The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-11
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below TIE Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

ssBe it enacted 6y the Senate and House j. Repre-
SeutcttieeS W the United iGteS Of AneJtca i Conress
d$sembed That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any to~eiSn Power, eX-
to be citizens OF the United States; and such clti-
zcnS of every race and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, except punishment for 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 OF all laws and proceedings for the securi-
ty ut person and property us Is enjoyed by White
,itizcns, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, an, penalties, and to none othcr any law,
statute ordinance, regulation, custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
rance, regulation, custom, shall subject, or
to bc subjected, any iniiabitant of any State
or Territory to tie deprivation of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or 10 different
punishment, pains, or penalties on account Of
suci1 person having at any time been held i'll
condition of slavery or Involuntary serVitude, eX
cent as Il punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted or by reason OF
his color race, than Is prescribed for the pun
isLmcDt Of white persons SHALL be deemed guilty
ot 4 miSdCmeinor, and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lar, ur Imprisonment not exc. Cding one year,
10th, in the discretion OF the court.
SEC. g. ind je it jtirtIcT enacted, That tie dis
trict courts of the United States, within tHcir
spectivc districts, shall have, eXcusiTeIy OF the
courts of the several States, cognizl;!ce of all
Sions OF this act, and also, concurrentIy 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 judicial
tribunals of the State locality where they may
be, amy of the rights secured to them by the first
section of this act; and if any suit prosecution
civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
canse whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
or military, or other person. for arrest or lmpri-
Sonment, treSpaSScs, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue or under color OF authority derived
from this act the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing to do any ac-
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 dist
trict circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hatedS corpus and regulating
iudicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and siXty-thrce,
and all acts amcnGatory 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-
fornty with the laws of the United States, SO 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 dies and
punish offences against law the common law, as
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 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
!, criminal nature, in the nfction of punishment |
the party found guilty.
rict attorneys, marshals, and deputy marsllals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed |
by the circuit and territorial courts OF the United
States, with powers OF arrestlng, lmprsonlng, or |
i,liiing offenders against the laws of the United |
States, the officers and agents of the Frcedmen's
Bureau and every other officer who may be spe-
tI,ap fl.nT Init
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 or them to be arrested
and imprisoned bailed as the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cognzance of |
the offence. And with the view to attordlng rea- |
sonahle protection to all persons in their consti |
tutiona rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, previous condi- |
ton of slavery involuntary sprvitude, except |
as punishment tor 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 speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and eXanina |
tion OF persons charged with a 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 duties with regard to offences
creatcG by this act, they al1hOriZed by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States.
SEC ). And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshas
to obey and execute all warrants and prccepts 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 use all proper
means diligently to evacute the same, he shall on
conviction thereof, b. fined in the sum OF one
thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon
whom the accused is alleged to hayT committed
the offence. And the better to enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Const:tu
ton of the United States and the requirements OF