The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-08
THE KU-KLUX BILL.

fourteenth amendment to the constitution
If the ITnited States, and for other pur-
noses. which was passed by Congress, pro-
vides that any person who, under coloi OF
any law, statute, ordinance, reguiatlon'
custom. or usage of any State, shall sub
iect. or cause to be subjected, any person
within the jurisdiction OF the united
States to the deprivation of any rights
privileges, or immunities secured by the
constitution of the United States, shall be
liable to the party injured in any action at
law suit in equity, or other proceeding for
redress such proceeding to be prosecuted
in tho several district 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, under the provisions OF the
laws of the United States which are in
their nature applicable in such cases.
The second section provides that il two or
more nersops within any State or Territory
of the United States shall conspire together to
ovar,hrow. or to put down, or to destroy by
force the government of the United States, or
to lew war against the United States, or to
oppose by force the authority OF the govern
ment of the United States, or by force, intimi-
daton or threat to prevent, hinder or delay
the execution of any law of the United States,
or nv force to seize, take, or possess any
property of the United States contrary 10
he authority thereof, or by force, intimida"
ton or threat, to prevent any person IRON, ron
or place of confidence under the United
Statps. or from dischargiug the duties there
| of or by for ce, intimidation or threat TO IN
dnoe any officer of the United States to leave
any State. district or place, where his duties
as such officer might lawfully De peflormeu' oi
} to ipiure him in his person or property on acr
, count of his lawful discharge OF the duties OF
his office. or to injure his person while engaged
in the lawful discharge OF the duties Oh MS
office, or to injure his property SO as 10 moies',
hinder, interfere with or impede MIN ID Tue
discharge OF his oleiai GUY, or ny ,oar rty or
, / tmdation or threat to deter any parry vi
witness in anv court of the United States from
attand;no such court or from testlfylng IN any
| matter pending in such court, iuily' lreeiy anu
: trutbfully, or to ipjure any such party OF W.T.,
ness in his person or properly On aI'oan' hi -,
his having SO attended or testified, or by
force intimidation or threat to influence the
s verdict. presentment or Indictment OF any
: iuror or grand juror in any cour'
a of the United Statesj or to inJure sucn
Juror in bis person or property on accoun,
U sof sucb verdict, presentment or lnolctmen
q lawfully assented to by him, or on account o
his being or having been such juror, or shal
conspire together, or 20 in disguise upon tnt
public highway or upon the premises OF anotn
r er for the purpose, either directly or indirect
J, ly, of depriving any person or any Grass Oh per
/. | sons of the equal protection OF the laws, or
: equal privileges or immunities under the laws
or for the purpose of preventing or hinderint
the constituted authorities OF any state IRON
o giving or securing to all persons wlthln sucl
, State the equal protection of the laws, or snai
~ conspire together for the purpose OF IN any
= manner impeding, hindering, obstructing, o.
defeating the course of justice in any Stat
y or Territory; with intent to deny to an.
citizen of the United States the due an
20 equal protection of the laws, or to ln!ure an
: person in his person or his property ior lawluI
- | enforcing the right of any person or any cias
e. of persons, to the equal protection OF the laws
q. or by force, intimidation, or threat to proven
- anv citizen OF the United States lawfully emit
!, tied to vote from giving his support or aovoca
VI CIV in a lawful manner towards or IN FAVOR
IL the election of any lawfully qualified perso
as an elector of President or Vice Presider
10 of the United States, or as MEMBER OF th
" Congress of the United States, or to 1nJur
60 any such citizen in his person or properly
sl- account of such support or advocacy, cay
i'd and every person so onenoing snai ~ :
deemed guilty of a high crime, am
y upon conviction thereof in any distri
I'D or c;rcuit court of the United States {
Id district or supreme court OF any territory
to the United States having jurisdiction OF SIM
Of lar offences, shall be punished by hne not ie
| than five hundred nor more than nVe thousai
ch dollars or by imprisonment, with or wltno
all hard labor, as the court may determine, Tor
of | period of not less than six months nor mo
~ than six years, as the court may determine
~ both such fine and Imprisonment as the cou
shall determine. .
Of xpha
u. | iasurrection violence, and unlawful combln
tion. or conspiracy shall oppose or obstru
red the laws of the United States, or the due ex
as as cution thereof, or impede or obstruct the q
'no course of Justice under the same, it shall
Ihss lawful for the President, and it shall be
,ns | dntv 10 take such measures by the employing
ing of the militia or the land and naval forces
the United States, or of either, or by DO
TO means, as he may deem necessary Tor the 81
~ preston of such insurrecton domestic vioien
ion or combinations.
ngs Section authorizes the fresiusuI ~ esse
- insurrection to suspend the privileges OF
ma writ of habeas corpus to the end that such
tne belion may be overthrow: Frovsoe@, III
tss- the President shall first have made proclan
the the ton, as now provided by law, commanoi
such insurgents to disperse And promo
.xe- also, That the provisions of this section SD
as not be in force after the end OF the next rel
lar session of Congress.
Tor The remaining sections provide that evt
To-, | Juror in courts OF the united Otates, IN Ca
3 OF under this act. shall, before entering upon q
ne. such inquiry, hearing or trial, take and s.
of scribe an oath in open court that he has ney
will directly or Indirectly, counseled, ADVISED
nan voluntarily aided any such combination or 9
.aas- spiracy, and each and every person who 81
take this oath, and shall therein swear false
d be shall be guilty of perjury, and shall be sup
the to the pains and penalties declared against
rsea crime, &c.
radi- The substitute adopted for the Sherr
ao,c amendment in the bill, by the new coniere
son committee, provides that any person or pers
cted having knowledge that any of the wrongs
the spired to be done and mentioned in the sec
rped section of this act about to be commit
$ re- and having power to prevent or aid In prev
ign ing the same shall neglect refuse TO do,
y wsrs such wrongful act shall be committed,
,erty person or persons shall be liable to the pei
don injured, or his legal representatives, for
yisla- damages caused by any such wrongful
and which sueh first named person or persons
, s", reasonable diligence could have proven
j t the and such damages may be recovered in an
cor ton on the case in the proper circuit couI
for the United States, and any number of per
pro- guilty of such wrongful neglect or refusal !
Y five be Joined as defendants in such act
-. provided that such action shall be G
!, ~! au mepced within one year after such caus
mt