servitudc, except as 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 fall laws and proceedings for the securi
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. 4nd be it further enacted, That any per-
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, or
cause be subjected, any inhabitant of any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains, or penalties on account of
such person having at any time been held i'll
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude,
cept punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color race, than is prescribed for the pun
ishmcnt of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of msdemcanor and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC 3. And be 1t further enacted, That the dis
trict courts of the United States, within their re-
spective districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the provi-
sons of this act, and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts of the United States, of all causes,
civil and criminal, affecting persons who are de-
MED or 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 or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
any canse whatsoever, against any officer, civil
or military, or other person, for arrest or impri
sonment, trespasscs, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue or under color of authority derived
from this act or the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, ana All acts
thereof; or for refusing to do any
upon the ground that it would be inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have the right
to remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hd6eds corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and siXty-threc I
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdic- |
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 in con-
formty with the laws of 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, 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 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 intiiction of punishment
On the party found guilty.
SEC 4. And be it further enacted That the dis
rict attorneys, marshas, and deputy marshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers of arresting, imprisoning, or
Dailing offenders against the laws of the United
States, the officers and agents of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spc-
,lally empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they hereby, specially
and required, at the expense Of the
md every person who shall violate the provisions
Of this act, and cause him or them to be arrested
md imprisoned, or bailed the may be,
FOR trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cognizance of
the offence. And with the view to afFording rea-
;onablc protection to all persons in their consti-
utional rights of equality before the law without
Of race or color, or previous condi-
ion of slavery or involuntary scrvitude except |
Is punishment for crime, whereof the party |
shall have been duly con Victed, and to the prompt
discharge of the duties of this act it shall be the
duty of the circuit courts of the United States |
md 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 |
md convenient means for the arrest and examina-
ion oil persons charged with a violation of this |
,ct. And such commissioners are hereby author |
zed and required to exercise and discharge all |
she powers and duties conferred on them by this |
art, and the same duties with regard to offences |
created by this act, they Authorized by law
toeXerciSe with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States.
Sec. 5. And be IL further enacted, That it shall |
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
10 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 |
tty 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
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
to execute their dnties faithfrlly
md efficiently in conformity with the Eonstitu-
ton of the United States and the requirements of