The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-16
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

I y .
over the Presidents Veto
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House f Repre-
se,tdtipes OF the United States of america Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eN-
| 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
| servitude, except as a 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 OF person and property as is enjoyed by white
| citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law,
| statute, ordinance, regulation, custom to the
| contrary Notwithstanding
| son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance, regulation, or custom, shall subject or
cause to be subjected any inhabitant OF any State
| or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
| cured or protected by this act, or to different
| punishment, pains, or penalties on account of
such person having at any time been held in a
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude,
| cept punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color race, than is prescribed for the pun
| ishment of white persons shall be deemed guilty
| of misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be
punished by tine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
! both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. g. Ind be it further enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States, within their
spective districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the provi-
sions OF this act, and also, concurrenty 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 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
any canse whatsoever or against any officer, civil
or military, or other person, for arrest or impri
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 it would be inconsistent
with this act such defendant shall have the right
to remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict or circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to habeas corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three eighteen hundred and siXty-three
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdic-
tion 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-
formity with the laws of the United States SO far
such laws are suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, deficient in the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
punish offences against law, the common law, as
modified and changed by the constitution and
jurisdiction of the cause, civil 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 infiiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
Sec. f. And 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 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- |
clally empowered by the President of the United !
States shall be, and they are hereby, specially |
and required, at the expense of the |
and every person who shall violate the provisions
of this act, and cause him or them to be arrested
and imprisoned, or bailed as the case may be, |
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cognizance of
the offence. And with the view to affording rea-
sonable protection tn all persons in their cOnsti-
tutonal rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi- |
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude except |
as punishment for crime, whereof the party |
shall have been duly convicted and to the PROMPT |
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 to afford speedy |
and convenient means for the arrest and examina-
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, they authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States. .--
SEC. o. And be it further enacted That it shall |
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals |
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts 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 evncute the same he shall,
conviction thereof, BIZ fined in the sum OF. one |
thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon |
whom the accused is alleged to haze committed
the onenee. And the better to enable the said
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu-
tion of the United States andthe requirements Of
-r-.t