, 1866-04-21
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

States, and not su,iecl to any forei.n power, OK
'ccpting tndianS not taxed, arc hereby declared
I" hc citizens of the United States; and such
"itiZrns Of every race and Color, without regard
10 ANY previous condition OF slavery or luvolull-
tarv scrvitndr, except as a punishment for crime.
whereof the party shall have lccn duly convicted
SHALL have the same riehtin every state and ter
,itory 10 make AMI enforce contracts, to sue. to
lc sued, BE- parties, aud give evidence, to inherit,
purchase, lease, sell; hold and convey real aud
personal properly, and 10 the full and equal ben
Gift Of all laws ans proceedings tor the security OF
person and property, as is cnioyri by white citi-
zcns; and shall be subject Ia like puni>hm mt,
pains. and penalties, and to none other. any
stu,u,r, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
Scontr"ry Notwithstanding.
Section y. And any person who. under any
color Of any law, statute, urdinnnrr, regulation
or custom, shall subject Or cause To br subject
I'd my inhubitant OF any state or territory to
the deprivation Of any right secured or pro
tccted by this act. or TO pnnish,ncn,s. pans, or
penalties or nccoun: Of such person hiring ut
ANY time been held i'll II condition Of eiavrSy nr
involuntary scrvitudc. except aS n punishment
for crime, where. thu party Shall! have been
duly convicted, or by reason Of EiS'racc or CO.
lor, shan is prescribed Tor the punishment of
white persons, shalt be dettned .uiltv Of mis-
tlcincnnol, and on conviction shall be punished
by n fine not exceeding one thousand dollars,
or imprisonment not exceeding one ycni; or
both, III the discretion IF The court.
Src,inn 3. That the district courts of the L,
S. within their respective districts, shall have,
exclusively of the several sta:cs. co.nizu,ce OF
all crimes and Offences committed against the
provisions of this act, and nl,o concur rci,tly
with tho c;scH;t court Of the United states. OF
all cuscs, civil or criminal, affecting persons
who are dcried ar cannot enforce in the courts
or judicial tribunals of the state or locality
where rncy may be, amy Of the rights secured 10
lhcm by the first section Of tbs set. and il
any suit or prosecution. civil or cv;;Iiial, has
been or shuli be commenced in any stu,c court
ngainst any such person for any arrest or i'm
pr'sonmcnt, ticspnsscs or wrongs done or con-
Inittcd by vir'ne or under cGiur of authority
derived from this nci, or the net r:s,, blisi,inc a
bureau for The relief Of freedmen und refugees
and I'LL ucts nmct,datory thereof, Or for refusing.
to Il" u1ly net upon the ground tllnt 1t would he
inconsistent with this set, such defendant shall
have the right To remove such cause tu7 ,rinl TO
the proper district or circuit court in tlc man
ner prescribed by the act regulating the habcns
corpus, and regulating Judicial proceedings in
certain Gus. IS, approved March 8, 1868, and ill
acts nm,ildatury thereto. The jurisdiction in
civil and criminal matters hereby conferred on
the district and riicuit courts q: thc u. S, so
far as such laws are suitable TO carry the same
into effect; lfut ii eli cases where such laws
are not adapted 10 the ohjcct,,or nrc. deficient in
the provisions necessary To fnrnis; suitable re-
NEEDLES and punish offences against the laws,
the common laws, as notified oy':hr Constitu-
ton ana Statutes OF the states, wherein the
Court having Jurisdiction VI the cause, civil or
criminal, is held, 50 fax rs he same is not ir,cou-
sistcnt with the Constitution ef the u. s.. shall
be extended Ia and govern said courts III the
trial and disposition Of such cause. and. If of a
criminal nature. i'll the inilic,ion OF punishment
on the party found gUil..
Sec. +. That the district attorneys. marshnls,
and deputy ,nar.!.alS u; the United States, the
commissioners spposatcd by the circuit md ter.
ritorinl courts of the sane, with powers Of ar.
resting, i'm prisening. or bailing offenders again.t
the laws of the snme; the officers md agents Of
the Frecdmrn's Bureau, and every other OIL Ger
who shall he .ptciallv empowered by the prcsi-
dent of the United States, shall be, md they
are hereby, specially authorized and required al
the expense of the same, to institute procecG-
1;ngs nguinst iii aud every person who shalt vib-
Into the provisions Of This act, and cnusr him
or Them 10 be arrested and Imprisoned, as the
case may be, for trial before such court Of the
United States or territorial court MS by THIS net
has cognizancc Of the of the offence. And with
q view to afford IL reasonable projection TO I'LL
persons in their constitutional rights Of ctuali-
ty before the law, without distinction Of race.
or color or previous condition Of slavery or in
voluntary servitudc, except as IL punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted; and to the prompt discharge Of the
duties Of This mex. it shall be the duty Of the
circuit couits Of the United States. and The SUI
1,elior courts Of the territories OF the same from
time 10 time to increase The nun Der OF cOulinls-
sioners so us 10 afford a speedy md convenient
means for the ar rest and examination Of persons
charged with the violation Of this act.
Sec. IS. That commissioners shall have con-
current jurisdiction with the judges Of the CIR
cuit and district rnurts OF tile United States,
and the Judsts of1he superior courts of lhc ter
ritories. severuHT ns,d collectively, i'll term, time
and vacation; ,Apnn satisfactory proof being
made, to issue warrants and preccpts fnr ar rest
ing End Bringing before them all offenders
against the provisions OF This act, md or e1ar:i-
nation, to discharge or admit to bail or commit
them for trial, as the facts may warrant.
Section 6. And such commissioners IRE hereby
authorized and required to exercise and dis
thargc all the powers mud duties conferred on
them by this net, and the sa.ce duties witi re-
gard to offences created by this act. MS they are
authorized hr law to exercise with regard TO
ather offences against the laws Of the United
States Ihutit shall be the duty Of all Mar
shals and Deputy MnrsEnls to obey and execute
all warrants and prccepts issued under the pra-
*isions Of thi. net. and the same duties with
EeSard to offences created by this act, when TO
them directed and should any marshal or de-
pnty marshal refuse to receive such warrant or
nther process, when rendered, or "a use all pro-
per means diligently 10 execute the same, he
shall ON conviction thereof uc fined in the sum
of one thousand dollars, TO the use of the per-
son upon whom the accused is alleged 10 lave
committed the offence. And tie better 10 an
nble abe said commissioners to execute their
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