The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-07
The Civil Rights Bill.

The Civil Rights Bill.
I The Following Act OF Cohgress Is reonh.
hshed for generai information:
An act TO project an persons in the .T,,,;se,,
Hdfes an Meir cipl rights, ana fit,-,s;sh
ne means Of shei, uindscotsos. =. =
bsN q enacsed 6y Me Senate and House of
rica, an Congress assembled, That ali r- ,ser-
sons born In the United States. ami not
suotect to any foreign power. exclndin~
!adians not taxed, are hereby deciared t9
DC ciuzens OF the United States: and such
rts,aeas' raa1rd OF every race and color, without
slavery or involuntary servitude. excent a.
punishment for crime, whereof the party
shah have been duly convicted. shall have
.he same right, in every State and Terri
sory IN the united States, to make and en-
give evidence, to inherit, purchase. lease @
sell, hold, and convey real and personal
| property, and to full and equal benefits of
| az laws and proceedings for the security
oi person and property, as is enjoyed by
WHO ,clnzens, and shall be subject to like
punishment pains and penalties, and to
none other, any law, statute, ordinance.
| regulation or custom, to the contrary not,
withstanding. NV
SEC. q And be 1t further enacted. That
any person Who, under cover Of any law.
statute, ordinance, regulation or cnstom
shall subject, Or cause to be sub;sated an1
inhabitant Of any State or Territory to
the deprivation Of any right secured or
projected by this Act, or to different pun
iMsnments, Isl pains or penalties, on account
u. b.id Ia;n ;n person having at any time been
tary seryitude. except as punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have been
ouly convicted, OR by reason of h;s color
OF race, than is prescribed for the punish
mGne a,,;1t OF white persons, shall be deemed
q
uon, shall be punished by fine not exceed
ing one thousand dollars, or imprisonment
not exceeding one year, or both. at the
discretion Of tho court.
SEC: 8. And be ii further enacted. That
the District Courts of the United States
within their respective districts. shall
nave, exclusively Of the courts of the scve-
raj States, cognizancc Of all crimes and
onences committed against the provisions
OF this Act and also, concurrcntly with the
| Circuit Courts Of the United States, Of all
causes, civil and criminal, affecting per
sons 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
oi this Act and if any suit or prosecution,
civh or criminal, has been or shall be COM
menced IN any State court against any
such person, for any cause whatsoever. or
against any officer, civil or military, or
other person, Tor any arrest or imprison-
ment, trespasses or wrongs done or COM
mltted by virtue or under color Of authori-
~ derived from this Act or the Act
establishing bureau for the relief offrecd-
men and refugees, and all Acts amondato-
ry thereof, or for refusing to do any act
upon tho ground that it would be incon-
slstcnt with this Act, such defendant shall
nave the right to remove such cause for
tria! to the proper district or circuit court
IN the manner prescribed by the 'sAct re-
iating to hdbeas corpus, and regulating
| Juulclal proceedings Ill certain cases" an
proved March 3, 1868, and all acts amenJa-
tory thereof. The jurisdiction in civil and
criminal matters hereby conferred on the
uistrlct ana circuit courts of the United
States shall be exercised and enforced in
conformity with the laws of the United
States, SO far as sUch laws are suitable 20
carry the same into effect; but ill all cases
wncrc HGca laws are not adapted to the
object, on are deficient in the provisions
necessary to furnish suitable remedies and
punish offences against law, the common
| law, as modified and changed by the Con-
stltutlon and statutes of the State wherein
the c"ult having jurisdiction of the cause,
civil or criminal, Is held, 50 far as the
same Is not inconsistent with the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States, shall
be extended to and govern said courts in
the trial and disposition of such cause. and
II OF a criminal nature, in tho intiction of
punishm ent on the party found guilty.
y
the district attorneys, marshals and de-
putty marshals of the United States, tie
| commissioners appointed by the circuit
and territorial courts of the United States,
with powers OF arresting, imprisoning or
Dalllng offenders against the laws OF the
United States. the officers and agents of
the lrccdmcn's Bureau, and every other
officer who may be specially empow-
cred 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 al and every person who shall
violate the provisions Of this Act. and
cause him or them to be arrested and i'm
prisoncd, or bailcd, rs the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United
States or territorial court as by this Act
has cognizance of the offence. And with a
view to affording reasonable protection Ia
AL persons III their constitutional rights of
| equality before the law, without distinction
OF race or color, or previous condition OF
slavery or involuntary servitulc, except as
a punishment for crime, whereof tho
person shall have been duly convicted, and
to the prompt discharge ot the duties o.
this act, it shall be the duty of the cir.
cuit courts OF the United States and the
superior courts OF the territories Of the
United States, from time to time, to in.
crease the number of commissioners. so as
to afford a speedy and convenient means
for the arrest and examination Of persons
charged with 4 violation of this Act: and
such commissioners are hereby authorized
and required to exercise and disclarc,
all the powers and duties conferred on
them by this Act, and the same duties
with regard to offences created by this