Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-30
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

The following are the two first and most i'm.
portant Sections of the Civil Rights Bill, which
has passed both Houses of Congress, and now
awaits the signature of the President:
Section !. All persons born in the United
States. aud not subj iect to any foreign power,
excepting Indians not taxed, are hereby de-
c,ared:to he: citizens of the United States, and
such citizens OF every race and color without
rcs rd TO my previous col tli,on Of slavery or
involuntary scrvituie. 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 aud enforce
colrnsis, to inherit. puI Ichnse lease. sell, hold
and convey real mtd pen soEal property, and to
the full and equal benefit of all laws and pro.
ceedngs. Tor the security; Of person and prop
cry. as is enjoyed 10y white citizens; and shall
be subject ,c like punishment, Iains and pen
nlties and TO nqne other, any law, statute,
ordinance, regulation or custom TO the con-
trarv not Outstanding
SEC g And Tint any person who, under
color Of any Inv, statute, or ordinance, resu-
la, ioE ON, shall subject or cause to b.
subjected, any i"habi,ant Of any State or Ter.
rtory to the deprivation Of any right secured
or protected 10y this act, or 10 punishment.
pains penalties on account Of such person
having at any time been held in condition OF
slavery or involuntary servitudc. except 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.
guilty of nj misdemeauor, and on conviction
shall bc punished by fine not exceeding 81 900,
imprisoned not exceeding one year, Lr both,
in the discretion Of the Court.
The other ecc,ions CT the Bill vest 10 the
United States Circuit and District Courts iur,,-
.dicIon Of all offences against the act, and con.
fosn Al
its stipulations through the District AttorHsye
Marshalls and United States Commission6lss5S5 81
Opinions differ with regard to the probsbili
" Of its receiving the Presidents signature
The Washington correspondent Of the New
York Mers INSERTS ositively that he will veto
the Bill, on tile ground that It is designed 10
effect the ends of the late Freedmen's Bureau
unnecessary as the State Courts afford all
proper redress for the wrongs provided against
in this Bill. The well informed Washington
correspondent of the Charleston Courier, how.
ever, thinks that there Is no doubt but thatthe
President will approve it, though he may OBJ
jeet to it's general character. AZ originally
pnssed by the Senate it would have been We.
toed, but ii has since been modified tn allow
un appeal in every case TO the Supreme Court
, of the United States. It is thought that the
Bill will not be Of much practical importance
The great objection TO the measure, is that
it encroaches upon the reserved rights of the
States, and is q part and parcel Of a great
scheme to consolidate the government and
vest in Congress the Chief powers of the State
Iaoi al, Tn oil 4
the general Government can exercise no COM
mon powers, and these subjects have always
heretofore been within the exclusive jurisdic-
tion of the States. InHegislaling with regard
to this class Of euljecte, Congress is clearly
guilty Of usurpation.