The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-07

BILL as 1t recently passed the congress
over the Presidents Veto
'Be it enacted By the Senate and House f Repre-
Sentotiyes Of the United States Of Aaericd in Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eX-
Guiding Indians, not taxed, arr, hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States; and such citi
zens of every race and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude, except a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
| shall have the same right in every State and Ter
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 full and equal
benefit of all 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, anu penalties, and to none other, any law,
| statute ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
| SEC 2. A'ed be 1t turther enacted, That any per
| son who under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance regulation, custom, shall subject, or
cause to be subjected any inhabitant of any State
or Territory to the depriva alton OF any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, to different
punishment, pains. or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held i'll a
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude ex-
cept IA 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
of a msdemeanor, 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. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States within Ihe1r re-
Spectve districts, shall have, eNcluslTeiv OF the
! courts of the several States, cognizaDce of all
| crimes and offences committed against the proyi-
sions of this act, and also, concurrently with the
circuit of the United States, 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 or prosecution
civil criminal, has been or shall be commenced
srlthr for
any canse whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
or military, or other person, for arrest or lmpr-
sonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by Virtue or under color of authority derived
from this act or 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 it would be inconsistent
with this act, such defendant shall have the right
to remove such cause for trial to the proper dist
trict or circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbedS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases., approved
March three eighteen hundred and ty-threc,
and all acts amendatory thereof. The Jurlsdlc-
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 in con-
formity with the laws of the United States, far
as such laws are suitable to carry the same into
effect but in all cases where such laws not
adapted to the object, or are deficient in 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, far 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
criminal nature, in the infiction of punishment |
on the party found guilty.
trict attorneys, marshals, and deputy marshals of
the United States, the commissioners appointed |
by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers OF arresting, imprisoning, or
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 spc-
cIally 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 bailed as the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cogniZance of
the offence. And with the view to aftording rea-
sonable protection to all persons in their consti-
tutional rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi- |
ton of slavery involuntary scrvitude, except |
as 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 exanlna-
ton OF persons charged with a 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, ana the same QullcS WIN 10 OHcnceS |
created by this act, they authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States. .
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted That it shall |
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marshals
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts 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 or
other process when rendered, or to use all proper
means diligently to eyccute the same, he shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined i'm the sum of one
thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon
whom the accused is alleged to have committed
the offence. And the better TO enable the said
commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Consttu-
ion of the United States and the require L.i