The weekly clarion., 1871-11-23
Am Act 10 Enforce the Righa of
Citizens or fhe United states 90
Vote In 1he Several States OF
tine Union, aud for other


Purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House @
Representatives OF the United States q
America in Congress assembled, That al
Citizens OF United states who are or shall b
otherwise qualified by law to vote at an,
election by the people in any State, Terrific
W, District. county. city, parish, township
school district, municipality, or other terri
torial subdivision, shall be entitled an,
dlstlnction OF race, color, or previous con
dltion Of servitude, any constitution, Law
custom, usage. or regulation OF any State o
Territory, or by or under it's authority, {.
the contrary Notwithstanding
Sec. 2 And be iG further enacted, Tha
II Dy or under the authority OF the constitu
ton or laws of any State, or the laws of AM
Territory, any act is or shall be required t
be done as a prerequisite or qualification fo
voting, and by such constitution or laws
persons or officers are or shall be charged
with the performance OF duties in furnish
Ing to citizens an opportunity TO perform
such prerequisite, or TO become qualified q
vote, il shall be the duty of every such per
son and officer To give to all citizens of tbs
United STAGES the same and equal opportu-
nifty to perform such prerequisite, and t.
become qualified to vote without distinction
OF race, eOior, or previous condition ofseF-
vitude; and II any such person or officer
shall refuse or knowingly omit to give fol
effect TO this section, he shall. for every sucl
offence. forfeit and pay the sum of five hun
dred dollars to the person aggrieved there
by, to be recovered by an action on the case
with full costs and such allowance for coun-
sci fees as the court shall deem just. and
shall also, for every such offence, be deemed
Gailty of a misdemeanor, 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, or both. al the discretion ot the court.
Sec. 3. And be ii further enacted. That
by or under the authority of the
or laws of any state, or the
laws of any Territory, any act is or shall be
to (be) done by any citizen as a
prerequisite to qualify or enIitle him TO vote.
the offer of any such citizen TO perform the
act required 10 be done as aforesaid shall, j!
IL fail TO be carried into executions by reason
OF the wrongful act or omission aforesaid Or
the person or officer charged with the duty
of receiving or permitting such performance
Dr offer TO perform or acting thereon be
deemed and held AS performance in law OF
such act; aud the person so Offering and
falling as aforesaid, and teing otherwise
qualified, shall be emitted To vote in the same
nanuer and to the same extent As ii lIe lIaG
IN fact performed such act; aud any judge.
inspector, or other officer of election whOse
luty iU is or shall be to receive. count. certi-
", register, report, or give effect 10 .he vote
refuse or omit to receive. count, certify.
register, report, or give effect to the vote 4
such citizen upon the presentation by him
VI his alfidaviG stating such offer aud the
lime and place thereof, and the name of the
Dtficer or person whose duty it WAS to acr
hereOn. and that he was wrougfuily pre-
rented by such person or officer from per
orming such act. shall for every such
Dffence forfeit and pay the sum of five hut
lred dollars TO the person aggrieved thereby.
% be recovered by an action on the case.
With full costs and such allowance for coun
el fees as the court shall deem just, and
hall also for every such offence be guilty
If "A misdemeauOr, and shall, ON conviction
hereof, be fined not less than five hundred
lollars or be imprisoned not less than Ope
month and not more than one year, or both,
It the discretion of the court.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted. That
{ any person, By force, bribery, threats.
or other unlawful means. shall
hinder. delay, prevent. or obstruct, any Cit
zen from doing any act required 10 be done
O qualify him to vote, or from voting al
nv election as aforesaid, such person shall
or every such offence forfeit and pay the
um of five hundred dollars to the person
Iggrieved thereby. 10 be recovered by an
.ctiou on the case, with full costs anu such
.llowaIce for counsel fees as the court shall
ieem Just, and shall also for every such
,ffence be guilty of Il mtsdemeanor, and
ess than one month ans not more than one
ear, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Sec, 5. And be il further enacted. That
auy person shall prevent, hinder. control.
II intimidate, any person from exercising
he riS ht of suffrage, to whom the right OF
uffrage is secured or guranteed by the
ifteeisth amendment TO the Constitution ct
he United States. by means of bribery,
hreafs. or threats of depriving such person
4 smployment or oceupati0D,. or OF sjecLing
uch persOn from rented house, lands, or
ther property, or by threats of refusing TO
enew leases or contracts for labor, or by
hreats OF violence TO himself or family, such
,erson so offending shall be deeiped guilty
4 a misdemeanor. and staif, on conviction
hereof be fined not less than hye hundred
oIlars, or be imprisoned not less than one
north or more than one year, or both, at the
discretion OF the court
Sec g. And be it further enacted. That
two or more persons shall band or cen
pire together, or go in disguise upon the
ublie highway. or upon the premises OF
mother, with intent TO violate aoy provis-
on of this act, or to iBjure, oppress threaten.
r intimidate any citizen with Intent 10
revent or hinder his free exercise and
nioyment of any right or privilege granted
r secured to him by the Constitution or
avs of the United States. or because of his
aving exercised the same, such persons
hall 6e held guilty of felony, and on con
iCtlOn thereof, Sna1l De HueO OF IMPRISONED.
r both. &C the discretion of the court-the
ne not TO exceed five thousand dollars, and
he i'm Drtsonment not 10 exceed ten years
nd shall, moreover. be thereafter ineligible
>. and disabled from holding. any office or
lace OF honor, profit, or trust, created oy
he Constitution or laws of the United
tates.
Sec. z. And be it further enacted, That IL
! the act of violating any provision ia
ither of the two preceding sections, any
ther felony, crime, or misdemeanor Snail
e committed, the offender. on convictlon
such violation of said sections, shall De
unished for the same with such punish
,ents as are attached to the said felonies.
rimes. and misdemeanors by the laws OF
le State in which the offense may be
ommitted.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That
ne district coarts of the United states
Iirnin their respective districts. shall have,
of the courts of the several
tates, cognizancc of all crimes and offences
nm mftts,d againstthe provisions OF this act,
nd also. concurrently with the circuit
Durts of the United States, of all causes
IviI and criminal, arising under this act.
xcapt "a herein otherwise provided, and
1e Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
xercised in conformity with the laws and
ractice governing United States courts
nd all crimes and offences committed
wainst the provisions OF this act may be
by the Indictment oa grana
lry. or. In cases of crimes and offences not
lfam0us, the prosecution may DC etther oY
Allotment or information FED by the dis
-ict attorney in a court having jurisdiction
SEC. 8. Aud be it further enacted, That
,e district attorneys, alarshuis and deputy
larslfals of the United States. the commis-
oners appointed by the circuit md terri
,rial courts of the United states, WITH
overs of arrestiDg. impris0ning, or ball
"a offenders against the laws of the United
rates, and every other officer who may be
1eciaily empowered by the President or
,e United States, shall be, and they are
creby specially authorized aud Feqtarea at
n rx nense Of the United States, TO instt-
rte proceedings against all and every per-
IN Who shall Vi0lase the provisions OF rhis
4. and cause him or them to be arrested or
npris0ncd.> or bailed, as the case may oe,
n trial before such court OF the United
tates or territorial court IS has cognlzance