The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-26
The Civi! Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

over the Presidents Veto
ScntdtiOes fe United States Of AnIe,ca i'e 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 cti
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, purchase, lease, SELL hold and convey
real and personal property, and to full and equal
benefit ofa laws and proceedings for the secur-
| ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to the
contrary notWithst tanding.
SEC. ,. 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 inhabitant of any State
or Territory to the deprivation of any right
cured or protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains, penalties on account of
such person having at any time been held in
condition of slavery or involuntary seryitude, ex-
! cept Il punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, or by reason OF
his color race, than is prescribed for the pun
ishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty
OF Il msdemeanor, 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. A1id be it further 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 provi
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 cannot enforce in the courts 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 criminal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
whatsoever,
or military, or other person, for arrest or lmpri
sonment, tfespasses, 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
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 i'll the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbedS 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 aud criminal matters hereby confer
red on 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
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, 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
criminal nature, in the intiiction of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC. 4. Ind 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 arTesting, imprisoning or
biiling 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 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, or baled as the may be,
for trial before such court of the United States
territorial court as by the act has cognizance of
the offence. And with the view to atfording rea-
sonable protection tn all persons in their consti
tutiona rights of equality before the law without
distinction of race color or previous condi-
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, and to the prompt
discharge OF the duties of this act it saIl be the
duty of the circuit courts of the United States
and the superior courts of the Territories Of tile
United States, from time to timc to increase the
numberof commissioners, as to afford speedy
and convenient means for the arrest and examina-
tion OF persons charged with violation of this
act. And suclI commissioners are hereby author
lied and required to exercise and discharge all
the powers aud duties conferred on them bysthis
act, and the same duties with regard to Offences
created by this act, us they are authorized By law
to exerciseiwith regard to otherohences against
the laws OF the United States li3.f,s r5.ffy
Sec. 81 Asld be IL Ja,fher enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all Inarshals anddeputys niarsha1s
to obey and execute aii- warrants and precepts is
sued under the pEovisi0ns of this gctfwhen to
them directed and should amy marshal or dep
uty marshal refuse to; receive such warrant or
means diligently to esecute the same, he SHALL on
conviction. thereof, sbs tiIed in the. of one
thousand dollars, to the ase of the person upon
whom the accused is alleged to have committed
|