The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-26
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
o.o,. the Presidents Veto:

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House i Lttp'e-
seutatires of the United States Of america ia Congress
assembled, That al! persons born IN tne onl n,
Guiding Indians, not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such ctl-
zens of every race and color, without regard 10
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment Tor CRIME
whereof the party shall ave been duly CONVEYED
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
benefit of all laws and proceedings for the secu-
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishmcnt
| paius and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
| contrary notwithstanding. M
son who under color of any law, statute, ordl
nance regulation, or custom, shall subject, or
cause TO 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 Ill a
condition of slavery involuntary servitude, eX-
! cept as punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
| ishment of white persons shall be deemed guilty
of a 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 B. 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, cognizancc of all
crimes and offences committed against the Prov
sionS of this act, and also, cOncurrenty 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 whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
military, or other person, for arrest or lmprl-
sonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue under color of authority derived
from this act or the act establishing bureau Tor
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatOry thereof; orfor refusing to do any ac-
upon the ground that it would be inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have the right
to remove such for trial to the proper dist
trict or circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbed$ corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and siXty-threc,
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdc-
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 of the United States so far
rs such laws suitable to carry the same into
effect; but i'll 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
held, so far 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
L criminal nature i'll the iniiction of punishment
the party found guilty.
SEC. l. 1ad be Juither enacted, That the dis
trc attorneys, nlarsllals, and deputy marshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers OF arrcsting, imprisoning or
bang 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 as the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court as by the act has cogniZance of
the offence. And with the view to affording rea-
sonablc protection to all persons in their consti-
tutonal rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, previous condi-
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude, except
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 rs to afford a 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, as they are authorized by law
the laws of the United States.
SEC ;. 4,td be FURTHER enacted, That it shall
he the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts is
sned under the provisions of this act, when to
them directed and should any marshal or dep
uty IlIrshal refuse to receive such warrant or
other process when rendered, or to use 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
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu-
ton of the United States and the requirements of
this act, they are hereby authorized and cmpow-
cred, within their counties respectively, to ap-
point, in writing, under their hands, any one or
more suitable persons, from time to time, to
cute all such warrants and other process may
be issued by them in the lawful performance of
their respective duties; and the persons so APP
pointed to execute any warrant or process as
aforesaid shall have authority to summon and
call to their aid the bystanders or the posse conn
iGtuS of the proper county, or such portion of
the land and naval forces of the United States, or
the militia, may be necessary to the pcrfor-
nance of the duty with which they charged,
and to insure q faithful observance of the clause
of the Constitution which prohibits slavery, in
conformity with the provisions of this act; and
said warrants shall run and be executed by said
officers anywhere in the State or Territory within
which they arc issued.
SEC 6. Ind be it further enacted, That any per-
son who shall knowingly and willfully obstruct,
hinder, prevent any officer, or other person
charged with the execution of any warrant or
process issued under the provisions of this act,
or any person persons lawfully assisting him
or them, from arresting anv person for whose APP
prehension such warrant or process may have
been issued, shall rescue or attempt to rescue
such person from the custody of the officer, 9th
persons persons, or those lawfully assisting
as aforesaid, when arrested pursuant to the
authority herein given and declared or shall aid,
abet assist any person so arrested as aforesaid,
directly indirectly, to escape from the custody
of the officer or other person legally authorized
as aforesaid or shall harbor conceal any person
for whose arrest warrant or process shall have
been issued aforesaid so as to prevent his dis
covery and arrest after notice or knowledge of the
fact that warrant has been issued for the appre
hension of such person, shall, for either of said
offences, be subject to fine not exceeding one
Thousand dollars, and Imprisonment not exceed
ing six months, by Indictment and conviction be-
fore the district court ofthe United States for the
district in which said offence may have been
committed, before the proper court of GRIM
inal Jurisdiction, if committed within any of
the organized Territories of the United States
SEC. z. Ind be it further enacted, That the dis
let attorneys the marshals, their deputies, and
the clerks of the said district and Territorial
courts shall be paid for their services the like
fees as may be allowed to them for similar servi
in other cases; and in all cases where the pro-
ceedings are before commissioner, he shall be
entitled to fee often dollars in full for his serv
ces in each case inclusive of all services incident