The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-06-20
CONTEMPLATION.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT BILL.
UsURpATIoN OF STATE POWERS
Federal Authority to Control State
Elections.
uEAvr PREMIUMS on NEGRO PERJURY.

The following is the tcxt of tho bill to
enforce the Fifteenth Amendment, as
passed by both hruses of Congress:
An act 10 enforce the right of citizens Of
the United STATES to rac in the screral
States efthis Union and jor other pur-
p7es.
DO it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States of Amer.
lea, in Congress assembled, That all citizens
Of tie United States who prs or shall be other
wise qualified by law 10 vote at amy election by
the people in any State, Territory, district,
county, city, parish. township, school district,
municipalil. or other territorial! subdivision,
shall be entitled and allowed 10 vote at all such
elections, wiiasUt distinction of race, color or
previous condition Of scrviIulc; any cons,itu-
lion, Inv, enslsm, usage or regulation Of any
Slaio or Territory, or o, or under its aulLuri-
~, 10 the contrary notwithstanding.
SECTION 2. And be il further enacted, Thai
ifhy or under tho authority of the constitution
or Laws OF any State, or tho laws OF any Terri
Tory, any act is or shall be required 10 he done
as prerequisite or qualification for voting, and
bV such constitution or laws persons or officers
are or shall be charged with the performance
Of duties in furnishing 10 citizens an orportu.
nifty to perform such Prerequisite, or 10 become
qualified to vote, it shall Sc the duty of every
such person and officer to give 10 all citizens Of
the United States the same and equal oppor,u-
aity 10 perform such prerequisite, aud 10 be-
come qualified 10 vote without distinction Of
ricn, color or previous condition Of seryi,uds
aud If any such person or officer shall refuse OF
knowingly omit 10 give fill effect 10 this section,
he shall, for every such oncsss, forfeit and pay
the sum Of $500 to the person ssgriercd there.
by, to be recovered by an aciioa on the case,
with full costs md such allowance for counsel
fees rs the Court shall dcem just, and shall also
fer eTc.y snch otIcnss he deemed guilty of n
mi'acmeansr, and shall OF conviction thereof,
he fined not lcss than $500, or imprisoned no,
les than one month or more than one year, or
both, nj the discretion Of The Court.
Src.3 3. And he it rarlhcr enacted, That
whenever, by or under the authority of the
constitution or law of any State, or under the
laws of any Territory, an act is or shall be re-
qnired to be done by any citizen as n prcrequis.
tic 10 qualify or enti,lc him TO votc the offer Of
any such citizen 10 perform Tie acl required 10
be done as aforesaid shall, II II fail to be carried
into execution by reason Of the wrongful net OF
emission aforesaid OF the person or officer
charged with the duty of receiving or permitting
s1ch performance, or sfrcr 10 perform or acting
thereon, be deemed and held rs performance
in aw Of such act; and the person so offering
and failing as aforesaid, and being otherwise
qualified, shall be entitled TO vote in the same
manner and 10 the same extent as II he had in
furf nnrInryu al at I'd :,,1 =.
spector or other officer Of election whose duty II
is or shall be to receive, count certify register,
report or give effect 10 tie vote of any such cit.
izen or who shall wrongfully refuse or omit 10
receive, count, certify, register, report or give
effect 10 the vote Of such citizen upon the pres.
entation by.him of his affidavit stating such Of
fer and the time aud place thereof, md the
name Of the officer or person whose duty ii was
to act thereon, and that he was wrongfllly pre-
vented by such person or officer from performing
such act, shall for every sucll offence forfeit and
pay the sum OF five hundred dollars 10 the per-
son aggriered thereby, 10 he recovered by m
action on the case, with full cost and such al-
lowancc for counsel fees as the court shall deem
just, and shall also for efery such olYcnse be
guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on esnyie-
ton thereof be fined not less than FIVE hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one
month and not moro than one year, or both, at
tue discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That Il
any person, by force, bribery, threats, intimi-
dation or other unlawful means shall hinder,
delay, prevent or obstruct any citizen from do
ing any act required TO be done to qnaliy him
TO vote or from voting at any election as aforc-
said, such person shall for every such offcnse
forfeit and pay the sun Of $500 TO tile person
aggriercd thereby, 10 be recovered by M action
on the case, With full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees n, the court shall deem just,
and Shall also for every such oiIensc be guilty
Of misdemeanor, aud shall on the conviction
thereof, bs fined not less than $500, or he i'm
prisoned not less than orc month and not more
than one year, or both at The discretion Of ths
court.
SEC. 8. And be il further enacted, That Il
any person shall prevent, hinder, control or in
timidatc, or shall attempt TO prevent, hinder,
control or intimidate any person from exercising
the right Of suffrage, to whom the right of sui-
frngc is secured or guaranteed by the Fifteenth
Amendment 10 the Constitution Of the United
States, by means Of bribery, threat sr threats
or depriving such person of employment or oc-
cupation, or Of ejecting such person from rented
house, lands or other property, or by threats Of
refusing 10 renew leases or contracts for labor,
or by threats Of violence 10 himself or family,
such person so offending shall he deemed guilty
Of msdemcanor, and shall on conviction
thereof 10 fined not less than FIVE hundred dol.
lars, or be imprisoned not less than one month,
and not mole than one year, or both, at tho
discretion OF the Court
SEc. G. And lie II further enacted, That Il
two or more persons shall band or conspirc TO-
rsthcr, or go in disguise upon the public high.
way. or upon the premises Of another, with in
tent TO violate any provision of this act, or 10
inJurc, oppress threaten or intimidate any cii-
izen with intent TO prerent or hinder his free
exercise and enjoyment Of any right or privilege
granted or secured 10 him by the constitution
or laws Of the United States, or because Of hi:
having exercised the same, such person shall he
guilt. Of felony, and oil conviction thereof
shall 10 fined or imprisoned, or BOTH ut The
discretion Of the COurt--ths fine not to exceed
S., 600 aud the imprisonment not 10 exceed ter
years and shall moreover be hereafter incligi-
bic 10 and disabled from hslding any Office OF
place Of honor, profit or trust created by ttt
constitution or laws Of the United States.
SEC. I. And be IL further enacted, That !
in the act Of violating any provision in either o.
the two preceding sections, any other felony
crime or msdenicanor shall be committed III,
offender, on conviction Of such violation Of sail
sections, shall be punished for the same with
such putishmcnts MS are attached 10 the siiG
ielsnies, crimes AID msdcmeanors by the Inv!
Of the State in which the onsnse may be csni
United.
SEQ. 8. And be further enacted, That III,
District Courts Of the United States. within thci
RESPECTIVE districts shall liaye exclusively of M,