The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-27

THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.

An Act to enforce the right of citizens of the Unite
States to vote In the several States of this Union
and for other purposes.
Be 1t enacted by the eenate and House of Repre-
sentatives Of the United States OF America in Con-
gress assembled, That all citizens of the United
States who are shall be otherwise qualified by law
to vote at any election by the people in any State
Territory, district county, city, parish, township,
division shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all
such elections without distinction of race COLOR or
previous condition of servitude; any constitution,
Territory or by or under Its authority TO the con-
trary notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That If by or
under the authority OF the constitution laws of
any State the laws of any Territory any act is or
shall be required to be done prerequisi or quail
ication for voting and by such constitution or laws
persons or officers are or shall be charged with the
performance of duties in furnishing to citizens an
opportunity to perform such prerequisite, to be-
come qualified to vote, it shall be the duty of every
such person and officer to give to all citizens of the
form such prerequisite, and to become Qualified to
vote without distinction of race, color or previous
condition of servitude; and if any such person or
omcer shall refuse or knowingly omit give full eff
forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person aggreved thereby to be recovered by an
action 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 deemed of
misdemeanor and shall, ON conviction thereof be
uneu not less imam nVo hundred dollars, or be i'm
prisoned not less than one month and not than
one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
SEC 3. And be it further enacted, That whenever,
by or under the authority Of the constitution laws
OF any State or the laws of any Territory, any act
is or shall be required to be done by any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify entitle him to VOTE the
offer Of any citizen to perform the act required to
be done aforesaid shall if it fail to be carried into
execution by reason of the wrongful act omission
aforesaid Of the person or officer charged with the
duty of receiving or permitting such performance
a(f or In narf0 mr. nett fharao ha avraI
held as performance in law of such act and the
person offering and failing aforesaid and being
otherwise qualified shall be entitled to vote in the
same manner and to the same extent as If he had in
fact performed such act; and any judge, inspector
or other officer of election whose duty It is shall
be to receive count certify register report give
wrongfuly refuse omit to receive, count, certify
register, report or 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 of
the officer person whose duty it to act there
on, and that he was wrongfully prevented by
such person or officer from performing such act,
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the
OF five hundred dollars to the person sggrieved there
by, to be recovered by action.on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees the
court shall deem just and shall also for every such
offence be guilty Of q 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
discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That if
any person, by force, bribery, threats, intimi-
daton, or other unlawful means, shall him
der, delay, prevent, or 0bstruct, 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
from voting at any election aforesaid such person
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the
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 the
court shall deem just and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of msdemeanor and SHALL ON con-
viotion thereof be fined not less than five hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than month
aad not more than one year. OF BOTH at the discre-
ton of the court. 1I
sEc 6. And be 1t further enacted That II any per.
shall prevent, hinder control or intimidate or
shall attempt to prevent hinder control or intimi-
date any person from exercising or in exercising the
right Of suffrage, to whom the right OF suffrage is
secured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment
to the Constitution OF the United States, by means
of bribery, threats threats of deprving such per-
son of employment or occupation, or ofejectng such
person from rented house, lands other property,
or by threats Of refusing to renew leases
for labor, or by threats Of violence to himself or
family, such person so offending shall be deemed
guilty of a 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
Sec s. And be IL further enacted That the district
courts Of the United States, within their respective
districts shall have exclusively of the Of the
several States, cognizance of all crimes and offences
committed against the provisions of this act and
also, concurrently with the circuit courts of the
United States, Of all causes civil and criminal aris
ing under this act except herein otherwise pro
vded 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.