Middletown transcript., 1874-06-06
The Civil Rights Bill.

ocotou 1. nat all cltlZenS ana 0tnel
persons within the jurisdiction Of the Unit.
cd States shall be entitled to the full and
equal enjoyment of the accommodations
advantages, facilities and privileges oil
INNS public conveyances on land or water
theatres and other places Of public amuse-
ment, and also of common schools and
public institutions of learning or benevo-
lenee supported ia whole or in part by
general taxation, and of cemeteries so sup
ported and also the institutions known as
agricultural colleges endowed by the Unit
ed States, subject only to the conditions
and limitations established BY law, and
applicable alike to citizens of every race
and color, regardless of any previous con-
dition of servtude.
Section 2. That any person who shall
violate the aforegoing section, by denying
to any person entitled to its benefits, ex-
cept for reasons by law applicable to eiti-
zens OF every race and color, and regard
less OF any previous condition Of servitude,
the fall enjoyment of any of the accommo-
datlons, advantages, facilities, or privi-
ieges IN said section enumerated, or ipeit-
ing such denial, shall, for every such of.
tense, forfeit and pay the sum of $500 to
the person aggrieved thereby to be recov-
cred In an action on the case, with full
costs, and shall also for every such offense
bo deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and.
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
more than 81 900, or shall be imprisoned
not more than one year.
Provided that the party aggrieved shall
not recover more than one penalty. and
when the otfcnse is refusal of burial, the
penalty may be recovered by the heirs-at-
law OF the person whose body has been re-
fused burial. And provided, further, that
all persons may neglect to sue for the pen
atty aforesaid, or to proceed under their
rights at common law and State statues.
and having so elected to proceed in the
one mode or the other, their right to pro-
ceed IN the other jurisdiction shall be
barred. But this provision shall not ap
ply to criminal proceedings either under
the act, or the criminal law of any State.
Section 3. That the District and Circuit
Courts of the United States shall have. ex-
elusive of the Courts of the several States.
cognlzance Of all crimes and offenses a.
galnst the violations of the provisions of
this act, and actions for the penalty given
by the preceding section may be prosecut-
ed In the Territorial. District or Circuit
Courts of the United States, wherever the
defendant may be found, without regard
to the other party, and the District After
neys, Marshals, and Deputy Marshals of
the United States and Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Circuit and Territorial
Courts of the United States with powers
OF arresting and imprisoning and bailing
offenders against the laws of the United
States, are hereby specially authorized
ana required to institute proceedings
against every person who shall violate the |
provisions of this act, and cause him to
be arrested and imprisoned or bailed. as
the case may be, for trial before such
Court of the United States or Territorial
Court as by law has cognizance of the Of
Tense, except in respect of the right of ac-
ton accrulng to the person aggrievcd, and
such district attorneys shall cause such
proceedings to be prosecuted to their ter
mlnation as in other cases provided that
nothing contained in this section shall be
constructed to deny or defeat any right of
civil action accruing to any person, wheth-
er by reason of this act or otherwise.
Section 4. That no citizen possessing
all other qualifications which are or may
be prescribed by law, shall be disqualified
Tor service as grand or petit juror in any
Court of the United States, or of any
State, on account of race or color, or pre-
yious condition Of seryitude and any of.
hcer or ether person charged with any
duty in the selection or summoning of iu-
rors, who shall exclude or fail to summon
any citizen for the cause aforesaid, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
he fined not more than 81 600.
Section 5 That all cases arising un-
der the provisions 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.