Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-03-21
The Civil Rights Bill.


The bill TO protect all persons in their civ
il rights and tofurnish the means for their
vindication, has passed both houses of Con-
gress-the Senate on March 15th-and only
requires the signature of the President to
become law. The first section is as follows !:
All persons born in the United States and
not subject to any foreign power, excluding
Indians not taxed, are hereby declared to
be citizens of the United States, and such cit
lzens of every race and color without regard
to any previous condition of slavery or in
voluntary servitude, except as punishment
for crime, whereof the. party shall have
been duly convicted, shall have the same
right in every State and territory of the u
nited States to make and enforce contracts,
to sue parties and give evidence, to inherit,
purchase, lease or sell, hold and convey real
and personal property and to full and equal
benefit of all laws and proceedings for the
security OF person and property as is enjoy
ed by white citizens, and shall be subject to
like punishment, pains and penalties, and to
none other, any law, statute ordinance, reg
ulation or custom, TO the contrary notwith-
standing
The second section is as follows: That
any person who. under color of any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation or custom,
shall subject or cause to be subjected, any
inhabitant OF any State or territory to the
deprivation OF any right secured or protect
ed by this act, or to different punishment,
pains or penalties, on account of such per-
son having at any time been held in con-
dlSon of Slavery or Involuntary servitude,
except as a punishment for crime, whereof
the party shall have heen duly convicted, or
by reason of his color or race, than is pre-
seribed for the punishment of such persons,
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and on conviction shall be punished by fine
not exceeding one thousand dollars, or i'm
prisOnment not exceeding one year, or both
in the discretion of the Court.
The third section gives the United States
Courts exclusive jurisdiction of the cases
arising under this act, and also concurrently
with the'CIrcuit Court of the United States.
Of all cases, civil and criminal, affording
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 ii any suit or prosecution,
civil or criminal, had been or shall be COM
menced in any State Court against any such
person for any cause whatever, by any Off
Ger, civil or military, or other person, for
any arrest or Imprisonment, trespasses, or
wrongs done or committed by virtue of or
under color of authority derived from this
act or the act establishing business for the
relief of freedmen and refugees, and acts
amendatory thereof; or for refusing 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 by the act
relating to habeas corpus and regulating ju-
dlclai DrOceedlnpS IN certain cases
United States Marshals, District Attorneys
and Agents of the Freedmen Bureau are
empowered to prosecute cases under this
bill. Severe penalties are provided for all
persons who may in any way hinder the op-
eratinns of Ii