American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-04-12
THECIVlL RIGHTS BILL.

such citizens of every race ana color'
without regard to any previous con
dition of slavery or involuntary ser
yitude except as a punishment OF
crime whereof the party shall nave
been duly convicted, shall have the
same right in every State and 1erri-
torv TO make and enforce contracts,
to sne to be sued, be parties ana
give evidence, to inherit, purchase;
lease sell hold and convey real ana
personal property, and to be en'l'ieu
to flll and equal benefit OF all laws
and proceedings for the security vi
personal property, as Is enjoyed .!
wbitn citizens, and shall be subject
TO like punishment, pains ana penal
ties. and to none other, any ia"' s'''-
ute ordinance, regulation or custom
~ thp contrary Notwithstanding.
SrC. >. And that any person uhuer
color of any law, ordinance regula-
tion or custom, shall subject, or cause
to be subjected, any inhabitant ol
any State or Territory, to the oeprl-
yation of any right secured OF pro
tectpd by this act, or to PUNISH
ment mains and penalties on ac-
count OF such person having at any
+imn heeu held in a condition OF SlaN-
pry or involuntary scrNltude, except
for the punishment of CRIME, Whert-
of the party shall have been o!lH
, convicted, or 10y reason of his colol
W. W., ,.ano thou is prescribed for the
! punishment of white persons, Shail
J he deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
d and an conviction shall be punished
NV = fine not exceeding $1,000 or I'M
nrisonmcnt not exceeding one year
E nr both, in the discretion OF th'
Court. Ca,,,.+,
SIC 3. That the District Corrt'
of fine United States, within their re
.nnrtivc districts, shall have, eNclu
> siyely of the courts OF the ScN ci''
g states cornizance of AL crimes ah'
y nffnnces committed against the pro
# visions of this act and also, concur
rnntlv with the Circuit Courts OF IN
: I-nitrd States, of all causes, clVI
III and criminal, affecting persons WI
y are denied, or cannot enforce III ~
t, courts of judicial tribunal OF IN
a state ar locality where they may "
=. any of the rights secured to them ID
II" tho FIRST section of this act, ana
10 any suit or prosecution, evil OF 9Th
. n,al has been, or shall be commence
by in any State Court, against any 81,
rs nerson for any such cause, WhatSot
49, or civil or military, or any o'i''
"s nprson. any arrest OF imprisonment
trnsnosS or wrong done or commute
Id Inv virtue or under color OF authofi'
see derived from this act or the aCt =,
+h tablshing a bureau for the fe,lel
freedmen and refugees, ana an "'
"' amendatorv thereof, or tor rel'lH,I
de tn do any act upon the ground III
ing if would be inconsistent Win u
nm act such defendants shall nave
,.o, rioht 70 remove such cause Tor II
in to the proper District OF 'lI'
nm Court. in the manner preScripeu
ms, thc net relating to habcaS corpus Il
, to regulating judicial proceedings
erv certain cases, approved MarCh
,.h 1862 and all acts amendatory thc
-" 70 The jurisdiction i'll civil i
i''' criminal matters hereby conicIl'''
heir tbn District and Circuit Courts
han thc United States, shall be eNercl'
non and enforced in conformity with
,o laws of the United States, so lar
II" such laws are suitable to carry
'rce' same into effect, but in all ca
SOW where such laws are adapted 10
the object or are deficient Ill the pr
don Sims necessary TO furnish Sulti
,,r remedies and punish offences aga
-, the law. The common law as III
oa'. fed and changed by the cohStl'u
g of and status of the State wherein
D fill court having jurisdiction OF the ca
and civil or criminal is held, SO lai
.,., fine same is not inconsistent WIN
'''''' Cnrstitution and laws, of the II
our states. shall be extended, and
alton rrn said courts in the trial anu
Mt noSition of such cause, ana II
criminal nature in the lhlilc'lol
punishment on the party 10
ce of guilty. ,. -,
SEC. I. That the District y
'Ir'n' news. Marshals, and Deputy Mars
S of the United States, the Com
treas sioncrs appointed by the Circuit
attest Territorial Courts OF the u
rents. States, with powers of arrestlng
rebel nrisouing, or bailing ofel
NJ hui AGAINST the laws of the United 81
set the officers and agents OF the L
| bv ,no,,s Bureau. and every other o
pref who NAV be specially empower
ution- thn President of the United ;
unite shall I've and they are hereby SP
me of TX authorized and required at u
,cilion nansp of the United States, lnSi
proceedings all and every p
.rtiuo who shall violate the provlSlo
- This oct. and cause him or them
I'm arrested or imprisoned, or pam
III VIII tbr case may be, for trial beiolt
. acts, of fine United States or Terri
rc; or. Courts as by his act have coShl
:, Pc of fine offence, and with view
fo,Iiun reasonable protection
Ioh vi uersous in their constitutional
II VIII of equality before the ia"'
insane distinction of race or colol' VI
ous condition of slavery or jill
taiy Servitude, except as a =
he Sen meut for crime whereof the
%, III. shall have been duly convicted
=. the prompt discharge OF the
persons of this art. it shall he the duty
the war Cir,,it courts of the United
ave con- and the Superior Courts OF tn
icals are ritorieS OF the Chhteu IL ~
=. q. tir.,, to INCREASE the