The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-24
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.

An Act to enforce the right of citizens of the Unite
States vote in the several States OF this Union
and for other purposes. ~
10 n anacted bv the senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes of the United States OF America in Con
gress assembled, That all citizens OF the United
States who or shall be otherwise qnalihed oy law
to vote at any election by the people In any State
Territory, district, count, city, parish township,
school district Municipality other territorial sub
division, shall be entitled ana allowed to vote at all
sucb elections without distinction Of race, ooor or
preyous condition of servituie any constitution,
law custom, usage, or regulation of any State or
Territory by OF under its authority, to the con-
trary notwithstanding
SEQ. 2. And be it further enacted, That II by or
under the authority of the constitution or laws OF
any State the laws of Territory any acts or
shall be requiI cd to be done qus or quail
cation for voting, and by such constitution or laws
persons officers or shall be charged with the
of duties in furnishing to citizens an
opportupity to perform such prerequisite or to be-
come qualified to vote, it shall be the duty OF every
such person and officer to give to all citizens OF the
United States the and equal opportunity to per-
form such prerequisites and to become qualified to
vote without distinction of race color, or previous
condition of ssrvitude; and if any such person or
officer shall refuse or knowingly omitto give in ell
feet this section, he shall for every such offence
forfeit and pay the of five hundred dollars to
the person aggrieved thereby to be recovered by an
action on the case with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees as the court shall deem just, ana
shall also, for every such offence, be deemed OF
misdemeauor, and SHALL ON conviction thereof be
fined not less than five hundred dollars, or be i'm
prsoned not less than one month and not more than
one year, both, at the discretion Of the court.
by or under the authority of the constitution or laws
of any State the laws of any Territory, any act
is shall be required to be done BY any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify entite him to vote, the
offer of any citizen perform the act required to
be done aforesaid shall If it fail to be carried into
execution by of the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person or officer charged with the
duty Of receiving permitting such performances or
offer to perform actiag thereon, be deemed and
| held performance in law OF such act; and the
frsls ~nfA md
otherwise qualified, shall be entitled to vote in the
| same manner and to the same extentas 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 or give
| effect to the vote of any such citizen who shall
wrongfuly refuse or 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 thereof and the name Of
the officer or person whose duty It was TO act there
| such person or officer from performing such act
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
OF five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved there
by, to be recovered by an action on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem just, and shall also for every such
| offence be guilty of msdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof be fined not less than five hun
dred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one
month and not more than one year, or both at the
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted That II
any person, by force, bribery, threats, intimi-
| dation, other unlawful means, shall hin.
combine and confederate with others to hinder,
| delay prevent obstruct, any citizen from doing
any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting at any election aforesaid such person
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
of FIVE hundred dollars to the person aggreved there
by to be recovered by an action on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem just and shall also for every sucl
offence be guilty of msdemeanor, and SHALL on con
victon thereof, be fined not less than FIVE hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one month
and not more than one year, or both, at the dscre
| ton of the court.
SEC. s. And be it further enacted That II any per
shall prevent, hinder control, or intimdate or
shall attempt to prevent, hinder, control or intmi
date any person from exercising in exercising the
right of suffrage, to whom the right of suffrage Ii
to the Constitution of the United States by mean
of bribery, threats threats Of depving such per
of employment or occupation, ofejecting suct
person from rented house, lands, other property
by threats of refusing to leases contract
for labor, or by threats Of violence to himself o.
family, such person SO offending shall be deemet
| guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction
thereof be fined not less than five hundred dollars
or be Imprisoned not less THAI month and no
more than one year, both, at the discretion o
| the court.
SEQ 8. And be 1t further enacted, That the dstric
courts of the United States, within their respeotiv
districts shall have exclusively Of the courts If tn
several States, cognizance of all crimes and offence
| committed against the provisions of this act an
also, concurrentiy with the circuit courts of tn
United States, of all causes, civil and criminal ART
ing under this act except as herein otherwise pre-
vded and the jurisdiction hereby conferred shall
exercised in conformity with the laws and practic
governing United States courts and all crimes an
offences committed against the provisions of this &C
may be prosecuted by the indictment of gran
jury, in of crimes and offences not infamou
the prosecution may be either by Indictment or il
form alton filed by the district attorney in coul
having jurisdiction.