Middletown transcript., 1875-02-13
The Civil Rights Bill as it Passed
the House Of Representatives.

#
WASHINGTON. February 5.-The fol-
lowing is copy Of the civil rights bill
3 as it finally passed the House Of Repre-
d sentatives:
i Whereas it is essential to Just gov
f ernmcnt. we recognize the equality of
all men before the law, and hold that
it is the duty Of the government, in its
dealings with the people. to mete out
q equal and exact justice to all. of what
: ever nationality, race. color or persua-
. sion, religious or political; and it. be-
: ing the appropriate object Of legislation
: to enact great principles into law, there
9 fore
8 Be 1t enacted. de-, That all persons
e within the jurisdiction of the United
States shall be entitled to the full and
equal enjoyment Of the accommodations.
advantages, facilities and privileges of
inns. public conveyances on land or
: water. theatres and other places of pub
lie amusenents, subject only to the
conditions and limitations established
by law, and applicable alike to citizuns
of every race and color, regardless Of
any previous condition Of servitude.
Sec. 2. That any person who shall
violate the foregoing section by derry
ing to any citizen, except for reasons
by law applicable to citizens of every
race and color, and regardless Of any
previous condition of servitude, the
full enjoyment of any Of the accommo-
dations, advantages, facilities or priv
ileges 10 said section enumerated, or
by aiding or melting such denial, shall,
for every. such offense, forfeit and pny
the sum Of five hundred dollars to the
person aggrieved thereby. to be recov-
cred in an action Of debt, with fall |
costs; and shall also. for every sush
offense. be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor. and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined not less than five hun
dred nor more than one thousand dol
lars. or shall be imprisoned not less
than thirty days nor more than one
year: Provided that all persons may
elect to sue for the penalty aforesaid or
to proceed under their rights at COM
mon law and by State statutes; 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 proviso shall not ap-
ply to criminal proceedings either un-
der this act or the criminal law of any
State. And provided further, that a
judgment for the penalty in favor of the
party aggrieved, or judgment upon
an indictment. shall be bar to 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, cognizance Of all crimes and Of
fenses against any violations Of the pro-
visions of this act; and actions for the
penalty given by the preceding section
may be prosecuted in the Territorial, !
District or Circuit Courts of the United (
States wherever the defendant may be '
found, without regard to the other S
party. And the district attorneys,
marshals and deputy marshals of the
United States. and commissioners ap-
pointed by the Circuit and Territorial
Courts Of the United States. with pow
ers Of arresting and imprisoning or !,
bailing offenders against the laws Of the
United States, are hereby specially au-
thorized and required to institute pro-
ceedings against every person who shall !
violate the provisions Of this act. and {
cause him to be arrested and imprison- i
ed or bailed, as the case may be, for :
trial before such courts of the United I
States or Territorial Courts as by law :
has cognizance of the offense, except in
respect Of the right of action accruing
to the person aggrieved; and such dis I
trict attorneys shall cause such pro- i
ceedings to be presented to their termi- \
nation as in other cases: Provided, t
that nothing contained in this section t
shall be construed to deny or defeat a
any right Of civil action accruing to
any person, whether by reason of this
act or otherwise. And any district at
torney who shall willfully fail to insti-
tute and prosecute the proceedings here = =
in required shall. for every such Of
fense, forfeit and pay the sum Of five !,
hundred dollars to the person aggrieved =
thereby, to be recovered by an action of
debt, with full costs, and shall. on con- {,
viction thereof. be deemed guilty of a q
misdemeanor, and be fined not less
than 81, 900 nor more than five thous-
and dollars. And provided further, \
That judgment for the penalty in ia a
vor Of the party aggrieved against any d
such district attorney, or a judgment h
upon an indictment against any such :.
district attorney, shall be bar to eth \
er prosecution, respectively. Il
Sec. 4. That no citizen possessing
all other qualifications which are or
may be prescribed by law shall be dis t,
qualified for service as grand or petit c
juror in any court of the United States, Y
or Of any State, on account of race, a
color or previous condition of servitude; Il
and any officer or other person charged b
with any duty in the selection or sum- t
moning Of jurors who shall exclude or Il
fail to summon any citizen for the cause i,
aforesaid shall, on conviction thereof,
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and be fined not more than five thous- ii
and dollars. 8
Sec 5. That all eases arising under t
the provisions Of this act in the courts {
of the United States shall be review b
by the Supreme Court Of the United d
States, without regard to the sum in a
controversy. under the same provisions s
and regulations as are now provided by {
law for the review Of other causes in "
said court a
For the Transcript. q
That Raging Ship Canal.