The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-04
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

over the Presidents Veto
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House f Repre-
SendtveS Of the United States Of Amaerica in Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any fo-eign Power, eX-
cluding Indians not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States; and such cti-
zens of every and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servtude, except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
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 securi-
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject TO nke punishment M
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. And be 1t 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 nhabitant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, to different
punishment, pains, or penalties on account of
| such person having at any time been neld III
condition of slavery or involuntary serVltude, eX-
cept as Il punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color race, than Is prescribed TOR the pun
iShment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
| of misdemeanor, and, 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 3. A1td be 1T faJtte'. enacted, That the dis
trict courts of the United States within their re-
spcctve districts, shall have, exclusively OF the
| courts of the several States, cognZance of all
| crimes and offences committed against the provi-
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 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 criminal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
| hots
or military, or other person, for arrest or lmpr1-
sonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue or under color of authority derived
from this act or the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing to do any
upon the ground that 1t 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 manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hd6eaS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases., approved
March three, eighteen hundred and sixty-threc,
and all acts amendatory thereof The jurisdic-
ton in civil and criminal matters hereby confer
red 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 in 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 or criminal, Is
held so far as 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
q criminal nature in the infliction of punishment
on the.party found guilty.
SEC. 4. A1ed be it further enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys, marshals, and deputy marshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers OF arresting, impriSoning, or
bailing 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
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 them to be arrested
and imprisoned, baied 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 rca-
sonable protection tn all persons in their consti-
tuiona rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
tion of slavery or involuntary scrvitude, 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, to afford speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and eXanlina-
| 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. 5. And be 1t further enacted, That it shall
| be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
to obey and execute all warrants and prcccpts 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 OF
other process when rendered or to use all proper
means diligently to eyaeate the same he shall, on
conviction thereof, br fined in the sum of one
thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon
| whom the accused is alleged to- have cOmITi1ffeo
the offence And the better to enable aS.'d
commissioners to execute theiT faithful
and efiieiently. in conformity with the Constat