The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-04-20
The Civil Rights Law.

The Civil Rights bill having passed both
Houses of Congress over the veto of the
President, is now law The following is
the full text of this important act:
An act to protect all persons in the United States
in their civil rights and furnish means for their
vindiOation:
Section /. All persons born in the United
States. and not subject to any foreign pow
er, excepting Indians not taxed, are hereby
declared to be citizens of the United States,
and such citizenseof every race and color,
without regard to any previous condition of
slavery or involuntary servitude, except as
a 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 inherit,
purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real
aud personal property, and to the full and
equal benefit of all laws and proceeding s
for the security of persons and property. as
enjoyed by white citizens; and shall be sub
ject to like punishment, pains and penal
ties, and to none other, any law, Statute, d,
ordinance, regulations or custom to the con-
trary notwithstHaAag
, Sec. Q. Andss4at any person who, under
color of any law, statute or ordinance, regu-
49, IS custom, shall subject or cause to
be subiecsted any inhabitant of any State OF
Territory : to the deprivation of any right
secured or Psroteftsd by this act, or to pun
ishment, pains q. ties on account of
such persons having - time been held
in a condition of slavery or rhAYolustar.s
servitude, except as punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, or by reason of his color or race,
than is prescribed for the punishment of
white persons, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be
punished by fine not exceeding 81, 900, or
Imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
both, in the discretion of the Court.
Sec. 3. That the District Courts of the
United States within their respective dis
tricts shall have, exclusively the courts of
the several States, cognizance of all crimes
aud offences committed against the provis-
ions of this act, and also concurrently with
the Circuit Courts of the United States of
all causes, civil and criminal, affecting per-
sons who are denied 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 or prosecution,
civil or criminal, has been or shall be com
menoed in any State Court against any such
person, for any cause whatsoever. civil OF
military, or other person for any arrest or
Imprisonment, trespasses or wrongs done
or committed by virtue or under color of
authority derived from this act, or the act
establishing Bureau for the relief of freed
men and refugees, and all acts amendatoIy
thereof, or for refusing to do any act upon
the ground that it would be inconsiste Mt
with .his act, such defendent shall have
the right to remove such cause for trial to
the proper District or Circuit Court in the
manner prescribed by the ''actrelating to
habeas corpus, and regulating judicial pro-
ceedings In certain cases, approved March
Sd, 1868, and all acts amendatory thereto.
The jurisdiction in civil and criminal mat
ters hereby conferred on the District and
Circuit Courts Of the United States shall
be exercised and enforced in conformity
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, or are def
o'ent IN the provisions necessary to furnish