The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-24
= ~ - ~. .
The Civil Rights Bill.
: We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto:

"
sentatiyes of the United States Of 4neica IN Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any fo-elgn Power, ek,
cluding Indians not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such clt-
I zcns of every and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
seryitude except as punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted
shall have the same right in every State and Fer
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 lull ana equal
benefit fall laws and proceedings for the secur-
| 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, or custom to the
| contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC 3 1atd be it faArtite,. enacted, That any per
son who under color of any law, statute, ordl
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, palms. or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held i'll
condition of slavery or involuntary serytude, eX-
cept as "a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
his color or race than is prescribed for the pun
iShment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of misdemcanor, and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
! lars, or Imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
| BOTH in the discretion of the court.
SEC g. Aud be it further enacted That the dis
| trict courts Of the United States, within their re-
/ spective districts shall have, exclusively OF the
| courts of the several Suites, cognizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the proyl-
sions of this act, and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts of the United Statcs of all causes,
! civil and criminal affecting persons who are de-
MED 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 if any suit prosecution
civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person. for
any whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
military, or other person, for arrest or lnprl-
sonment, trespasses, 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 il would be inconsistent
with this act such defendant shall have the right
10 remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdGeuS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings i'll certain cases, approved
March three, eighteen hundred and sixty -threc,
and all acts ampndatory thereof. The jurSdic
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 i'll con-
formity with the laws of the United States, far
lis such laws are suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are not
adapted to the object, or are deficient i'll the pro-
visions necessary to furnish suitable remedies 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 As 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
Il criminal nature, in the ntiiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC +. 1lG BE- Il tLItder enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys, uiarsals, and deputy nlrshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers of arrcstin-, imprisoning,
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
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 or bailcd as the may be,
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court by the act has cognizance of
the offence. And with the view to atlording
sonablc protection t" all persons in their const
tutional rights of equality before the law without
distinction of race or color previous cond-
ton of slavery involuntary servitude, except
punishment for 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 eXamina-
ton OF persons charged with Il 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 are authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States.
SEC. s. Aud be it FURTHER cnacted That it shall
be the duty of all InarShals and deputy marshals
10 obey and execute all warrants and preccpts 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
other process when rendered or to use all proper
means diligently to execute the same, he shall,
conviction thereof, be fined i'll the of one
thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon
whom the accused is alleged to lave committed
the offence. And the better to enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu
ton of the UIitcd States and the requirements OF
this act, they are hereby authorized and cmpow-
cred, within their counties respectively, to APP
point, in writing, under their hands, any one or
more suitable persons, from time to time, to exc
cute all such warrants and other process may
be issued by them in the lawful performance of
their respective duties; and the persons APP
pointed to execute any warrant or process as
aforesaid shall have authority to summon and
cali to their aid the byStanders or the posse COM
HdtLs of the proper county, or such portion of
the land and naval forces OF the United States,
the militia, as may be necessary to the pcrfor-
nance Of the duty with which they are charged
and to insure Il faithful observance of the clause
of the Constitution which prohibits slavery, in
conformity with the provisions of this act; and
said warrants shall run and be executed by said
officers anywhere in the State or Territory within
which they are issued.
SEC. g. Amd be 1T further enacted, That any per-
son " ho shall knowingly and wiiltully Obstruct,
hinder, prevent an, officer, other person
charged with the execution OF any warrant or
process issued under the provisions of this act,
any person or persons lawfully assisting him
or them, from arresting any person for whose ap
prehension such warrant process may have
been issued, or shall rescue attempt to rescue
such person from he custody of the officer, 9th
er persons persons, those lawfully assisting
as aforesaid, when SO arrested pursuant to the
authority herein given and declared shall aid,
abet assist any person so arrested as aforesaid,
directly indirectly, to escape from the custody
of the officer other person legally authorized
aforesaid, or shall harbor conceal any person
for whose arrest a warrant or process shall have
been issued as aforesaid to prevent his dis
covery and arrest after notice knowledge of the
fact that warrant has been issued for the appre-
hension of such person, shall, for either of said
offences, be subject to fine not exceeding one
Thousand dollars, and Imprisonment not exceed
ing six months, by Indictment and conviction be-
fore the district court ofthc United States for the
district in which said offence may have been
committed, before the proper court of Grim
inal jurisdiction, if committed within any of
the organized Territories of the United States.
SEC. z. Ind be 1t further enacted, That the dis
tict attorneys the marsllals, their deputies, and
the clerks of the said district and Territorial
courts shall be paid for their services the like
fees as may be allowed to them for similur servi-
in other cases; and in all cases where the pro-
ceedings before commissioner, he shall be
entitled to fee of ten dollars in full for his scrv
in each case, inclusive of all services incident
to such arrest and examination. The person or
persons authorized to execute the process to be