Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-17
The Proposed Civil Rights Bill.


The following is the substitute for the Civil
Rights bill reported by Mr. Butler, Of Massa
chusctts, in the House CT Representatives, yes
terday and referred to the judiciary Commit
tee:
SECTION l. Thst All persons within the iris
dictiun vi the United States shall be emit: ed TO
the full and equal enjoyment of the acc mmo-
dations, advantages, facilities and privileges of
inns, public conyeyances on land or water, thea
tres and other places of public amusement, and
also OF common schools and public Institutions
OF learning or benevoence supported in whole
or in part by general tax ton, subject only to
the conditions and limitations established by
law and applicable alike to citizens of every
race and color, regard less of any previous con-
di.ion of servltude; provided that if any State,
| or the proper authorities Of any State having
the control Of common schools or other public
institutions of learning aforesaid shall establish
| and maintain separate schools and Institutions
| giving equal educational advantages in all re-
spects for different classes OF person. entitled To
attend such schools and institutions shsll be-
sufficient compliance with tn" provisions u
this section far rs they relate 10 schools sI'.
institutions OF learning.
| SEC. 2. That any person who shall violate the
| foregoing section by denying To any citizen ex-
cept for reason by law applicable TO citizens of
ere y race and color, and regardless of any pre-,
|
| of any OF the accommodations, advantages ia
clities or privileges in said section enumerated,
| or by aiding or inciLlng such d NAL, shall for
every offence forfeit and pay the sum Of 500 to
the person sggrieved thereby, to be recovered
in an action of debt with full costs, and shall
also for every such offence be dcelaed guilty OF
q misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined not less than S5UO nor more than
81 900, or shall he imprisoned not less than thr-
~ days nor mere than one year; provided, that
all persons may elect to sue for the penalty
| aforesaid, or to proceed under their rig hts al
| common law ana by State statutes and having
80 elected to proceed in the one mode or the
other their right to proceed in the other juris.
diction shall be barred but this proviso shall
not apply to criminal proceedings, either unrer
this act or the criminal law of any State; and
provided further, that q Judgment for the pen
atty in favor of the party sggrieved, or ajudg-
1nent upon an indictment, shall be u bar &c
either prosecution respectively.
SEC 3. That the District and Circuit Courts Of
the United States shall have, exclusively Of the
Courts Of the several States, cognzance of al
crimes and oficnses against, and violations of,
the D. DIVISIONS of this Act and actions for the
penalty given by the preceding section may lie
prosecuted in the Territorisl, District or Circui!
Courts of the United States wherever the de-
PENDANT may be found, without regard to the
other party; and the District Attorneys, Mar
sh lis and Deputy Marshals OF the United States,
| ana CQmInlsSlOQers appOlnLeu Ny the SlTCUil
and Territorial Courts of the United States,
with powers IF arrestirg and imprisonng or
bsiling offenders against the laws of the United
| States, are hereby specially authorized and re-
CURED to institute proceedings against every
person who shall violate the provisions OF this
| Act, and cause him to be arrested and imprson-
ed or bsiled, as the case NAY be, for trial be-
fore such Court of the United states or Terrific
| rial Court as by law mas cognlzance Of the Of
fence except in respect OF the right OF action &C
cruing to the person sggrleS ed; and such Dis
trict Attorneys shall cause such proceedings TO
| be cu.ed TO their termination as IN ether
cases; provided, that nothing contained in tits
section shall be construed to deny or defeat any
| right of civil action occurring to any person
whether by reason Of this act or otherwise; aid
any District Attorney VINO snail Wifuliy ssi u
| institute and prosecute the p. ocecdings herein
required shall, for every such offence, forfeit
and pay the sum Of FIVE hundred dollars 10 tire
person aggrieved thereby, to DE recovered ny an
| action of debt with full costs ard shall, on con-
viction thereof, be deemed guilty Of a miSda,
meanor, and be fined Tot less than one thousand
dollars nor more than five thousand dollars
and provided further, that q judgment for the
penalty in favor OF the party sggriered against
any such District Attorney, or judgment upon
an indictment against any such District Attor-
ney, shall be bar to either prosecution respec-
| lively.
| SEC. 4. That no citizen possessing other quail
! ifcations, which are or may be prescribed by
| law, shall be disqualified for service as gran>i or
petit Juror in any Court of the United States O.
of any State, on account of race, color, or pre-
vious condition of servitude; and any officer or
other person charged with any duty in the Sc
lection or SUNNI oning of jurors, who shall ex-
clude or fail to summon any citizen for the Cause
| aforesaid, shall on conviction thereof, be DEEM
| ed guilty of misdemesaor, and be fined not
more than 5000.
| SEC. s. That all cases arising under the pro-
! visions of this Act in the courts of the United
States shall be renewable by the Supreme Court
of the United States without regard to the sum
| in controversy, under the same provisions and
regulations as are now provided by law for the
| review of other causes in said Court.