Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-04-12
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

Bill as it passed both houses of Cor
J. gress, was subsequently vetoed b
, the President and finally passed b
j. the Senate over the veto. Their
can be no reasonable doubt that th
bill will also receive the two-third
necessary in the House Of Represer
. tatives toward rendering it the Law
of the land
p. S.-Since the above wa
placed in the hands of the printer, ,
dispatch from Washington brings ul
the news that the Civil Rights Bill
was passed by the House on the 9th
inst, by a vote Of 122 to Al.
SECTION l. That all persons born in the
United States and not subject to any for
eign power, excluding Indians not taxed,
are hereby declared to be Of citizens of the
United States, and such citizens, of every
race and color, without regard to any pre-
vions condition Of slavery or in voluntary
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 and be sued, 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 security of
person and property as is enjoy ed by white
citizens, and shall be subjected to like pun
| ishment, pains and penalties, and to none
! other, any law, statute, ordinance, regula-
ton or custom to the contrary notwith-
standing.
SEC. Q. And that any person who, under
color of any law, statute, ordinance, regu-
lation or custom, shul subject, or cause to
be subjected, any inhabitant Of any State
or Territory to the deprivation Of any
right secured or protected by this act, or TO
punishment, pains or penalties on account
or such person having at any time been
held in condition of slavery or in volun
tary servltude, 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
q misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall
be punished by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars, or i'm prsonment not ex-
ceeding one year, or both, at the discretion
of the court.
SEC. 8. That the district courts of the
United States within their respective dis
tricts shall have, exclusively of the courts
of the several States, cogRizance of all |
crimes and offences committed against the |
provisions Of this act, and also concur |
rnn tlw ha ~
States, of all causes, civil and criminal, |
affecting persons who are denied or cannot |
enforce in the courts of judicial tribunals |
of the Stale 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 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 a bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and L
all acts amendatory thereof, or for refus-
ing to do any act upon 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 District
or Circuit or District Court, il the manner
prescribed by the act relating to hdJeas
corpus and regulating Judicial proceedings
In certain cases, approved March 8, 1863,
and all acts amendstory thereto. The iuris-
iiction in civil and criminal matters hereby
conferred on the district and circui. courts
Of the United States, shall be exercised and
enforced in conformity with the laws of
,he United States, so far as such laws are
suitable to carry the same into effect; but
Il all cases whore such laws are not adapted
% the object, or are deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable RENE
lies and punish offences against law, the
common law, as modified and changed by
he Constitution and statutes of the State |
herein the court having jurisdiction of
If the cause, civil or criminal, is held, so |
ar as the same is not inconsistent with |
he Constitution and laws of the United |
states, shall be extended to and govern |
aid courts in the trial and disposition of {
UGH cause; and if of 8 criminal nature, in
ne infiiction Of punishment on the party t
ound guilty. '
Sec. l. That the district attorneys, ar
halls and deputy marshals of the United | 6
'tates, the commissioners appointed BY !
be circuit and territorial courts of the
United States, with powers of arresting, 7
or bailing offenders against I
he laws of the United States, the officers I
nd agents Of the freedmen's bureau, and +
very other officer who may be specially | t
Empowered by the President of the United G
tates, shall be, and they are hereby, spe-
tally authorized and required, at the ex- q
ense of the United States, to institute q
roceedings against all and every per t
on who shall violate the provisions Of this
ct, and cause him or them to be arrested
nd imprisoned, or bailed, as the case may
e, for such trial before such court of the /
Inited States or territorial court as BY this
ct has cognizance of the offence; and with d
view to affording reasonable protection to 6
Il persons in their constitutional rights of
quality before the law, without distinc-
on of race or color, or previous condi-
ons of slavery or involuntary servitude,
ycept as punishment for crime, whereof t
le party shall have been duly convicted; a
nd to the prompt discharge OF the duties Of :,
lis act, it shall be the duty of the circuit
1urts Of the United States, and the superior t
ourts of the Territories of the United h
tates, from time to time, to increase the r
lumber of mmissioners, so as to afford L
oeedy and convenient means for the arrest .
nd examination of persons charged with +
Il - u