The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-25
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
An Act 10 Enforce the night or Citi.
Gems Of the United states 70 vote In
the Several states OF flris Uyfensi
and for other Purposes. 20 4, o0

Of Ameriea in Congress assembled fha
all citizens of the United States whs
are OF shall he otherwise qualified BY
law to vote at any election by the PEG
pie in any State, Territory, district
county, city. parish, township, school
district municipality, or other territor
ial subdivision, shall be entitled and all
lowed TO vote at all such elections with,
out distinction of race. color, or previ-
Gus condition of servitude; any consti'
tuition, law, custom, usage, or regula.
ton OF any State or Territory, or by OF
under its authority, 20 the contrary
Notwithstanding.
SEC >. Ind be Il further enacted,
That if by or under the authority Of
the constitution or laws of any State,
or the 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 per-
sons or officers are or shall he charged
with the performance of duties in fnrn-
.Sning To citizens an opportunity +"
perform such prerequisite, or to sbecome
qualified to vote. it shall be the duty
OF every such person and officer to
give to all citizens OF the United States
the same and equal opportunity to per
form such prerequisite, AMI to become
qualified to vote without distinction Of
race, color or previous condition OF
servitude; and il 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
paw the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person aggrieved thereby to he re-
covered by an action on The ease, with
full costs and such allowance for coun-
sci fees as the court shall deem just
and shall also, for every such offence,
be deemed guilty Of miSdemeanor, and
shall, on conviction thereof, be fined
not less than five hundred dollars or
be imprisoned not less than one
month and not more than one year, or
both, at the discretion OF the court. .g
SEC. ,. And be Il further enacted,
That whenever, by or under the
constitution or laws of any State,
or under the laws Of any Territory,
an act is or shall be required to he
done 10y any citizen as prerequisite to
qualify and entitle him to vote, the Of
fer of any such citizen to perform the
act required to be done as aforesaid
shall, il it fail to he carried into execu-
ton by reason of the wrongful act or
omission aforesaid of the person or
officer charged with the duty of receiv.
ing or permitting such performance or
offer TO perform or acting thereon,
be deemed and held rs a performance
in law of such act; and the person 80
offering and failing as aforesaid, and be-
ing otherwise qualified, shall be enti-
tied to vote in the same manner and to
the same extent rs if he had in fact
performed such act and any judge,
Inspector, or other officer Of election
whose duty it is or shall be to receive,
count, certify, register, report, or give
effect to the vote OF any such citizen
who shall refuse or omit to
receive, count, certify, register, report,
or give effect to the vote of such cltl-
zen upon the presentation by him, OF
his affidavit stating such offer and the
time and place thereof, and the name
of the officer or person whose duty 1t
was to act thereon, and that he was
wrOngfully prevented by such person,
or officer from performing such act,
shall for every such offence forfeit and
paw the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person aggrieved thereby, to be re-
| covered bv an action on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for coun-
sci fees As the court shall deem Just,
and shall also for every such otlense be
guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof, he fned not less
than five hundred dollars, or he i'm
prisoned not less than one month and
not more than one year, or both, az the
discretion of the court.
SIC. !. AndJe d.fWthcr enacted, That
if any person, 10y force, bribery, threats,
intimidation, or other unlawful means,
shall hinder, delay, prevent, obstruct
or shall combine and confederate with
others to hinder, delay, prevent, or ob,
struct, any citizen from doing any act
required to be done to qualify him tC
vote or from voting at any election as
aforesaid, such person shall, for every
such ofiense, forfeit and pay the sum OF
five hundred dollars to the person az
grieved thereby, TO be recovered 10y an
action on the case, with full costs and
such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem Just, and shall also for
every such ofiense, be guilty Of a mis-
demeanor, and shall, on conviction
thereof. be fined not less than five hun
dred dollars, or be imprisoned not les:
than one month and not more than ont
wear. or both, at the discretion of th'
. court. -,
SEC ). Ind bet further enacted, Tina
if any person shall prevent, hinder con
troll. or intimidate, or shall attempt u
prevent, hinder, control or intimidate
any person from exercising the righ
of suffrage, to Whom the right o
suffrage IS secured or guaranteed b.
! the fifteenth amendment to the Con
' stitution of the United States, by mean
of bribery, threat, or threats of de
priying such person of employment o
occupation. or of ejecting such rersoI
: from rented house, lands, or other prof.
erty, or by threats of refusing to rene'
leases or contracts for labor, or b
: threats of violence to himself or family
= such person so offending shall b
deemed guilty of a misdemeaner, an
shall, on conviction thereof, be fine
not less than five hundred dollars Q
4 be imprisoned not less than one mont
and not more than one year, or both, a
the discretion of the court.
SEC. 6. And be ht'rthcr enacted, This
ls re if two or more persons shall band G
" conspire together, or 90 in disguise upo