, 1870-05-20
Hi1l to Emf oEcc the Fifteenth Amend.
mCnt.

III. Bingham, from the Committee On the
Judielary On Monday, reported back tho fol-
lowing bill to enforce the Fifteenth Amend
mtent, which was passed by vote Of yeas 1s1
That any officer Of tho United States. or OF
any State, Territory or district, and every off,
Ger OF any city, county, township, borough.
| ward, parish or hundred, in any State, Teiri.
tory, or district, who shall by any official act
Whatever, OF by the omission, neglect, or re-
1usal, to perform an official act OF duty what
ever, whether under color or prete1t OF anv
provision Of any State constitution, or any Law
OF any State, Territory, or district, whatsooyer.
or OF any local, municipal, or other law, rule,
OF ordinance, deny or abridge tho right Of
my cllize9 Of the United States to Tote, on
ton OF servitude, at any federal State,
county, municipal, OF other election, shall
upon conviction thereof, be adjudged
guilty Of . misdemeauor, and shall be pun
lshed by imprisonment Of not less than sono
year, ard not exceeding three years, or by
tine not less than $500. or both such fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion Of the Court.
SEC: 2. Tint al colored citizens of tho
United States, resident in the several States of
Tho United States, shall be entitled to vote at
all elections in the State, county, parish,
town, township, ward, or hundred, Of thoire,
residence, subject only to the s1me conditions
Which now arc or nay hereafter ba required to
qualify white citizens to vote therein And |
any person who shall By force, fraud, intimi-
datlon, or other unlawful me7ns whatsoever,
such election, who possesses the qualifications,
except in respect of color, requisite to enable |
white citizen to vote theteat, ahall, upon |
conviction thereof, be adtudged guilty Of a |
mII1sdeneanor, and shall be imprisoned not less
than six months, and not e1ceedine ono year,
OF bo fined not less than 800 nor more than
81 900, or be punished by both such fine and
imprisonment in the discretion Of tho Court.
Bee ). That In case the constitution or law !
Of any State shan require the assessment or
payment OF q ta1 rs qualification Of an eIec-
tor, If any assessor or other officer elected OF
appointed under the LAWS OF such State, and !
authorized or required by the lava thereof to
mako any assessment of persona or properly
Tor the purpose OF such taxation, shall refuse
otz,n1 or wlIiulF neglect 70 assess tho person or
states, qualified as aforesaid, ard residing in
.he town, hundred, borough, tomnahip, parish,
county, ward, or district, for which said asses.
'or or other officer shall hare been elected or
appointed as aforesaid, he shall for every such
'1encc forfeit and pay tho sum Of $500 to any
,eIson who will sue for the same, and shall
or every such offence be guilty Of INSIDE
neanor: and shall DO fined not less than $500,
nd bo imprisoned not Less than one month.
Sections four, fire, slx, seFen aud eight in
'ose Like penalties in caseB OF officers and I
aembcrs Of levy. courts, reeistrers or clerks
o reeosd assessments, collectors Of taxes,
nd officers Of election and Of registration
tho, in their several capacities, na7 prevent
he exercise Of the right Of suffrage.
SEC 3. That Il any person shall, by threats,
iolence, or intimidation, prevent, or attempt 6
} prevent, any citizen Of the United States | I
ON the FREQ exercise Of his right to voto in q
ny election ut which members OF Congress or | t
lectoEs for President or Vice President Of tho
nited States may be voted for, such person I
offending shall bs liable to Indictment, and,
q conviction thereof, shall DO subject to Y
ne not exceeding 81 1000, or to Imprisonment t
ot less than one year nor moro than three Z
Sec. 10. That the Circuit Courts of the q
nited States shall hare jurisdiction Of the r
its for forfeitureB imposed and canses Of &C. 9
N created by this act, and the Cirruit &nd q
lstnct Courts Of the United StateH ehalE have s
Iisdiction of the instantaneous created by Il
is act. s