The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-28
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.

An Act to enforce the right of czens of the Unite
States to vote In the several States OF this Union
and for other purposes. e
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives of the United States OF America in Con.
gross assembled, That all citizens of the United
States who or shall be otherwise qualified by law
to vote at any election by the people in any State
Territory district, county city, parish, township,
school district, municipality other territorial sub
division shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all
such elections, without distinction Of race color,
previous condition of servitude; any constitution,
law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or
Territory, or by under its authority, to the
trary notwithstanding. $50
Sc g. And be it further enacted That If by or
under the authority OF the constitution laws of
any State the laws of any Territory, any act is
shall be required to be done prerequisite quail
fcaton for voting, and by such constitution or laws
persons or officers are or shall be charged with the
performance of duties in furnishing TO citizens
opportunity to perform such prerequisite, to be-
come qualified to vote, it shall be the duty of every
such person and officer to give to all citizens of the
United States the and equal opportunity to per-
form such prerequisite, and to become qualified to
vote without distinction of race, color or previous
condition of servitude; and if any such person or
officer shall REFUGE knowingly omit to give full eff
feet to this section he shall for every such offence
forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person aggreved thereby to be recovered BY an
for counsel fees the court shall deem just, and
shall also, for every such offence, be deemed of
fined not less than i've hundred dollars, or be i'm
prisoned not less than month and not more than
one year, or both, at the discretion Of the court
Sec 3. And be it further enacted. That whenever,
by under the authority of the constitution laws
of any State, the laws of any Territory, any act
Is shall be required to be done by any citizen
prerequisite to qualify enttle him to vote, the
offer Of any citizen to perform the act required to
be done aforesaid SHALL If it fail to be carried into
execution by of the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person officer charged with the
duty Of receiving permitting such performance
offer to perform or acting thereon, be deemed and
held performance in law of such act; and the
person offering and failing aforesaid and being
otherwise qualified, shall be entitled to vote in the
manner and to the same extent If he had in
fact performed such act and any judge, inspector,
other officer of election whose duty it is shall
be to receive count certify, register report, give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who shall
wrongfuliy refuse omit to receive, count certify
register report or give effect to the vote OF such cit
zen upon the presentation by him of his affidavit
stating such offer and place thereof and the of
the officer or person whose duty It was to act there
such person or officer from performing such act,
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the
of five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved there
by, to be recovered by actionon the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem just, and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof be fined not less than five hum
| dred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one
month and not morcthan one year, or both, at the
| discretion of the court.
SEC. a. And be it further enacted, That if
dalton, or other unlawful means, shall hin.
| der, delay, prevent, or obstruct, or shall
combiHs and confederate with others to hinder.
delay, prevent, obstruct, any citizen from doing
any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting at any election as aforesaid such person
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay ne sum
| by, to be recovered by action the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees the
court shall deem just and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of misdemeanor, and shall,
viction thereof be fined not less than five hundred
| dollars, or be imprisoned not less than month
and not more than one year. or BOTH at the discre-
| ton of the court.
&c. g. And be it further enacted, That If any per-
son shall prevent hinder, control, intmidate,
shall attempt to prevent hinder, control or intmi
date any person from exercising in exercising the
right Of suffrage, to whom the right of suffrage ia
| secured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment
to the Constitution of the United States, by means
of bribery, threats threats Of deprving such per
son of employment or occupation, or ofejecting such
person from rented house, lands, other property
or by threats of refusing leases contracts
for labor, by threats Of violence to himself OF
family, such person SO offending shall be deemed
| guilty OF misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction
thereof be fined not leas than five hundred dollars
| or be imprisoned not less than one month and mol
| more than one year, both, at the discretion Of
the court. s.a.4
SEQ s. And DO it further enacted That the district
courts Of theUnitsd States, within their respective
districts shall have exclusively Of the courts 81 s
committed against the provisions OF this act anc
also, ooncurrently with the circuit courts OF the
United States of all causes civil and criminal arts
ing under this act except as herein otherwise pro
vded and the Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
exercised in conformity with the laws and practice
governing United States courts and all crimes ant
offences committed against the provisions OF this &C,
| may be prosecuted by the Indictment OF grand
Jury or IN of crimes and offences not infamous
| the prosecution may be either by indictment or In
formation fled by the district attorney In cour
| havingj Jurisdiction.
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