The Placer herald., 1866-04-14
National Civil Rights Bill.

This bill having now become law by
act of Congress, we reproduce some of its
leading provisions, in order that the people
may understand how it effects this State:
Firt-All persons, without regard to color.
born in the United States, are citizens thereof.
Second--The inhabitants Of evcry race and
color, without regard to any previous condition
Of slavery or involuntary servitude except as a
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall have the same
right to make and enforce contracts. Il sue, be
parties to suits, give eridence and to inherit pr-
chase. lease. sell. hold, and conrey. real and
personal property, and to have the .fiU and
equal benefit Of all Ia,cs and proceedings for
the security Of person and property, and shall
be subject 10 like punishment. pains, penalties,
and to none other. any law, statute, ordinance,
regulations or custom 10 the contrary notwith-
standing.
Third Any person who, under color of any
law. shall subject or cause to he subjected, anu
inhabitants Of any Slate or Territory, to dcpri-
vation of any right secured or protected by this
ties, on account Of such person having at any
time been held in condition Of slavery or nvoI-
untary servitude except as punishment for crime.
whereof the p,rty shall have been duly convict.
ed. By reason Of his color or race than is pre-
scrib ed for all other persons, shall be deemed
conviction, be punished by fine not exceeding
81 900, or Imprisonment not exceeding one year,
or both at the discretion of the Court
Fourth The United States District Courts
have exclusive jurisdiction of cases arising under
the Act, and also concurrently with the United
States Circuit Courts of all cases. civil or crimi-
nal, affecting persons who are denied or cannot
enforce the lights secured by this Act in judicial
tribunals OF the State United States Marshals,
District Attorneys, and Agents OF the Free linen s
Bureau. are empowered to prosecute cases under
this bill. Severe penalties are provided for all
persons who mayin any way hinder the operations
OF it.
Whatever may be the benefits or injuries
this law will work upon other States, there
is no doubt tina: it will operate injuriously
to California. First, it aboIishes all laws by
which Chinese are prohibited from testify
ing in our State Courts, and makes it penal
offence to attempt to enforce such laws;
Serond. it annuls the Foreign Miners Tax
Law, and renders liable to fine and inprs.
onment any party who attempts to enforce
that law; Third, it nullfies the Act of the
last Legislature regarding Chinese houses
Of i'll fame-as that is essentially 4 class
law, based on distinctions of color or race
and renders liable to fine and imprisonment
any otfirer who attempts to enforce that
law. The intent Of the Civil Rights bill was
doubtless praiseworthy, but it's details and
scope are injurious, and the veto Of the bill
should have been sustained. But blind pas.
sion and insane pr+judices. clothed in legal
formalities, and acting under the Consttu-
ton, have declared otherwise, and the meas
nre is now law of the land. Believing
firmly in The doctrine that The Constitution
Of the United States and the laws of Con.
g'ess made in pursuance thereof are the
supreme laws Of the land we shall steadily
insist that the Civil Rights Law of Congress
he rigldIy enforced throughout California;;
that any person who attempts 10 collect a
Foreign Miners Tax shall be fined and inn
prisoned; that any State or city officer who
endeavors to enforce laws applying exclu.
sively to Chinese prostitutes, shall be fined
and imprisoned; that any officer of Cour,
who attempts TO prevent Chinese from
giving his evidence as all other persons do,
shall be punished. The supreme law of the
land is, that every "inhobitant" without re-
gard to race, color, or condition in lif., ia in
all respects equal before the law; that all
must be treated alike; that all have precisely
the same rights and privileges, (exrept that
of voting,) and the law mus, be enforced
S. f. Daily Call. April 9Th.