The union Democrat., 1871-05-13
THE KU-KLUx BILL
Text Of the Act Passed by the 3enatc and
Hoase.

Text Of the Acs Passed by the 3enase and
House.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-The text Of the
Ku-Klux hill, IA finally agreed upon by both
houses. and signed By the President, Is as
follows:
AN AcT to enforce the provisions Of the Four
teenth Amendment To the Constitution OF
the United States, and for otter purposes.
Be ii enacted By the Senate and House of Re
personalities If the United States III Con-
gress assembled:
SEcrioN l, That any person who, under
the color If any law, statute. ordnance, reg
ulation, custom. or usage ut any State, shall
subject, or cause 10 he subjected. any person
within the Jurisdiction vt the United States To
the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or
immmniti.s secured by the CONSTITUTION &c the
United States shall, any such law, statute.
ordinance. regulation, custom, or usa re al the
State To the contrary notwithstanding. be
liable to the party injured in any action AZ
law. suit in equity, or cther proper prOceed-
ing for redress such proceeding to be prose-
cuteG in the several District or Circuit Courts
.,f the United States. and subject to tho same
rights nf appeal. review upOn error and other
remedies provided in like cases in such
courts, nnipr the provisions of the act Of
April 9, 1866, entitled ian act to protect all
parsons in the United States in their civil
rights, and to furnish the means Of their vim
dicatiav., - md the nther remedial laws of the
Uni'ed States which are in their nature APP
plicable To such cases.
Sec, 2. That if twO or more persons with-
in any State nr Territory nf the United State ],
shall canspire t. yether to overthrow. or to
nut dawn, or ~ destroy by force, the Govern
nent cf the United States, or to levy war
against the Unittd States, or to oppose by
force the authority &c the Government of thu
United States. or nv force, intimidation or
threat tu prevent, hinder or delav tho exeru-
.ion af any law 0f the United States, or nv
fnrce To seize take or pnssess anV property of
rha United States contrary to the euthnritv
thereof. or nv fnrcp, intimidation or threat IN
prevent any person ntn accepting nr holding
INV office nf trust or place Of confidence IN
der the Unised States. or from discharging
the duties thereof. or nv force. intimidation
or rhr,at ~ induce any officer of the United
States to leave any State, district or place
where his duties IN such officer might lawful
| " he performed. or IT, iniure him IN his person
J or properly on account ot his lawful discharge
| "a the duties of his office. or to ininre his per
son whleiengaged in the lawful discharge oil
the du,ies Of his office or to iniure his proper
| ~ az No u n,ulest, hinder. interiors with, nI
impede him in the discharge of his official dn
| ~. or nv force. Intimidation, nr threat to de-
ter Hnv rsrty or witness in any court of the
United States from attending such court, or
| from tessifvng in any matter pendir in such
court, fully, and truthfuliv. nr to iniure any
snch party ar witness in his person or proper
| ~ on account Of his having so attended OF
testified. or nv fhrce. intim ;da,inn, or threa,
| so influence the verdict. presentment, or in.
| tiicsment of any juror or grand juror in any
court Of the United Stares, or TO iniure such
juror in his person or property on acc ,unt ol
| anv verdict. presentment, or indictment law.
| fully assented To nv him, or on account of his
heing or having been such juror, or shall
conspire Together, or 60 disguised upon the
puhlic highway or to the premises of another
for the purpose. either directly or Indirectly
If depriving any person or class of persons ot
he equal protectiou of the laws. or of equal
privileges or immunities under the laws, oil
for the purpose Of preventing or hindering the
constituted authorities of any State from Civ.
ing or securing to all persons within such
shall cnnspire together for the purpose Of in
any manner impending, obstrurting, or de-
feating the due course of justice in any State
or Territory. with intent to deny to any cit;
gen Of the United States the due and eGua
protection Of the laws or TO injnre any per
son. in his nerson or his property, for lawful
" enforcing the right Of any person or class
Of persons to the equal protecti"n of the laws,
] -
any citizen Of the United States lawfully en-
titled to vote from giving his support or ad
vocacy in lawful manne- towards or in
favor of the election of any lawfully qualified
| nerson as an elector of President or Vice
President of the United States, or to iniure
any such citizen in his person or property on
account OF such support or advocacy. eaet
| and every person sn offending shall be deem
ed guilty OF a high crime, and. upon convic
ton thereof in any District or Circuit Court
ct the United States. or District or Supreme
Court of any territory in the United States
having Jurisdiction nf similar nfanees. shall
he punished nv fine not less than FIVE hun
dred nor more than five thousand dollars. o,
by imprisonment. with or withaut hard labor
"a the Curt NAV determine, fur period 81
not less than six months 1nr more than siy
wears, "a the Conrt may deterL,ine, or nv
both such fne and imrrisnnment ~ thu
Court shall determine. And IL any ane Of
more pers,ns engaged in any srch conspiracy
shall do. or Cause to lie done, any act in fur
therance of the object nf such conspiracy
whereby any rerson shall he injured in hi,
person or property, or deprived nf having and
exercising anv right or privilege 1T q cisizer
of the United Sratas, the pereon ~n injured O,
deprived Of snch rights and privileges may
have and maintain an action Tor sha recovery
at damages accustomed nv snch injury or de-