The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-04
The Civil RIGHTS Bill.

The Civil Rights Bill.
The following is a copy of the civil rights
bill as passed by both houses of Congress-:
Whereas Ills essential to just government, that
we recognize the equality of all men before the
law, and hold that it is the duty Of the govern
ment, in its dcnling withthe people, to metc
out equal and exact justice to all, of whatever
nationality, race color Or persuasion, religious
or POLITICAL; and it being the appropriate object
of legislation to- enact great principles into
law, therefore:
Be 1t enacted &c., That all persons within the
jurisdiction OF the Emitted States shall be emit
tied to the full and equal enjoyment of accom-
modatons facilities and privileges OF inns,
public conveyances on land or water, theatres
and other places Of public amusement, subject
only to the conditions and limitations establis-
ed by law, and applicable alike to citizens of
every race and color, regardless of any previ-
Gus condition Of servitude.
See. Q. That any person who shall violate
the foregoing section by denying to any citi-
zen, except for reasons by law applicable to
any citizen OF every race and color, and regard
less of any previous Condition of servitude, the
full enjoyment of any OF the Accommodations,
advantages, facilities prigileges in said section
enumerated, or BY aiding or melting such
denial, shall for every such offence forfeit and
pay the sum of five hundred dollars to the per-
som aggrieved thereby. to be recovered in an
action of debt, with ftfiF costs and shall also for
every such offence be deemed guilty Of INSIDE
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined not less than five hundred nor more
than one thousand dollars, or shall be imprison-
ed not less than thirty days Or more than one
year; provided that all persons may elect and
sue for the penalty Aforesaid OF to proceed UNI
der their rights at common law and State stat
utes; and having so elected to proceed in the
one mode or the Others their right to proceed
in the other jurisdiction shall be barred. But
this division shall not apply to criminal pro-
ceedngs either under this act or the criminal
law of any State. And provided further, that
a Judgment for the penalty in favor of the
party aggreved, or a judgment upon an ILL
dictment, shall be bar to- either prosecution;
respectively.
Sec. 8. That the District Court of the United
States shall have, exclusively ofthe courts OF
the several States. cognizance OF all crimes and
offences against the violations OF the provisions
Of this act; and actions for the penalty given
by the proceeding section may be presented
in the Territorial District or Circuit Courts of
the United State wherever the defendant may
be found, without regard to the other party.
And the District attorneys, marshals and
deputy lnarshals of the United States and
commissioners appointed by the Circuit and
Territorial Courts of the United States, with
power of arresting and imprisoning or bailing
offenders against the laws of the United States,
are hereby especially authorized and required
to institute proceedings against every person
who shall violate the proceedings OF this act,
and cause him to be arrested imprisoned or
baled as the case may be for trial before such
courts of the United States or Territorial courts
as by law has cUgnlzance of the otfense, except
in respect of the right of action accrulng to
the person aggrieyed; and such district attor-
neys shall cause such proceedings to be prose-
cuted to their termination as in other cases:
Provided, that nothing contained in this sec
ton shall be construed to deny or defeat any
right Of civi! action accruing to any person
whether by reason of this act or otherwise.
And any district attorney who shall Hlllfully
fail to institute the proceeding herein required
shall for every such offence forfeit the sum OF
five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved
thereby, to be recovered as an action of debt,
with full costs, and shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeancr, and be finednot less than $l.000nor
more than 5000. And provided further that
a Judgment for the penalty in favor of the
party aggrieved against amy such district at
torney, CT a Judgment upon an indictment
against any such district attorney shall be
bar to either prosecution, respectively.
See. 4. That no citizen possessing all other
Qualifications which are or may be prescribed by
law shall be disqualified for service as grand
or petit Juror in any court of the United
States, or OF any State, Oh account OF race color
or previous condition of seryitude, and any Off
Ger or other person charged will amy selection in
jurors Or shall exclude or fail to SLIM
mon any citizen for cause aforesaid shall; on con-
viction thereof be deemed guilty of misde-
meanor, and be fined not more than five tholis-
and dollars.
Sec. 5. That all cases arising under provis-
ion of this act ii. 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 pro-
visions and regnlationssas now provided by
law for the review Of the other causes in said
court. 81
the following vote:
Yeas--Messrs. Alcorn, Allison, Anthony,
Foreman, Boutwell,, Cameron, Clayton, Conk-
lin, Cono"er, Cragin, Eelmunds, Ferry of
Michigan, Flanagan, Frellnghuyscn, Harvey,
Howe, Ingalls,, Jones, Logan, Mitchell Morlil,
Of Vermont, Morton, Oglesby, Patterson.
Pease, Pratt, Ramsey, Robinson, Sargent,
West, Window and Wright-3s.
Cooper, Davis, Dennis, Ferry Of Connectic ut,
Goldthwait, Gordon, Hager, Hamilton of Ma
ryland. Han iltun Of Texas, Kelly, Lewis, Nc
Creepy. Merrimon, Norwood, Ransom, Sauls-
bury, schurz; SpYaguc, Stevenson, Stockton
and Tipton-2s.
The freshets In Tennessee have broken the
East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia railroad
in twenty-six places, and trains will be delay
ed on that route at least a week.