The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-17
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

'Be it enacted By the Senate and House f Repre-
Scntdtces Of the United States Of America in Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eX-
Guiding Indians not taxed arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such cit-
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 i'll the United States to make and enforce
| contracts, to sue, be parties and give evidence,
to inherit purenase, tease sel, olt, % & anu S n.
benefit of all laws and proceedings for the securi-
| ty of person and property as is enjoyed by White
citizens, and shall be subject TO IKE punishment,
pains, and penalties and to none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
| contrary notwithstanding.
| SEC 2. And be 1t further enacted, That any per-
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
nance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, or
cause to be subjected any inhabltant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right Sc
cured protected by this act, or to different
punishment, palms, or penalties on account OF
| such person having at any time been held in a
condition of slavery or involuntary servltude, eX-
| cept as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
| ishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
| of a misdemeanor, 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 1T farther enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States within their re-
spective districts, shall have, exclusively OF the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and offences committed against the proyi-
sions of this act, and also, concurrently with the
circuit courts 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 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 or criminal, has been or shall be commenced
| in any State court against any such person, for
canse whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
or military, or other person, for arrest or impri
/ II
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 Tor refusing TO 40 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 circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the 'Act relating to hd6eas corpus and regulating
| judicial proceedings in certain cases, approved
| March three, eighteen hundred and siXty-thrce
and all acts amendatory thereof The jurisdic-
tion in civil and criminal matters hereby confer
red 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 suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws are 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 as the same is not inconsistent with
the Constitution and laws of the United States,
| shall be extended to and govern said courts in
q criminal nature in the infiiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. T. 4nd be it further enacted, That the dis
trict attorneys, marShaS, 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
baing 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
claly 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, bailed the may be,
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court by the act has cogniZance of
the offence. And with the view to a1ording rca
sonable protection to all persons in their consti-
tutional rights of equality before the law without
distinction of race or color, or previous cond-
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude, 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 examina-
tion OF persons charged with 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, and the same duties with regard to offences
created by this act, as they Authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
| the laws of the United States
SEC. D. A71d 6e u further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals and deputy marsbals
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 all proper
means diligently to eyacutc the same, he SHALL on
/ conviction thereof, BE- fined in 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 Constitu-
ion of the United States and the requirements of