The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-17
THE cIvIL RIGHTS Law.

We give below full abstract OF the BIZ ITO
protect all persons in the United States IN their
civil rights, and furnish the means FOR their
vindication," which having passed both branch,
es of Congress over the veto of the President Is
now law, and will so remain until repealed by
Congress or pronounced unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court of the United States-eontin-
gences not likely to occur. The law, it is said,
will execute itself through the Federal Courts,
the President having nothing to do with Its exc
cution, except the appointment of the United
States District Judges The Judges will ap-
point their aids This is the bill:
Section l. That all persons born in the Uni
ted States, and not subject to any foreign Pow
err, excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby de-
clared to be citizens OF the United States; and
such citizens, of every race and color, without
regard to any previous condition Of slavery or
involuntary servitude, except as punishment
for crime whereof the party shall have been du:
" convicted, shall have the same right in every
State and Territory to make and enforce con
tracts, tosue, to be sued, be parties and give
evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold
and convey real and personal property, and to
be entitled to full and equal benefit of all laws
and proceedings for the security of persons and
property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and
shall be subject to like punishment, pains aud
penalties, and to none other; any law, statute,
ordinance, regulation or custom to the contrary
Notwithstanding
Section 2 Any person who shall derive any
inhabitant of any State or Territory of any right
secured by this act, under color of law, regula-
ton custom, is declared guilty of misdemean-
or, punishable by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, or Imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or both, at the discretion of the court
shall have exclusive cognizance of. all offences
against this act, and also, concurrently with the
United States Circuit Courts, of all civil and
criminal causes affecting persons whose rights
are secured by section 1. Any suit against
such persons, begun 10 any State court, may be
removed for trial to the proper district or circuit
court. In exceptional cases, the common law,
as modified and changed by the Cons titution
and statutes Of the State wherein the court nav
ing 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, and govern said courts
in the trial and disposition of such cause, and
if Of criminal nature, 10 the infiction of pun
ishment on the party found guilty.
Section 4 The district attorneys, marshals
and deputy marshals of the United States, the
commissioners appointed by the circuit and ter
of arresting imprisoning or bailng offenders
against the laws of the United States, the Off
GERS and agents OF the freedmen's bureau, and
every other officer who may be specially empow-
cred by the President of the United States, are
specially authorized and required, at the ex-
pense OF the United States, to institute proceed
ings against every person who shall violate the
provisions of this act, and it is made the duty
of the circuit courts of the United States, and
the Superior courts of the Territories, from time
to time to increase the number of commissions
ers, so as to afford a speedy and convenient
means for the arrest and examination of persons
charged with violation of this act
Section 5. The commissioners are empowered
| to have concurrent jurisdiction with United
States circuit AID district Judges, end terrific
rial judges, both in term time and vacation
Section 6. United States mnrshals and their
deputies are required to obey all warrants issued
under this act In case of refusal, they may be
fined one thousand dollars each, for the use of
the person upon whom the accused is alleged to
have committed ,the offence. The commission
erS are empowered to appoint county assistants
to execute warrants, and the latter may call for
assistance upon bystarders, or summon a posse
comttotus, or the military and naval forces.
Section 7. Any person who shall knowingly
and wronsfully obsruct, hinder or prevent any
officer or other person charged with the execu-
ton of any warrant or process issued Under this
act, or any person or persons lawfully assisting,
or attempt to rescue prisoners from custody, is
subject to a fine not exceeding one hundred dol
lars, and imprisonment not exceeding six months
by Indictment before the United States District
Court, or the proper court Of criminal iurisdic-
ton, if committed within any one Of the organ
lied Territories Of the United States.
Section 8. The District attorney marshals
and their deputies, aud clerks of District and
Territorial courts shall be paid for their services
the fees allowed for similar services in other
cases, and>in all cases where the proceedings are
before commissioner. he shall be entitled to a
fee of ten dollars in full for his services in each
case, inclusive of all services incident to such
arrest and examination. The person or persons
authorized to execute the process issued by COM
missioners for the arrest of offenders shall be en-
titled to fee of five dollars for each person ar
rested, with such other fees as may be dee I'd
reasonable by the commssoner-to be paid out
| of the Treasury of the United States, on the GER
tifcate Of the District within which the arrest is
made, and recoverable from tire defendant, as
part Of the judgment, in case of conviction
Section 8. Whenever the President of the
United States shall have reason to believe that
offences have been or are likely to be committe ed
against the provisions of this act, it shall be
lawful for him, in his discretion, to direct the
! judge, marshal and district attorney of the dis
trict to attend at such place within the district
aud at such time as he may designate, for the
purpose of the more speedy arrest and trial oil
persons charged with a violation of this act; and
it shall, be the duty of every judge OF other off
by him, to attend at the place aud Tor the time
tharaiu DESIGNATED =