The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-04-17
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL,

The following is the Bill as it passed both
Houses and came before the President:
Section l. That all persons born in tht
! United States, aud not subject to foreign
power, excluding Indians not taxed, are here
by declared to be citizens of the United States
and such citizens of every race and color
without regard to any previous condition o.
slavery or involuntary service, except as a
punishment for crime whereof they shall have
been dulT convicted, shah have the same right
in every state and territory to make and ca
! force contracts, to sue, to be sued, he parties
and give evidence, TO inherit, purchase, lease
sell, hold and convey real ard personal prop
erty: and to full azd equal benefit of all laws
and proceedings for the security 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 cuSCcn te
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. And that any person who, under
color of any law, statute, ordinance, regula-
tiop or custom, shall subject or c&ese TO be
subjected, any inhabitant of any state or ter
ritsry to the deprivation of RI right secured
or protected by this act cr TO punishment,
pains and penalties Or account fsuch person
having at any tine been held in q condition
of slavery or involuata tary servitude, except for
the punishment of crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted OF by reason
of his color or race, than is prescribed for the
punishment of white persons shall be deeRed
guilty of u nisdcmeaRor, and or conFictiez
shall be punished by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars or Imprisonment not exceed
ing one year, or both, in the discretion of the
court.
Sec ;. That the District Courts of the
United States within their respective districts
shall have, exclusively of the courts of the
several states, cognizance of all crimes and
offences committed against the provisions of
this act and also, concurrcHtly with the Cir
cult Courts of the United States, of all causes
civil and criminal, affecting persons who are
denied, or cannot enforce in the courts of ju-
dicial tcibVnal Of the state or locality where
they may be, aay of the rights secured to them
by the first section of this act F.; and if any
suit or prosecution, civil or criminal has been,
or shall be commenced in any state court
against any such person for any cause what
sOeveT, civil or military, or any other person,
any arrest or imprisonment trespasser, or
wrong done or committed by virtue or under
color of authority derived from this act, or
the act establishing a bureau for ihe relief of
freedmen and refugees, and all acts amenda-
tory thereof, or for refusing to do any act
upon the gronnd 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 Hd6eGs
CorpnS, and regulating judicial proceedings
in certain cases approved March third, 1863,
and all acts amendatory thereto. The juris-
dictIon in civil and criminal matters hereby
conferred on the District and 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
to carry the same into effect but in all cases
where such laws are not adapted to the OBJ
ject, or are deficient in the provisions neces-
sary to furnish suitable remedies and punish
offences against the law, the common Law, as
modified and changed by the constitution aud
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, and govern said
courts in the trial and disposition of such
cause and, if of a criminal nature, in the
infiction of punishment on the party found
guilty.
Sec, 4. That the district attorneys. mar
shals and deputy marshals of the United
States, the commissioners approved by the
Circuit and Territorial Courts of the United
States, with power of arresting, imprisoning
or bailing offenders against the laws of the
United States, the officers and agents of the
FreedmaRs Bureau, aud every other officer
who may be especially empowered by the
President of the United States, shall be and
they are hereby specially authorized and re-
quired, 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 bailed, as the case may
be, for trial before the Uuited States or Ter
ritorial Courts as by this act has cognizance
Of the offence and with view to affordinp
reasonable protection to all persons in their
constitutional rights of equity before the law,
without distinction of race, or color, or pre-
vious condition of slavery, or involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment for crime,
whereof the party shall have been duly con-
yicted, and 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
conyenlent means fOE the arrest and eXaml-
nation of persons charged with violation of
this act.
Sec 5. That said commissioners shall have
concurrent Jurisdiction with the judges of the
Circuit and District Courts of the United
States, and the judges of the Superior Courts
of the territories, severally and collectively,
in term time and vacation, upon satisfactory
proof being made, TO issue warrants and pre-
cepts toF arresting and bringing before them
all offenders against the provisions of this act,
and, on examination, to discharge, admit to