The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-05-04

THE KU-KLUX Law.
Text Of the Bill rs Finally Passed and Al
proved.

THE KU-KLUX Law.
Text Of the Bill rs Finally Passed and APP
proved.
The following is the text Of the Ku-Klu.
bill, as finally passed by Congress yesterday
and approved by the President:
An Act 20 enforce the provisions Of the four
teenth amendment to the constitution 9
the United States, and for other purposes
Be 1t enacted by tie Senate and House o
Representatives Of the United States O
Ansertca IN Congress assembled, That an,
person who, under color Of any law, statute
ordinance, regulation custom, Or usage OF au,
State shall subject or cause to be subjected
any peraon within the Jurisdiction Of th
United States to the deprivation Of an,
rights, privileges, or immunities secured b,
the constitution of the United States, shall
any such law, statute, ordinance, regulation
custom, or usage Of the State to the ooutrsr,
notwithstanding, be liable to the party ipjar
ed in any action at law, suit IL equity, Of
other proper proceeding for redress; such pro
ceeding to be prosecuted in the several dis
tret or circuit courts Of the United States
with and subject to the same rights Of appeal
review upon error, and other remedies
provided in like cases in such courts un.
der the provisions of the act Of the ninth O.
April, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, onti
tied can act to protect all persons in the
United States in their civil rights, and te
furnish the means of their yindication," and
the other remedial laws of the United States
which are in their nature applicable in such
cases.
Sec. 2. That if two or more persons within
any State or Territory of the United shall
conspire together to overthrow or to put down,
OF to destroy by force, the government of the
United States, Or to levy war against the
United States, or to oppose by force the au-
thori5y Of the government of the United
States, or by force, Intimidation or threat to
prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any
law Of the United, or by force to seize, take
or possess any property of the United States,
contrary to the authority thereof, or by force,
intimidation Or Unrest to prevent any person
froa, accepting or holding any Office Of trust
or place of confidence under the United
States, or from disoharg;ag the duties there
Of Or By force, intimidation OR threat to in
duce any officer Of the United States to leave
any State, district or place where his duties
as such officer might lawfully be performed
Or to injure him in his person Or property GU
account Of his lawful discharge Of the duties
of his Office, or to injure his person while en-
gagged in the lawful discharge Of the duties
OF his Office, or to injure his property so as to
modest, hinder, interfere With Or impede hini
in the discharge of his Official duty, or by
force, intiniaats or threat to deter any party
or witness in any court Of the Uuited States
from attending such court, Or from testifyiBg
in any matter pending 10 such court fully
freely and truthfally, or to injure any such
party er vitoess in his person or property, ca
account Of his having so attended or testified
or BIZ foree, intimidation or threat to influence
the verdict, pressptment or Indictment Of any
juror or grand juror in any court of the Uni
ted States, or to injure such juror In his per
son or property or account Of any verdict
presantment or Indictment lawfully assented
to by him, or on account Of his being OF hay-
ing been such juror, OF shall conspirs togeth.
er, or go in disguise upon the public high.
way or upon the premises of another for shs
purpose, either directly or indirectly, Of de-
pfiving any person or any class Of persons o.
the equal protection Of the laws, or of equa
privileges or immuDities under the laws, Q,
for the purpose Of preventing or hinderias
the constituted authorities of any State from
giving Of securing to all persons within suct
State the equal protection Of the laws, Oh
shall ooospire together FOR the purpose Of il
any manner impeding, hindering, ebstruetns
or defeating the due course Of justice in any
State or Territory, with intent 10 deny to an,
citizen of the United States the due anl
equal protection Of the laws, or to injure AM
person in his person or his property for law
fully enforcing the right Of any perssa o.
class Of persons to the equal protection ofth'
laws, or by force, intimidation or threat t.
prevent any citizen Of the United States law
fully entitled to vote from giving his supper
Or advocacy in lawful manner, towards O
in favor Of the election Of any lawfully quail
fed person as an eIeetor of President O
Vice President of the United States CT as
member of the Congress of the United States
Or to njurs any citizen in his person or prop
erty on account Of such support or advocacy
each and every person so offending shall b
deemed guilty Of high crime, and upon con
vietion thereof in any District or Circui
Court Of the United States or District or Su
preme Court Of any Territory Of the Unite'
| States having jurisdiction Of similar offenses
shall be punished by fine not less than fv
hundred nor more than FIVE thousand dollars
OF By imprisonment, with Or without has'
labor, as the court may determine, for pc
Rod Of not less than six months nor NOR
than six years as the court may determine
or by both such 6ae and Imprisonment, as tn
court shall determine And if any one O
more persons engaged III any such conspirac
shall do, Or cause to be done, any act in fur
theraacs 0: the object Of such conspiracy
whereby any person shall be injured in hi
person or property, or deprived of having ant
exercising any right or privilege of . citize'
of the United States, the person SO injured o
deprived of such rights aud privileges ma.
have and maintain an action for the recover,
Of damages occasioned by such injury OF &c
privation OF rights and privileges against an,
one or more Of the persons engaged in sucl
conspiracy, such action to be prosecuted il
the proper District or Circuit Court of thu
United States, with and subject to the SAM
rights Of appeal. review upon error and othe
remedies provided in like cases in such court
under ths provisions Of the act of Apr
ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, emit
II Al