The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-24
THE ENFoacRMENT ACT.
An Act to enforce the right of cisous Of the Unite
States to vote ia the several States OF this Union
and for other purposes.

-
An Act to enforce the right of clisous Of the Unite
States to vote ia the several States OF this Untor
aud for other purposes.
Ia IL enacted by the senate and House Of Repre-
sentatIges Of the United States Oh America IN Con
eress ascent led That all citizens OF the United
States who arc or shall pe otnerwise quanloe y ~"
Territory district, couuty, city, parish, township
school district Municipality, or other territorial sui
diyis on, shall be entitled and allowed 70 vote at oil
such elections without distinction at race, color OF
previous condition of servitude; any constitution
law, custom, usage, or regulation OF any state OF
Territory or by under its authority, 10 the con
trary Notwithstanding -
ssc p And be IL further enacted. That II by or
under the authority of the constitution or laws OF
any State or the laws Of any Territory any act Is or
shall be required to be done as
persons or officers are shall be charged with the
performance of duties in furnishing 10 citzens an
opportunity to perform such prerequisite, OF 70 De.
come oualifed to vote it shall be the duty OF every
such person and officer to give TO all cltizeas OF the
United States the ana equal opportunity TO per-
form such prerequisite ana TO become quanned 10
vote without distinction of race, color or previous
condition of servitude and If any such pefscn or
officer shall refuse knowingly omit to give full Ell
feet to this. section he shall for every such offence,
forfeit and pay the sum Of nVe s an
action on the case with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees tho court shall deem just ana
shall also for every such offence, De ueenen OF u
misdemeapor, and shall, on conviction thereof be
fined NOT LEES than five hundred dollars, or be i'm
prisoned not less than one month and not more than
one year, or both, at the discretion Of tho court
SEC g. And be IL further enacted. That whenever
by or under the authority of the constitution or laws
OF any State, the laws OF any Territory, any act
is or shall be required to be done by any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify or enitle him 70 vote the
offer of any citizen to perform the act required to
be done as 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 or permitting such performance or
offer to perform acting thereon, be deemed and
held as o performance in law of such act; and the
person 80 Offering and failing as aforesaid, ana pesg
other Wise qualified shall be entitled to vote In the
same manner and to the extent as il he had In
fact performed such act; and any Judge, inspector,
other officer of election whose duty IL ~ OF snail
be to receive count certify register report or give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who shall
wrongfuy refuse or omit to receive, count certiiy,
register report give effect to the vote OF such cit
izen upon the presentation by him Of his affidavit
stating such offer and place the eef and the name oil
the officer person whose duty 1t was to act there
on, and that he was wrongfuly prevented by
such person or officer from performing such act,
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
OF Ave hundred dollars to the person aggieved there
BY to be recovered by an action on the case, win
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as The
court shall deem Just and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof be fined not less than nve nun
dred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one
discretion of the court. - a.
sEc a. And be it further enacted That If
any psrson BY force bribery ,aroa s.,1 1nt h
der, delay. prevent, or oostruct. or shall
combine and confederate with Others to hinder,
delay, prevent or obstruct, any citizen from doing
any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting any election as aforesaid such person
sh all for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
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 such
offence be guilty of msdsmeanor, and shall, on con-
viction thereof be fined not less than five hundred
dollars, or be Imprisoned not less than one month
and not more than one year. OF both at the disete-
ton of the court.
SIG S. and be 1t further enacted, That II any per
son shall prevent hinder control, intimidate,
SD all attempt to prevent hind-r control or intmi-
date any person from exercising or in exercising tho
right of suffrage, to whom the right OF suffrage Is
to the Constitution OF the United States by means
of bribery, threats or threats OF deprving such per
son of employment or occupation or ofeJectlng such
person from rented house. lands or other property,
by threats of refusing to renew leases or contracts
for labor, or by threats of violence to himself or
family, such person so offending shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor and shall, on conviction
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 discretion OF
the court.
SEQ g. And be 1t further enacted, That the district
courts of the United States within their respective
districts shall have exclusively of the courts OF the
several States, cognizance of all crimes and offences
committed against the provisions of this act and
also. conourrenty with the circuit courts of the
United States of all causes civil and criminal arts.
ing under this act except as herein otherwise pro
vided and the jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
exercised In conformity with the laws and practice
governing United States courts and all crimes and
offences committed against the provisions of this act
may be prosecuted by the Indictment of grand
Jury or in of crimes and offences not infamous
the prosecution may be either by indictment or in.
form alton filed by the district attorney in court
having Jurisdiction