The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-06-12
Am Act
To Enforce the Right Of Citizens of the United
states to Vote in the Several States OF this
Union, and for other Purposes.


To Enforce the Right OF Citizens of the Unite
States to Vote in the Several States OF thiS
Union, and for other Purposes.
r Be it enacted by the SenGteG and House of Rep,
FeSent0t1geS Of the United States of Anee7 lea ia,
r Congress assembled, That all citizens of the
, United States who are or shall be 9th erwise
J qnallf1ed by law to vote at any election by the
people in any State, Territory, district, county.
city, parish. township, school district, munici
pality, brother territorial subdiy ision, shif,l be
entitled and allowed to vote at all such cleo tiens,
without distinction of race color or previous con
dltlon OF servitude; any CONSTITUTE on, law, Gus
tom, usage, or regulation Of any St ate or Terri
tory, or by or under Its authority, to the contrary
Notwithstanding. -
SEC. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That if by
or under the authority OF the Constitution or
laws or any state, or the laws of any Territory,
any act is or shall be required to be d one as Il
prerequisite or qualification for voting. and by
sTch Constitution or laws persons or officers are
or snail be charged with the performance of du-
ties In furnishing to citizens an opportunity to
perform such prerequisite, or to become uIali-
fled to vote. it shall be the duty of every such
person and officer to give to all citizens of tbc
United States the same and equal opportunity
to perform such prerequisite, and to become
quanfted to vote without distinction of race,
color, or previous condition Of servitude and If
any such person or officer shall refuse or know
lnSly omit to give full effect to this section, he
shall, for every such offense, forfeit and pay the
sum of five hundred dollars to the person az
grieved thereby, to be recovered by an action IN
the case, with full costs and such allowance for
counsel fees as the court shall deem just, and
S'SAt P"SH o4iCISt. Dt UGGUlbu
guilty OF a misdemeanOr, and shall, on conyir.
ton thereof, be fined not less than five hundred
dollars, or De imprisoned not less than one month
and not more than one year, or both, at the dis.
erection OF the court. -
SEC: 3. And be 1t further enacted, That when
ever, by or under the authority of the Constjtn.
ton or laws of any State, or the laws of am,
Territory, any act is or shall be required TO Ibe1
done by any citizen as a prerequisite to qualify
or entitle him to vote, the offer of any such riti-
zen to perform the act required to be done aa
aforesaid shall, if it fail to be carrieiinto execI.
tion by reason OF the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person or officer charged with
the duty OF receiving or permitting such perfor-
nance or offer to perform or acting thereon. he
deemed and acid as a performance in law OF
4 Sucn ACT; ana Inc person so offering and failing
as aforesaid, and being otherwise qualified, shall
be entitled to vote in the same manner and tn
the same extent as II he had i'll fact performed
such act; and any Judge, Inspector, or other
officer OF election whose duty it is or shall be tn
receive, count, certify, register, report, or give
effect to the vote of any such citizen, who shall
wrOngfully refuse or omit to receive, cOnnt narn
tify, register, report, or give effect to the vote
OF such citizen upon the presentation by him of
his affidavit stating such offer and the time and
place thereof, and the name of the oHicerOr ner.
son whose duty it was to act thereon, and that
he was Wrongfuliy prevented by such person or
officer from performing such act, shall for everIt
such otense, forfeit and pay the sum of five hun
dred dollars to the person aggrieved thereby, to
be recovered by an action on the case, with full
costs ana such allowance for counsel fees os the
court shall deem just, and shall e'so for every
such otfenSe be guilty of q misdemeanor and
sndll, on cohVlcuOn tnereof, be fined not less
than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned NOT
less than one month and not more than one wear.
or both, at the discretion of the court.
SEC. 4 ana oe =" further enacted, That if any
person, by force, bribery, threats, intimidation
or other unlawful means, shall hinder, DELAY
prevent, or %0bstruct, or shall combine and cnn',
IedGrate with 0thers to hinder, delay, prevent,
or ~0bstruct, any citizen from doing any act re-
CURED to be done to qualify him to vote or from
voting at any election as aforesaid, such person
shall for every such otfense forfeit and nav fbe
snm of five hundred dollars to the Dersnn ~
grieyed thereby, to be recovered by an actinn
on the case, with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees as the court shall deem iuat and
shall also for every such otfensc be guilty. of !
mlsdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof
pc fned not less than five hundred dollars, or be
more than one year, Or both, at the discretion
of the court.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted. That if .r,.
person shall! prevent, hinder, control. or intim{.
date, or shall attempt to prevent, hinder. cnn.
troll or intllmldate, any person from eyercisiTn
OF IN exercising the right of suffrage, to whom
the right OF suffrage is secured or guaranteed hp
the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution ~
the United States, by means of bribery. fhrnats
OF sareats OF aehI1vlng sach person of employ
from rented house, lands, or other pronertU W
by threats OF refusing to renew leases or con,
tracts for labor, or by threats of violence In h;n1-
self or family, such person so Offending shall he
deemed guilty of q miSdemeanor, and shall nn
thereof, be fined not less than Ave
hundred dollars, or be imprisoned NOT Less tban
one month and not more than one wear o,h nth
at the discretion of the court.
SEC. 6. And be 1t further enacted, That il two
or more persons shall band or conspire top,.+hnu"
or go IN disguise upon the public highUsgT e.
upon the premises of another, with infant fa
violate any provision OF this act, or to ininrc
threaten, orintimidate any eitizen gIulit1,
intent to prevent or hinder his free txerciaa an mi
enjoyment o. any right or privilege granted oT
secured 10 MN by the Constitution Or IaSTa If
the United States, or because of his havin%
erclsed the same, such persons shall M be1d
Suilty OF ieiony, ana ON conviction. thereof. shall
oe hnea OF imprisoned, or both, at the discretion
u Ine eourI-Cne me not to exceed five thnIIss
and dollars, and the Imprisonment NOT 10 40
eeed ten years--ands shall, moreover. be- tbora-
a afsaa L III 70; and disabled from holding any
once OF place OF honor, profit, or trust ereafaa
py the CONSTITUTION or laws OF the United SfafeS
SEC. 2. ana De 1t further enacted. That If ;s
the aet Oh elolatlag any provision in either Of
inc Two proceeding sections, any other felnny
or misdeIaeanor, shall be cOmmitssd ~
offender, on conviction of such Violation IF s aISS
s ss,ch MS s4al pe hanlshed for thp same with
such punishment as are attached to the ss;5
clones, crimes, and m~isdemeanoFs. by fhe laws
the state In which the otFense NAV hs corr
nitted. no oUn7
SEC. 8. And be ii further enacted. Tba+ A..
district Courts OF the United States. within thew
,espeotlve d%lstr1ets, shall have, exclnsivolv ~
ne courts OF the several States. cornizanc. ~ ~
Ill crimes and offenses committed soainat AT
OF this act, and also, eo1e,lrren1Io
Win tne Circuit Courts of the United States ~
causes, clVl and criminal, arising under This
vet, except as herein otherwise provided anSS
ne Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall he a@as
,iseu III conformity with the laws and practice
sogeralng ohlte0 states courts; and all cFimes
md o1enses committed against the nrc,y3sin1s
this aeI may ne prosecuted by b eindictment
q 2rand jury, Or, in cases of crimes ana go
NOT HITaniohs, the prosecution NAV IN. e;tbo,,
y LhaisbnienG or filed by the Dis-
Fi ~ AGeofney ID acourt having jurisdiction,
,i sfG, = 4na oe 1t furher esldcted, That the
mails OF the United States, the Con1inisslopera
EppoinIeu by the Circuit and Territorial CouTts
Lne United States, with powers of arresting
lnprlsoning or bafling offenders against the lave
= ny oaItea states, and every other officer who
L = ps speclally empowered by the President
the United States, shall be, and they are here
speclaly authorized and REQUIRED. MI fIe
Expense or tne United States, to institute :
,eedings against all and every person who shan
loiate Ine provisions OF this act, and cause him
the ease may be, for trial before sieb cnsrr
the United States or Territorial Cpilrf as haS
Sognizance or The OtfeDse. n with n view 10
moro reasonable protection to all persons IN
ne1r constitutional right TO vote. without dis
dncttOa OF Face, color or previous condition 81
and to the prompt discharge Of tbc
lutles OF this ACT, it shall no the duty Of the rdr-
nit Courts OF the United States, and the sntna-
iOf courts OF the Territories of the United sfafes
rom ttne To time, to increase the number III
oa!mlssIoners, SO as TO afford q speedy and CON
eIlent means for the arrest and examinafinn
4 persons. charged with a violation 81 this sct.
tnd such commissioners are hereby authorized
na required TO exercise and discharge an the
overs and duties conferred on them by this ACT.
tne same duties with regard to Ofgenses
reatco py TINS act as they are authorized by law
Q exercise with regard to other offeuses aGainst
ne law OF the United States.
SEC 10. And be 1T further enacted. THAT n
hal be lawful for the President Of the United
tates to employ such part of tho Land or nayoi
0TFpS Of 1hp ITmitpn 2fafaoA nv - 80