The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-03-30
Vht i,aututk 5effersoniam
The Civil Rights Bill.

dent.
SECTION |. All persons born in tht
United States, and not subject tC
any foreign power, excepting Indian,
not taxed, are hereby declared to be
citizens of the United States, and
such citizens Of every race and color
without regard TO any previous con.
ldition of Slavery or involuntary ser.
vitude, except "a a punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted, shall have the
same right in every State and Terri
tory to make and enforce contracts.
to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold
lund convey rvui and personal proper
ty, and to the full and equal benefit
of all laws and proceedings for the
security of person and property, as
is enjoyed by white citizens; and
shall he subject to like punishment,
pains and penalties, and to none 9TH
other, any law, statute, ordinance,
Regulation or custom TO the contrary
Notwithstanding.
SEC. .. And that any person who,
under color Of any law, statute, ordi.
nance, regulation or custom, shall
subject or cause TO be subjected, any
iuhabitant Of any State or Territory
to the deprivation of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or OF
punishment, pains or penalties on ac-
count of such person having at any
time been held in a condition TO
slavery or involuntary servitude, eX-
cept as punishment for cnme where.
OF 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 misdemcanor,
and on conviction shall be punished
by fine not exceeding 3 900, or i'm.
prisonment not exceeding one year,
or both, in the discretion Of the
Court.
SEC. 3. That the Districts Courts
of the United States within their re-
spective districts shall have, eXclu.
sively of the Courts Of the several
States, cognizance of all crimes and
ohenses committed against the pro
visions of this act, and also concur
rently with the Circuit Courts of the
United States Of all causes, civil and
criminal, affecting persons who are
denied 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 i
any suit or prosecution, civil or Grim
inal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State Court against any such
person for any cause whatsoever,
civil or military, or any other person
for any arrest or Imprisonment, tres
passes or wrongs done or committed
by virtue or under color of authority
derived from this act, or the act es-
tablishing n Bureau for the relief OF
freedmen and refugees, and all acts
amendatory thereof, or for rt tfusing
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
Court in the manner prescribed Ivy
the ''act relating to habcas corpus,
and regulating judicial proceedings
in certain cases. approved March
Sd, 1868, and all acts amendatory
thereto. The jurisdiction in civil
and criminal matters hereby confer
red on The District and Circuit Courts
of the United States shall be eXer-
cised and enforced in conformity with
the laws of the United States, so fal
as such laws are suitable to carry the
same into effect but in all cases
where such laws are not adapted tC
the object, or are deficient in Il pro
visions necessary to furnish suitable
remedies, and punish oilcnses against
the laws, the common law, as modi
fed and changed by the Constitution
and statutes Of the States, wherein
the Court having jurisdiction of tho
cause, civil or criminal, is held, 81
far as the same is not inconsisten
with the Constitution and laws of th'
United States, shall be extended Il
and govern said Courts in the tria
and disposition of such cause; and i
of criminal nature, in the inhletior
of punishment on the party fount
guilty.
SIC. 5. That the District AttOr
neys, Marshals and Deputy Marshall
of the United States; the Commits
sioners appointed by the Circuit anC
Territorial Courts Of the United
= States, with powers OF arresting, i'm
Iprisoning or bailiug offenders agains
the laws cf The United States the Of
ficers and ag 'nts of the Free linen
> Bureau, ana every other officer wh'
may he specially empowered By th'
President Of the United States, shal
be, and they are, hereby specially
authorized and required, ut the tx
pense ci the United States, to insti
tute proceedings against all and ey
cry person who shall violate the pro
visions of this act, and cause him o
them to be arrested aud imprisoned
, or bailed, as the case may be. 70
t trial before such Court Of the UniteC
i States or Territorial Court as by this
act has cognizance Of the oifense.--
). And, with view to ahording reason
able protection to all persons in thei
constitutional rights OF equality be
fore the law, without distinction o
race or color or previous condition
lof slavery or involuntary serVitude