The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-17
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
OYER the Presidents Veto:


Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto:
% Be it enacted by tie Senate and House f Repre-
sentdtires 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, are 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 as 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 Tor the secur-
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment
palms. and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute ordinance regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC Z. And be it 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 inhabiant of any State
or Territory to the depriv alton of any right Sc
cured or protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains, or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held in
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, eX-
cept as u 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
ishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
of a miSdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
both, in the discretion of the court
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trict courts of the United States within their re-
speetive districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cogniZance of all
crimes and offences committed against the provi-
| sons of this act, and Also concurrenty 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 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
in any State court against any such person, for
canSe whatsoever, or against any officer, civil
or military, other person, for arrest or impri-
sonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue 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 &C
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 habeas corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases. approved
March three, eighteen hundred and sixty three,
and all acts amendatory thereof. The jurisdic-
ton 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 so far
as such laws are suitable to carry the same into
effect; but in all cases where such laws not
adapted to the object 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, so 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
the trial and disposition of such cause, and if of
q criminal nature, in the inflictOn of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted That the dis
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
battling offenders against the laws of the United
States, the officers and agents of the Freedmen s
Bureau, and every other officer who may be spe-
clally 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
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
territorial court by the act has cogniZance of
the offence. And with the view to affording 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 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
United States, from time to time, to increase the
number of commissioners, to afford q speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and examine
ton of persons charged with violation of this
act. And such commissioners are hereby author
lied and required to exercise aud discharge all
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