The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-21
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 the Senate and House f Repre-
sentdiUes 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 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
servtude, except a punishment for crime
| whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
shall have the same right in every State and Ter
rtory 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
| ty of person and property 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. Z. And be it further enacted, That any per-
son who under color of any law, & staaTte, h,t 4rd
to be subjected, any inhabitant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
punishment pains, or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held in a
condition of slavery or involuntary seryitude, ex-
cept as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
his color or race, than is prescribed for the pun
ishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of q misdemeanor, 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. g. And be 1T further enacted, That the dis
trct 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-
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 de-
| MED cannot enforce in the courts or judicial
tribunals of the State 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 commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
anv canse whatsoever against any officer, civil
nj mi IL
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 it would be 1nconslstent
with this act, such defendant shall have the right
to remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict or circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbeas corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and slxty-three,
and all acts amendatory thereof The jurisdic-
red on the district and circuit courts of the Unit
ed 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 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
statutes of the State wherein the court having
jurisdiction of the cause, civil or criminal. Is
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
q criminal nature in the infiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC T. Aad be it further enacted, That the dis
trict 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, imprisonlng, or
bailing 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- |
c1ally empowered by the President of the United |
Sfofn Sho11 10
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 as the case 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-
sonable protection tn all persons in their consti
tutional rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of or color, previous condi- |
ton of slavery involuntary servitude, except |
as 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, as to afford speedy |
and convenient means for the arrest and eXamna- |
tion 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 offences against
the laws of the United States.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
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 when rendered, to use all proper
means diligently to eyncute the same, he shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined in the sum Oh ono |
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
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
ion of the United States and the requirements of
~.