The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-29
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto:

seahyS That ali persons born in the United
States and not subject to any fo"elgn rover, eA,
| rludinr Indians not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States; and such ctl-
| zens of every race and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
scrvitudc, except as q punishment Tor 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 Tor the securl
ty of person aud property us is enjoyed by wmte
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, and penalties and to none other, any law,
statute ordinance, regulation, or custom TO inc
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC 3 Ind be it further enacted, That any per
son who under color of any law, statute, ordi
| nance regulation or custom, shall subject, or
cause to be subjected any inhabltant 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 ut any time been held Ill a
condition of slavery or involuntary servltude, eN-
cept as IL 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 a misdemeanor and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
both, i'll the discretion OF the court.
SEC 3. And be it .t,trther enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States, within their re-
spective districts, shall lave exclusively OF the
courts of the several States, cogniZance OF all
crimes and offences committed against the provl-
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 or 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
any cansc whatsoever, against any officer, civil
military, or other person, for arrest or inprl-
sonment, trcspasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue or under color of authority derived
|
| the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing to do any ac-
uDon 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 Sanner prescribed by
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
| March three, eighteen hundred and siXty-three,
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-
| formity with the laws of the United States, far
as such laws suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, are deficient i'll the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
| punish offences against law, the common law,
modified and changed by the constitution and
statutes of the State wherein the court having
! Jurisdiction of the cause, civil criminal is
held, 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, il of
q criminal nature i'll the intliction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. 4. Ind BE- it FURTHER enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys, marshls, and deputy marshas of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers OF arresting, imprsoning,
bailinG offenders against the laws of the United
States, the officers and agents of the Frecdmens
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spe-
cIaly empowered by the President of the United
States, shall be, and they 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, bailed the case NAV be,
for trial before such of the United States or
territorial court by the act has cognizance of
the offence And with the view to atfording rea-
SOnablc protection to all persons i'll their cOnSti
tutonal rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
ton of slavery or 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, so as to afford Il speedy
and convenient means for the 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
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws OF the United States
SEC ). A1td be it titIthcr enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all InarShalS and deputy marShalS
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, or to all proper
means diligently to execute the same he shall,
conviction thereof be fined i'll 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 empow-
f-ra6 VEIt heir n
point, in writing, under their hands, any one or |
more suitable PERSONS from time to time, to exc
cute all such warrants and other process may |
be issued by them in the lawful performance of |
their respective duties; and the persons APP
pointed to execute any warrant or process as
aforesaid shall have authority to summon and |
call to their aid the bystandcrs or the posse
HdtuS of the proper county, or such portion of |
the land and naval forces of the United States,
the militia as may be necessary to the pcrfor-
nance of the duty with which they are charged, !
and to insure a 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 Territory within
which they are issued.
SEC. g. And be ufayther. enacted, That any per-
son who shall knowingly and willfully obstruct,
hinder, or prevent an> officer or other person
charged with the execution of any warrant or
process issued under the provisions of this act,
or any person or persons lawfully assisting him
or thcm from arrcsting anv person for whose APP
prehension such warrant process may have
been issued, shall rescue or attempt to rescue
persons or persons, or those lawfully assisting
as aforesaid, when so 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 or conceal any person
for whose arrest warrant or process shall have
been issued aforesaid, as to prevent his dis
covcry and arrest after notice 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 a 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, or before the proper court of GRIM
inal Jurisdiction, if committed within any one of
the organized Territories of the United States.
SEC z. Ind be it further e,tacted, That the dis
tict attorneys, the marshals, their deputies, and
the clerks of the said district and Territorial
courts shall be paid for their services the like
fees may be allowed to them for similar servi-
in other cases; and in all cases where the pro-
ceedings before commissioner he shall be
entitled to fee often dollars in full for his scrvi
ces in each case, inclusive of all services incident
to such arrest and examination. The person or
persons authorized to execute the process to be
Such for Of