The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-06-18
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
Synopsis Of she Act to Enforce
the XVth Amendment.

revised abstract of the bill to enforce the
Fifteenth Amendment, as passed by both
Houses of Congress. The bill is entitled:
An act to enforce the right of citizens OF
the United States to vote in the several
States of this Union, and for other pur-
poses.
SEC l. Citizens who are otherwise quail
lfed by law to vote at any election in any
State OF Territory, shall be entitled to vote
at any such elections without distinction of
race, color or previous condition of servitnde;
any constitution, law or regulation Of any
State or Territory to the contrary nOtwith-
standing
SEC. ,. Where any local law requires any
act as prerequisite to voting, and makes it
the duty of any person to furnish citizens
with an opportunity to so qualify, it shall
be the duty ofsuch persons to give such op
portunity to all citizens without the distinc-
ton mentioned in section l; and any refusal
or omission to give fall force to this section
makes the delinquent liable to the party ag-
grieved in the sum of $500 damages, full
COSlSl anu dI dbGOIuCt ACCI anu AOA oOSA
offensc such offenders may be fined not less
than $500, or Imprisonment not less than
one month or more than one year, or both,
at the discretion Of the court.
SIC. 3. When any prerequisite to voting is
prevented by the wrongful act or omission
of the persons charged by law with the duty
of affording an opportunity to qualify, the
offer to qualify shall be deemed perform
ance in law Of such act as is required, and
the person so Offering shall, if otherwise
qualified, be entitled to vote. A refusal to
receive and give effect to such vote, on the
presentation Of the voters affidavit stating
the facts, make the offender liable to the
party aggrieyed, and also liable to the pun
ishment provided in section 2.
SEC. 4. If any person, by force, bribery,
threats, intimidation, or other unlawful
means, shall hinder, delay. prevent, or Oh
struct any citizen from dong any act re-
quired as a prerequisite to voting, or shall
combine with others for this purpose, he
shall be liable, and may be punished as pro-
vided in section 2.
SEC. 5. If any person shall prevent, him
der, control, or intimidate from voting any
person to whom the right is secured by the
Fifteenth Amendment, or shall attempt the
same by means of bribery, threats, or Oc
cupation, or of ejecting them from rented
houses, lands, or other property, or by
threats of refusing to renew leases or con
tracts for labor, or by threats of violence to
himself or family, such offender may be
punished as provided in section ?
SEC g. If two or more eonspiIe, or go in
disguise upon the public highway, or the
premises of another, with intent to violate
any provision of this act, or to injure or in
timidate any citizen to prevent his free ex'
ercise 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 felony, and may be
fined not more than $500, or imprisoned
not more than ten years, or both and, there
after, shall be ineligible to Office under the
United States.
SEC 7. If, in the violation of the two pre-
ceding sections, any other Ofense is com
mitted, it may be punishment as is attached
to the ofense by the laws of the State
wherein committed.
SEC. 8. Gives exclusive jurisdiction to the
United States Courts of all criminal and
civil cases arising under this act.
SEC g. Direct the arrest and institution
of proceedings against persons violating this
act and authorizes the appointment of ad
ditional Commissioners to facilitate the en-
forcement of the act.
SEC TO- Provides for punishment of Mar
! shals who d. not diligently execute any
warrant they may issue, with power in per
sons 90 appointed to summon bystanders
OF posse comitatus of any county, or land Oh
naval force of the United States, or the
militia, to aid them, and to insure observance
| of the Fifteenth Amendment
SIC IL. Any person who hinders or pre-
vents any officer or person lawfully aiding
any officer from making any arrest, or makes
or attempts rescue, or aids or abets an es
cape, or harbors or conceals any offender
for whom warrant is issued, may be fnec
not more than 81 900, or imprisoned no
more than six months, or both.
SEC. l2 Provides for payment of fee t.
officers charged with the execution of thi
act.
SEC 13 Authorizes the President of thu
United States to employ such part of tht
land and naval forces of the United States
or of the militia, as shall be necessary t.
aid in the execution of judicial process is
sued under this act
SEC. IA Directs proceedings by writ o
quo warranso against all persons, excep