Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-05
The Civil Rights Bill.

yesterday published the Presidents
message vetoing the Civil Rights bills,
which we trust none Of our readers who
have not already done So will fail to
peruse 1t. That all may be we'll posted on
the great questions that now seem to
command public attention, we pub
fish below the substance of the bill
itself which should be read and care
fully preserved along with the message
vetoing it:
"Section |. That all persons born IN
the United States, and not subject to
any foreign power, excluding Indians
not taxed, are hereby declared to be citi-
zens Of the United States and such citi-
zens Of every race and color, without re-
gard to any previous condition of slavery
or involuntary servitude, 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 sue to be sued to be parties and give
evidence, to inherit, to purchase lease,
sell, hold and convey real and personal
property and to be entitled to full and
equal benefit of all laws and proceedings
for the security 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 regulate or custom
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Section .. Any person who shall de-
prive any inhabitant of any State or
Territory of any right secured by this
act, under color of law, regulation or
custom, is declared guilty of misde-
meanor. punishable by a fine not exceed
ing one thousand dollars, or imprison-
ment not exceeding one year, or both, at
the discretion of the court.
Section 8. The United States District
Courts shall have exclusive cognizance
of all offenses against this act, and also,
concurrently with the United States Cir
cult Court. of all civil and criminal
causes affecting persons who rights are
secured by section |. Any suit against
such persons, begun in any State court,
may be removed for trial to the proper
District or Circuit Court. In exception
al cases the common law, as modified
and changed by the constitution and
statutes of the states wherein the court
having jurisdiction of the cause, civil
or criminal, is held, so far as the same
is not consistent with the constitution
and laws of the United States, shall be
extended and govern said courts in the
trial and disposition of such cause, and
If of criminal nature, in the infiiction
of punishment of the party found guilty.
Section 4. The District Attorneys,
Marshals and Deputy Marshals of the
United States, the Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Circuit and Territorial
Courts of the United States, with pow
ers of arresting, imprisoning or bailing
offenders against the laws Of the United
States, the officers and agents of the
Freedmen's Bureau, and every other Of
ficer who may be specially empowered
by the President of the United States,
is to institute proceedings against every
person who shall violate the provisions
of this act; and it is made the duty of
the Circuit Court of the United States
and the Superior Courts of the Terrific
ries, from time to time, to increase the
number of Commissioners, so as to af-
ford speedy and convenient means for
the arrest and examination of persons
charged with a violation of this act.
Section s. The Commissioners are
empowered to have concurrent jurisdic-
ton with the United States Circuit and
District Judges. and Territorial Judges,
both in term-time and vacation.
Section 6. United States Marshals
and their deputies are required to obey
ali warrants issued under this act. In
case of refusal, they may be fined one
thousand dollars each, for the use of the
person against whom the accused is al
legged to have committed the oaense.
The Commissioners are empowered to
appoint County Assistants to execute
warrants, and the latter may call for
assistance upon bystanders, or summon
a pessc eo'sitatas, or the military and ma
val forces.
Section Z. ANY person who shall
knowingly and wrongfully obstruct,
hinder or prevent any officer or other
person charged with the execution of
any warrant or process issued under
this sct, or any person or persons un-