The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-21
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-
seetaties q the United StateS Of Anerca m Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, ex-
Guiding Indians, not taxed, art hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States; and such citi-
of every and color, without regard to
any previous condition OF slavery or involuntary
servitudc, except q punishment for crime
whereof the party shall ave been duly convicted,
shall have the 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 ofall laws and proceedings for the secur1-
ty of person and property as is enjoyed by white
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment,
pains, ant penalties, and to none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
SEC = And be ii t4rtter enacted, That any per-
son who, under color of any law, statute, ordi
| nance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, or
to be subjected, any inhabitant OF any State
or Territory to the deprivation 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 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 misdemCanOr, and, Oh conviction, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one thousand dol
lars or Imprisonment not exceeding one year,
| both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. ). 1ud be 1t tttgiher enacted That the dis
trIct courts OF InC luClT re-
spectivc 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 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 prosecution
civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced
in any State court against any such person, for
onXp hat
military, or other person, for arrest or lmpri-
sonment, trespasSes, or wrongs done or commit
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 for refusing to do 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 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-
tion in civil and criminal matters hereby confer
red on tine 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 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 ii OF
a criminal nature, in the infiictiOn of punishment
on the party found guilty.
SEC T. 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
bailing 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-
cIaly 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, or bailed as the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cognlZance OF
the offence. And with the view to affording rea-
sonabIe protection to all persons in their consti
tutiona rights of equality before the law, without
distinction of race or color, or previous condi-
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-
ton 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 are authorized by law
to exercise with regard to other offences against
the laws of the United States.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all 1narshals and deputy marshals
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 use all proper
means diligently to evacute the same, he shall on
conviction thereof b. 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 Const.tu-
ton of the United States and the requirements Of