Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-10-06
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

| BE il enacted by g,e Senate and House of Repre-
sentdipes of The United States of America il, Con-
gress assembled, That all citizens of the United
States who are or shall be otherwise qualified by
law to vote at any election by the people in any
State Territory, District, county, city, parish,
township, school district municipality or other
territorial subdivision, shall be entitled and al
lowed to vote at all such elections without die
tinction of race, color, or previous condition of
seryitude, amy constitution, law, CUSTOM usage,
or regulation of any State or Territory, or by or
under its authority to the contrary notwithstand-
| ing.
Sec. 2. And be il fu,the, enacted, That il by
or under the authority of the constitution or
laws OF any State, or tile laws of any Territory,
| any act is or shall be required to be done as a
prerequisite or qualification for voting, and by
such constitution or laws persons or officers are
| or shall be charged with the Performance Of
duties in furnishing to citizens an opportunity
| to perform such prerequisite or to become quail
| fled to vote it shall be the duty Of every snch
person and officer to give to all citizens of the
United States the same and equal opportunity TO
perform such prerequisite, and to become quail
fed to vote without distinction Of race. color, OF
previous condition OF servitude; and if any such
| person or officer shall refuse or knowingly omit
to give full effect to this section. he SHALL for
every such offence, forfeit and pay the sum of
| live hundred dollars to the person aggreved
thereby to be recovered by an action on the case,
with ful costs and such allowance for counsel fees
eh' tohit uctHu JtlHt, cliii luT
every such offence, be deemed guilty of a INSIDE
meanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be
lined not lesB than five hundred dollars, or be
| imprisoned not less than ono month, and not
more than ono year, OF both, ut the discretion of
| the court.
SEC. 8. And be Il further enacted, That when
ever, by or under the authority of the consttu-
lion Or laws of any State, or the laws of any
Territory, any act is or shall be required to bel
done by any citizen as prerequisite to qualify
OF entitle him to vote the offer of any such ci-
zen to perform the act required to be done az
aforesaid shall, il it fail to be carried into oxc-
cntion by reason of the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person or officer charged with
Ihe duty OF receiving or permitting such per-
formance or offer to perform or acting thereon
be deemed and held as performance in law of
suci act; and the person so Offering and failing
as aforesaid, and being otherwise qualified shall
be entitled to vote in tho same manner and to
the same extent as il he had in fact performed
sneh act; and any judge, inspector, or other
officer of election whose duty it is or shall he to
receive, count, certify, register, report, or give
effect to the vote of any ouch citizen who shall
wrongfully refuse OF omit to receive, count GER
my register, report or give effect to the vote Of
any such citizen upon the presentation by him
oil ms affidavit stating such offer and the time
and place thereof, and the name Of the officer or
person whose duty il was 10 act thereon, and
that he was wronsfully prevented by such per-
son or officer from performing such act shall for
every such offence forfeit and pay tho rum of
five hundred dollars to tie person ag-
gileyed thereby, to be recovered by an
action on the case, with full costs and such al
owance FOR counsel fees as the cour. shall deem
Just, and shall also for every such offence be
guilty of misdemeanor and shall. on couyic-
ton thereof be fined not less than live hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than
one month and not more than one year or both
at the discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. aud DC il FURTHER enacted, That if any
person, by force, bribery, threats, intimidation,
or other unlawful means, shall hinder DELAY
prevent or obstrlct or shall combine and con
federatc with others to hinder, delay preyef., or
obstr1ct, any citizen from doing any act required
to be done to qualify lin to vote, or from vot-
iilg at any election as aforesaid sncli persons
shall for every such offence forfeit and nav the
sum of five hundred dollars 10 the person M
grieyed thereby, to be recovered BY All action on
the case, with full costs and such allowance for
counsel fees us the court shall deem Inst, and
shall also for every such offence be guilty OF a
nlsdomoailor, and shall, on conviction thereof,
be fined not less than i've hundred dollars, OF be
imprisoned not less than one month AID not
moro than one year, or both, at tlie discretion
of the court
SIC. 3. .inihe afu'Otel- c,ote',a. That II any
person shall prevent, hinder, CONTROL on iniimi-
date, OF shall attempt to prevent, hinder. control
or liitlnidate amy person from exercising or III
exercising the right of Suffrage, to whom tho
right oil suffrage is secured or guaranteed by
the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution Of
the United states, by means Of bribery throita
or threats of depriying such person ol employ.
lnent or occupation, or of cicctng such person
from rented house, lands or other property. Or
by threats of refusing to renew lcascs orcon-
tracts for labor, by threats Of violence TO
himself or family such person 80 often lin, shall
he deemed guilty of n m5lemeanor. nul shall.
on conviction thereof, DO tinnd not less than five
hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than
one month or more than one year ar both. at
the discretion of the court,
SEE. &. AmiM HfW'ii7' eiidrfai. That il two
or more persons shall band or conspire toycther
OF 80 ~ Disguise upon tla public highway. or
upon the premises of another. with latent TO
violate any provision OF this act, OF to inliro. op-
press, threaten, or ntimilate any citizen viii
intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise mi
enjoyment Of any right or privilege granted on
secured To linn by the Constitution or laws of
the United States, or because of his having ey-
eFcscd the same, such persons shall be held
guilty OF felony, and on conviction thereof.
shall be fined on imprisoned on both at the dis.
erection OF the court the fine not to exceed .iyn
thousand dollars. and the Imprisonment not 10
exceed ten years and shall moreover, be there
after Ineligible to, and Disabled from holding.
any office or place of honor, profit. or trust
created by the Constitution or laws Of the United
States
SIC. & aud BE- L fmit.Tea1cif4i, That il in tho
net OF violating amy provision in either Of the
Two preceding sections, any other felony crime
VI fiilllUt communication offender
on conviction Of such violation of said sections,
riiall be punished for the same with such pm
lsliments as are attached to the said frloilins
crimes and misdemeanors by the laws of the
state IN which the offence may DO committed
SEC. ). aud b. il FURTHER ondcted, That tho
District Courts of the United States within
their respective districts, shall have, exclusively
OF the courts of the several States, cogui2auce
81 all crimes anti offences committed against
tne provisions OF this act. and also, conciirrently
ia Fifttt fattpt - Oh.
all causes, civil and criminal arising under this act,
except as herein otherwise provided, and tho
Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be exercised
~ conformity with the laws and practice govern
MI United states courts; and all crimes and
offences committed against the provisions of
tins act may be prosecuted by the indictment of
grand Jury, or. III cases OF crimes and offences
moi infamous, tue prosecution may be either by
Indictment or information filed by the district
attorney i'll a court having Jurisdiction
SEC. o. And b. II further enacted. That the
district attorneys. matslas, and deputy inarshals
OF tho LnteuStates, the commissioners aDponttl
by the circuit and territorial courts of tbs Ilnifel
states, with powers Of arrestiug imprisoning. or
bainS offenders against the laws OF the Enifel
States, and every other officer WHO NAV be
specially empowered by the President 81 tl,e
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 linn or them
TO be arrested and imprisoned. or baile,l. MS tLe
case may he, for trial before such court of lila
United States or territorial court as has coani-
2ance of the oifense And with a view TO AFFORD
reasonable protection to all persons in their
constitutional right to vote without distinction Of
race, color, or previous condition of scryitude.
and to the prompt discharge of the duties Of
this act it shall lie the duty OF the circnit conris
OF the United States, and the superior courts Of
The Territories of the United States, from time
to time, TO increase the number of commission,
ers, so as to afford speedy and convenient
means ior the arrest and examination of persons
charged with a violation of this act aud stt,,,,
commissioners are hereby authorized and re-
qured to exercise and discharge all tho 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 ex
ercise with regard to other offences against the
laws Of the United States
SEC 10. AMI be II f0rfitef eRaet,i That ii shan a
tne oniy OF all narshnlS and deputy mnrsliaIs In
obey AMI execute I'LL warrants amt preeepts issued
under the provisions Of this act when To them III
Iectrhi AMI shotlld any marshal or deputy marshal
refuse 10 receive such warrant or other nrt,rrss
whe rendered, or to Use all proper means diligently
70 execute the saiiie he shall conviction throf
ne nlet IN the sum OF one thousand dollars To IND
use OF the person deprived OF the rights conferred
by this ACT And the better To enable the snid com
nlssioncrs To execute their duties faithfully AMI EN-
rienly, III conformity with the Constitution Of the
lied States and the requirements of this act they
are hereby authorized and empowered within their