The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-04-19
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

DOLn Houses. ne FOtc III tHe CSudU
was 33 to Is; in the House l22 to Al ::
BE 1T enacted, DC, That all person
born in the United States, and not sub
ject to any foreign power, excluding In
dians no; taxed, are hereby declared tt
be citizens of the United States, and sucl
citizens of every race and color, withou
regard to any previous condition of slave
ry or involuntary service, except as
punishment for crime whereof the party
Shall have been duly convicted, shall have
the same right in every State and Terri
tory to make and enfore contracts, tC
sue, to be sued, be parties and give evi
dence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell
hold and convey real and personal prop
erty and to full and equal benefit of al
laws and proceedings for the security oi
person and property as is enjoyed by
white citizens and shall be subject tc
like punishment, pains, and penalties
and to none other, any law, statute, or
dinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Sec 2. And that any person who, un
der color of any law, statute, ordinance
regulation, or custom, shall subject, OIL
cause to be subjected, any inhabitant Of
any State or Territory to the deprivation
of any right secured or protected by this
act, or to punishment, pains, and penal
ties on account of such persons having at
any time been held in condition Of slav-
cry or involuntary servitude, except for
the punishment of crime whereof the par
ty shall have been duly convicted, or by
reason OF his color or race, than is pre-
scribed for the punishment Of white per-
sons, shall be deemed guilty Of misde-
meanor. and on conviction shall be pun
ished by fine not exceeding 81 600 ol
Imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 3. 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, concurrently with the Circuit Courts
of the United States of all causes, civil
and criminal, affecting persons who are
denied, or cannot enforce in the Courts OF
judicial tribunal of the State or locality
where they may be, any of the rights Sc,
cured to them by the first section Of this
act; and if any suit or prosecution, civil
or criminal, has been or shall be COM
menced in any State Court against any
such person, for any cause whatever,
civil or military, or any other person, any
arrest or imprisonment, trespasses or
wrong done or committed by virtue OF
under color of authority derived from this
act, or the act establishing Bureau fol
the relief of Freedmen or Refugees, and
all acts amendatory thereof, or for refus.
ing to do any act upon the ground that il
would be inconsistent with this act, such
defendant shall have the right to remove
such case or trial to the proper District
or Circuit Court in the manner prescribed
by the act relating to Habeos Corpus, ano
regulating judicial proceedings in certain
cases, approved March 3, 1868, and all
acts amendatory thereto. The jurisdiction
in civil and criminal matters hereby
conferred on the District and Circuit
Courts of the United States, shall be ex
ercised 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 object, or are
deficient in the provisions necessary tC
furnish suitable remedies and punish Of
fenses against the law, the common law
as modified and changed by the Consti
tuition and statutes of the State wherein
the Court having Jurisdiction of the cause
civil or criminal is held, so far as the
same is of consistant with the Constitu
ton and the laws Of the United States
shall be extended and govern said Court
in the trial and disposition ofsuch cause
and, if not criminal nature, in the in
fiction of punishment on the party foun(
guilty.
Sec. 4. That the District-Attorneys
Marshals and the puty-Marshals of tn
United States, the Commissioners ap
proved BY the Circuit and Territoria
Courts Of the United States, with powe
of arresting, imprisoning or bailing often
ders against the laws of the United States
the officers and agents Of the Freedmen
Bureau, and every other officer who ma
be especially empowered by the Presi
dent of the United States, shall be ant
they are hereby specially authorized an'
required at the expense Of the Unitc'
States, to institute proceedings agains
all and every person who shall violate tn
provisions Of this act, and cause him o
them to be arrested and imprisoned, o
bailed, as the case may be, for trial be
fore such of the United States or Terri
torial Courts as by this act has cognizanc
of the offense and with view to afford
ing reasonable protection to all person
in their constitutional rights of equit
before the law, without distinction Q
race, or color, or previous condition Q
slavery, or involuntary servitude, eZ
cept as punishment for crime, whereo
the party shall have been duly convicted