The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-20
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
An ACT 10 enforce the right Of citizens of tho Unite
States to vote 10 the several States of this Union
and for other purposAa.

An ACT TO enforce the right Of citizens Of tho Unite
States to vote 10 the several stsfes Of this Upior
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives of the United States OF America in Con
| gregs assembled, That all citizens of the United
states who or shall be otherwise qualified by law
to vote at aty election by the people In am State
Territory, district county, city, parish township
school district, municipality, other territorial sub
divs on shall be entitled and allowed to at all
such elections without distinction of race color or
previous condition of servitude; any constitution,
law, custom, usage, or regulation OF auy State
Territory, by under its authority, 10 the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. And be II further enacted That If by or
under the authority of the constitution or laws Of
State, the laws of any Territory, any ia
shall be required TO be done prerequsi quail
fcation for voting and by such constitution laws
persons or officers shall be charged with the
performance of duties in furnishing to citizens an
opportunity TO perform such prerequisite, TO be-
come qualified to vote, ii shall be the duty of every
such person and officer 10 give to all citizens OF the
United States the same ana equal opportunity to per-
form such prerequisite, and to become qualified to
without distinction of race, color, previous
condition of ssrvitude aud if any such person
officer shall refuse 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
action on the case, with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees tho court shall deem just, and
shall also, for every such offence, DO deemed of
misdemeanor, and SHALL conviction thereof, be
fined not lets than five hundred dollars, or be i'm
prisoned not less than month and not more than
one year, both, at the discretion of the court.
SEC. 8. And be IL further enacted That whenever
by or under the authority of the constitution laws
of any State, the laws of auy Territory, any act
Is or shall be required to be done by any citizen
prerequisite to qualify or eDttle him to vote, the
oter OF any citizen to perform the act required to
execution by OF the wrongful act omission
aforesaid of the pers or officer charged with the
duty OF receiving or permitting such performance or
Her mr. 10 and
held as performance in law of such act; and the
person Offering and failing aforesaid and being
same manner and to the extent as If he had
fact performed such act; and any judge, inspector,
or other officer of election whose duty 1t is or shall
be to receive count certify register report give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who snail |
refuse omit to receive count certify,
register, report give effect to the vote of such cit
izen upon the presentation by him of his affidavit |
stating such offer and place reef and the OF
the officer person hose duty it to act there
on, and that he was wrongfully prevented BY |
such person officer from performing such act,
sha for every such offepoef forfeit and pay the sum
oi five hundred dollars to the person agg ieved there
by, to be recovered by an action on the case, with
u costs and such allowance for counsel fees the
SQUIRT shall deem just and shall also for every such
,fence be guilty of misdeneanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined not less than five hun
ired dollars, be imp, isoned not less than one
month and not moro than one year, or both, at the
discretion of the court.
SEC. d. And be it further enacted, That if |
iation or other unlawful means, shall hin
Ter, delay, prevent, or obstruct. shall
combine and confederate with others to hinder,
elay, prevent, or obstruct, any citizen from doing
my act required to be done to qualify him to
rom voting at any election aforesaid such person
all for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
# five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved there
y, to be recovered by action ihe case, with
ull costs and such allowance n counsel fees the
curt shall deem just and shall also for every such
fence be guilty of a msdemeanor, and shall ON con-
iction thereof, be fined not less than five hundred
ollars, or be imprisoned not less than month
ad not more than one year, or both, at the discre
ion of the court.
SEQ. s. And be it further enacted, That If any per
on shall prevent, hinder, control, or ntimdate or
hall attempt to prevent, hinder, control or ntimi-
ate any person from exercising or in exercising the
light of suffrage, to whom the right of suffrage IS
ecured guaranteed by the fifteenth ame ndment |
0 the Constitution of the United States, by means
bribery, threats, threats of deprying such per
on of employment or occupation, ofejecting such
erson from rented house, lands, or other property,
by threats of refusing to leases contracts
,r labor, or by threats of violence to himself or
,mily, such person offending shall be deemed
utility of msdemeanor, and shall. conviction
hereof, be fined not less than five hundred collars
r be imprisoned not less thea one month and not |
lore than one year, or both, at the discretion OF
ae court
SEQ s. And be it further enacted That the district
ourts of the United States within their respective
striCts shall have exclusively of the courts Of the
sgsral States, cognizance of all crimes and offences
ommitted against the provisions of this act and
lso, concurrently with the circuit courts Of the
nited States, of all causes. civil and criminal aris
,g under this act except as herein otherwise pro
ded and the jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
xerciaed in conformity with the laws and practice
overning United States courts and all crimes and
Fences committed against tho provisions OF this act
ay be prosecuted by the indictment of a grand
Try, or in cases of crimes and offences not infamous
10 prosecution may be either by indictment in
rm alton filed by the district attorney in court
Rving Jurisdiction.