Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-05-05
THE KU-KLUX BILL.
The following is the Ku-Klux Bill
as finally agreed upon and passed by
both Houses Of Congress.
AN ACT

AN ACT
To enforce the provisions of the Four
teenth Amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and for
other purposes.
Section l. Be it enacted by the Sen
ate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That any person who
under color of any law, statute, OTdi-
nance, regulation, custom or usage of
any State, shall subject, or cause to be
subjected, any person within the iuris
diction of the United States to the
deprivation of any rights, privileges
or immunities secured by the COnSti-
tution of the United States, shall any
such law, statute, ordinance, regula-
tiOr, custom or usage of the State to
the contrary Notwithstanding. be liza
bic to the party injured in action at
law, suit in equity, or other proper
proceedings for redress; such proceed
ing to be prosecuted in the several
District or Circuit Courts of the Uni.
ted 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 act of the 9th of
April. 1856, entitled " An act to PRO-
tect all persons in the United States
To their civil rights, and 90 furnish the
means OF their vindication," and the
other remedial laws of the United
States which arc in their nature appli-
cable in such cases.
Sec. = That if two or more persons
within any State or Territory of the
United States shall conspire together
to overthrow, or to put down, or to
destroy 10y force the Government Of
the United States, or to levy war
against the United States, or oppose
by force the authority of the Govern
ment OF the United States, or by force,
intimidation, or threat, to prevent,
hinder. or delay the execution of any
law Of the United States, or by force
to seize, take or possess any property
OF the United States contrary 10 the
authority thereof, or by force, intimi-
dation, or threat TO prevent any per-
sor from accepting or holding any of
flee of trust or place of confidence un-
der the United States, or from dis
charging the duties thereof, or by force,
intimidation, or threat to induce any
officer of the United States to leave
any State, district or place where his
duties as such officer might lawfully
be performed, or to iniure him in his
u. arson or property on account of his
Ia wful discharge of the duties of his
offi ce. or to injure his person while en-
gagged i'm the lawful discharge of the
duties of his office, or so injure his
prope rtv, so as to molest, hinder, in
terfere with, or impede him i'll the dis
charge of his official duty ;Or by force,
intimidation or threat to deter any par
tv or witness of any Court of the Uni
ted States from attending such court,
or from testifying in any matter pend
ing in such Court, fully. freely and
truthfulIy. or to injure any such party
or witness in his person or properly
on account of his having so attended
or testi fed, to by force, Intimidation
or threat toinfiuence the verdict, pre-
sentiment or Indictment of any juror
or grand Juror in any court of the Uni
! ted States, or to ipjure such iulor in
| person or property on account of any
| verdict. presentment or indictment
! lawfully assented to by him, on ac-
/ count of his being or having been such
| Juror or shall conspire together TO 60
! in disguise upon the public highway
or upon the premises of another for
the purpose, either directly or Indirect
ly, of depriving amy person of any
| class of persons of the equal protection
of the laws, or of equal privileges OF
| immunities under the laws, or for the
purpose of preventing or hinderine
! the constituted authorities of any
state from giving or securing to all
| persons within such State the equal
| protection of the laws. or shall con
spire together for the purpose of, in
any manner impeding, findering, OBJ
structing or defeating the due course
of Justice, in any State or Territory
with intent To deny to any citizen oI
the United States the due and equal
| protection of the laws, or TO injure any
| person i'm his person or his property
for lawfully enforcing the right OF any
/ person or class of persons To the equal
| protection of the laws, or by force, in
! flmidation or threat TO prevent any
citizen of the ULi ited States, lawfully
| entitled to vote, from giving his sup
port or advocacy, i'm a lawful manner
/ toward or in favor of the election ol
any lawfully qualified person as an
elector for President or Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, or as mem
Ter OF the Congress of the United
! states, or to injure any such citizen in
h person or property, on account ol
such support or advocacy, each and