Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-04
HIGH-PRESSURE SUFFRAGE.
Complete and Carefully Revised Abstract Of
the Act to Enforcs the XVIII
Amendment


The following is a complete and
carefully revised abstract OF the bill
to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment
as passed by both Houses of Congress.
The copy hitherto published is incOm-
plete and incorrect. The bill is en-
titled:
An Act to enforce the right of citizens OF
the United States to vote in the several
States of this Union, and tor other pur-
poses.
Sec. /. Citizens who are otherwise
qualified by law TO vote at any elec-
ton in any State or Territory, shall
be entitled to vote at any such cleo
tiOns without distinction of race, color
or previous condition of serVitude |;
any constitution, law or regulation of
any State or Territory to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
Sec. =. Where any local law re-
quires any act as prerequisite to
voting, and makes il the duty of any
persons to furnish citizens with an Op-
pOrtunity to so qualify, it shall be the
duty of such persons to give such op-
pOrtHnity to all citizens without the
OAclAuELAOl1 44EAAIAOLAEO III CCLA0OAA OA4C
and any refusal OF omission TO give
full force to this section makes the de-
linquent liable to the party aggrieved
in the SUM of five hundred dollars
damages, full costs, and an attorneys
fee, and for such offenGe such offenders
may be fined not less than five hum
dFed dollars, or imprisoned not less
than one month or more than one
year, or both, at the discretion of the
court.
Sec. 3. When any prerequisite TO
voting is prevented by the wrongful
act or omission OF the persons charged
by law with the duty of atfOrding an
opportunity to qualify, the offer TO
qualify shall be deemed a perform
ance in law of such act as is required,
and the person so Offering shall, if
otherwise qualified, be entitled to
vote. 4 refusal to receive and give
effect to such vote, on the presenta-
ton of the voters affidavit stating the
facts, makes the offender liable TO the
party aggrieYed, and also liable to the
punishment provided in section ,.
Sec. 4. IL any person, by force,
bribery, threats, intimidation, NJ
other unlawful means, shall hinder,
delay, prevent, or Obstruct any clti-
zen from doing any act required as
prerequisite TO voting, or shall COM
bine with others for this purpose, he
shall be liable, and may be punished
as provided in section 2.
Sec. .. Ii any person shall prevent,
hinder, control, or intimidate from
voting any person to whom the right
is secured by the Fifteenth Amend
ment, or shall attempt the same by
means of bribery, threats, or threats
of depriving them Of employment or
occupation, or of ejecting them from
rented houses, lands, or other prop
erty, or by threats of refusing to re-
new leases OF contracts for labor, or
by threats of violence to himself or
family, such offender may be pam
ished as provided in section 2.
Sec. 8. If two or more cOnspire, or
go in disguise upon the public high
way, or the premises of another, with
intent to violate any provision of this
act, or to injure or intimidate any
citizen to prevent his free exercise Of
any right secured to him by the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, or because he has exercised
the same, such person is guilty. of a
felony, and may be fined not more
than 5000 or imprisoned not more
than ten years, or both; and, th6ks-
after, shall be ineligible to office under
the United States.
See. I. III, in the violation Of the two
preceding sections, any other offense
Is committed, it may be punished
with such punishment as is attached
to the Offense by the laws of the State
wherein committed.
Sec. s. Gives exclusive Jurisdiction
to the United States Courts of all
criminal and civil cases arising under
this act.
Sec. 9. Directs the arrest and insti-
tuition of proceedings against pFsons
this act, and authoriAs the
of additional commits
siOners TO facilitate the enforcement
of the act.
Sec. 10. Provides for punishment of
Marshals who do not diligently exc
cute all warrants issued under this act;
appoint persons to execute any war
rant they may issue, with power in
persons so appointed to summon bS1
or posse cOHlitItJtS of cOtfzssy,
or land or naval force of the United
States, or the militia to aid them, and
to insure observance of the Fifteenth
Amendment.
Sec. II. Any person who hinders or
prevents any officer or person lawfully
aiding any officer from making any
arrest, or makes or attempts a rescue,
or aids or abets an escape, or harbOrs
or cOnceaIs any offender for whom
warrant is issued, may be fined not
more than $4,000, or imprisoned not
more than six months, or both.
Sec. u. Provides for payment of
fees to officers charged with the exc
tuition of this act.
Sec. 13. Authorizes the President of
the United States to employ such part
of the land and naval forces of the
United States, or of the militia, as
shall be necessary to aid in the exc
cutiOn Of judicial process under this
act.
Sec. II. Directs proceedings by writ
of quo warrantO against ali persons,
except members of Congress and State
Legislatures, who hold Office contrary
to sec. 3, art. Il, Of the amendments
to the Constitution OF the United
States.
Sec. Is. Any person accepting or
holding Office, or attempting to hold
or exercise the duties of any Office,
after the passage of this act, in viola
ton of the Fourteenth amendment,
no Inn V.rf1nrald NOT a
year, or fined not more than $1,000, or
both.
Sec. l6. All persons in every State
shall have the same right to make
and enforce contracts, to sue, be par
ties, give evidence, and enjoy the full
and equal benefits of laws for security
of pep~n or property as is enjoyed by
white citizens, and shall be subject to
like punishments, taxes, licenses and
exactiOns of every kind. No tax
shall be imposed by any State on per-
sons immigrating thereto which is not
equally imposed upon every person so
Sec. II. Any person who under
cover of law shall subject, or cause to
be subjected, any person to the depri-
walton of any right secured by this
act, or to different punishment on ac-
count of his being an alien, or by rea-
son of his color or race, than is pre-
scribed for the punishment of citizens,
may be fined not more than $1,000, or
imprisoned not more than one year,
or both.
Sec. IS. Re-enacts the civil rights
bill of April 8, 1866, and provides that
sections i6 and II of this act shall be
enforced according to the provisions
of said act of April9, 1865.
Sec. 10. If at any election for men,
Der of Congress any person shall vote