The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-19
THE pvFoaCEMENT ACT.
An Act to enforce the right of citizens Of the Unite
States to vote In the several States Of this Union
and for other PURPOSES

An Act to enforce the right of citizens Of the Unite
States to vote Ia the several States Of this Uniol
and for other purposes.
sentativos of the United States OF America in Con
| Cress assembled, That all citizens Of the United
States who shall be otherwise q4aiined by law
to vote at al election by the people in an State
Territory, district, COUNTY, city, parish, township
school district Municipality, other territorial
division shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all
such elections without distinction Of race, color or
| previous condition of servliu1e; any constitution,
| Jaw, custom, usage, or regulation OF any State or
Territory, or by or under its authority TO the con-
| trary notwithstanding
Sac O. And be 1t further enacted. That if by or
under the authority of the constitution or laws of
State the laws of any Territory, any act Is
shall be required to be done prersquis qua-
fcation for voting, and by such constitution laws
persons officers are or shall be charged with the
| performance of duties in furnishing to citizens an
opportunity perform such prerequisite, or TO be-
| come qualified to vote 1t shall be the duty of every
such person and officer to give to all citizens Of the
United states the ana equal opportunity to per-
| form such prerequisite and TO become qualified to
vote without dstiuction of race color, previous
condition of servtude and If any such person
officer hal refuse or knowingly omit to give full eff
feet this section be shall for every such offence,
forfeit aud pay the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person aggrieyed thereby to be recovered by
action the case with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees tho court shall deem just, and
shall also, for every such offence, be deemed of
misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof be
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 coutt.
SEQ. 3. And be 1t further enacted That whenever
by under the authority of the constitution or laws
OF any State, or the laws of any Territory any act
Is shall be required TO be done by any citizen
prerequisite to qualify or en'ite him to vote the
offer OF any citizen to perform me act required to
execution by reason OF the wrongful omission
Aforesaid of the person or officer charged with the
duty of receiving or permitting such performance or
off, IN ar tharaOD ha
held a performance in law of such act; and the
person offering and failing aforesaid, and being
otherwise qualified, shall be entitled TO vote In the
same 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 or shall
be to receive count, certify, register report, give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who snail |
wrongfuly refuse omit to receive, count, cerfy,
register report give effect to the vote of such cit
izen upon the presentation by him of his affidavit |
stating such offer aud place the eef and the OF
the officer person hoss duty 1t was to act there
on, and that he wrongiully prevented by |
such person officer from performing such act,
shall for every fuch offence forfeit and pay the sum
OF five hundred dollars to the person agg ieved there
by, to be recovered by an action on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees ls the
court shall deem just and shall for every such
offence be guilty of msdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof be fined not less than five hun
dred dollars, or be imp isoned not less than
month and not more than one year, OF both, at the
discretion of the court.
sEo. 4. And DO it further enacted, That If
|
daton , or other unlawful noans, shall him
DER delay, prevent, Distract, shall
combine and confederate with others to hinder,
delay prevent or oostruct any citizen from doing
any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting at any election aforesaid such person
sh al for every such offence forfeit and pay the
of five hundred dollars to the person aggreved there
by, to be recovered by an action The case with
full costs and such allowance II counsel fees the
court shall deem just, and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of misdemeanor, and SHALL ON con-
yictlOu thereof /
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than month
md not more than year, both, at the discre-
ton Of the court.
sEc. 8. and be it further enacted That If any por
son shall prevent, hinder control, or iDtimdate
shall attempt to prevent, hind r, control ntiIn-
iaie, any person from exercising in exercising the
light OF suffrage to whom the right of suffrage is
occurred or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment |
# bribery, threats threats of deprivng such per
ION of employ mont occupation of ejeciing such
,erson from rented house, lands or other property
by threats OF refusing to renew lease or contraci5
or labor by threats Of violence to himself or
amily, such person offending shall be deemed |
utility of mIsdemeanor, and shall, on conviction |
hereof, be fined not less than five hundred collars
II be Imprisoned not less THAI one month and not :
more than one year, or both, at the discretion of
he court.
,Eo s. And be 1t further enacted, That the district
ourts of the United States, within their respective
strcts shall have exclusively of the courts Of the
evera States, cogniEance of oil crimes and offences
ommitted against the provisions of this act and
lso, concurrently with the circuit courts of the
United States, of all causes civil and criminal arts.
ng under this act except es herein otherwise pro .
ided and the jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
xercised in conformity With the laws and practice
overning United States courts and all crimes and
fences committed against the provisions OF this act
,ay be prosecuted by the indictment of grand /
lry in of crimes and Offences not in famous
he prosecution may DO either by indictment or in
rm stion filed by the district attorney in court
aving jurisdiction.