The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-24
The Civil Rights Bill.
We publish below the Civil Rights
Bill as it recently passed the Congress
over the Presidents Veto

over the Presidents Veto
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House f Repre-
Setaties of the United of Aaeica in Congress
assembled, That all persons born in the United
States and not subject to any foreign Power, eX-
| cuding Indians, not taxed, arc hereby declared
to be citizens of the United States and such citi-
zens of every and color, without regard to
any previous condition of slavery or involuntary
| servitude, except as a punishment Tor 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 fall laws and proceedings for the securl
| 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 Notwithstanding.
SEC. 2 A9td be 1t 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 inhabtant OF any State
| OF Territory to the depriva alton Of any right Sc
| cured protected by this act, or to different
punishment, pains. or penalties on account OF
such person having at any time been held Ill
condition of slavery or involuntary serritudc eN-
cept as Il punishment for crime whereof the party
| shall have been duly convicted, or by reason of
his color or race, than Is preScrioea lor tne pun
| of Il misdcmeanor, 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. And be 1t further enacted, Ihat 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 or cannot enforce in the courts or 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
or military, or other person., for arrest or 1nlprl-
sonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or commit
ted by virtue under color of authority derived
from this act the act establishing bureau for
the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all acts
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 circuit court in the manner prescribed by
the Act relating to hdbeas corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in certain cases, approved
March three, eighteen hundred and slXty-thrcc,
and all acts amcndatory thereof. The jurlsdlc-
ton in civil and 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
as 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 Unlted 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 infiction 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 arresting, imprisonlng, or
biiling offenders against the laws of the United
States, the officers and agents OF the Freedmens
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
and every person who shall violate the provisions
of this act, and cause him or them to be arrested
and imprisoned, baile3 as the case may be,
for trial before such court of the United States or
territorial court as by the act has cognizance of
the offence And with the view to aftordlng rea-
sonabIe protection tn 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
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 eKanlina
tion OF persons charged with a violation of this
act And such commissioners are heReSy 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. AHd be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all InaEshals 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 Slen rendered, or to use all proper
means diligently to eyacute the same, he shall, on
| conviction thereof, b. fined in the sum of one
Thousand dollars, 10 the use of the person upon
| whom the accused is alleged to have committed
/ xi,a Ind he
! commissioners to execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently, in conformity with the Constitu
ion of the United States and the requirements OF