Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-11
Mlistellaneuns &eading,
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

The following is copy of the civil rights
bill as it passed both houses Of Congress
Whereas it is essential to just government,
we recognize the equality of all men before
the law, and hold that it is the outy of the
government, in its dealings with the people, to
mete out equal and exact justice to all, of
whatever nationality, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political and it being the
appropriate object of legislation to enact great
principles into law, therefore,
Be 1t enacted, That all persons within the
Jurisdiction of the United States shall be en-
titled 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 public
amusement, subject only to the conditions and
limitations established by law, and applicable
alike to citizens of every race and color, re-
gardless of any previous condition of servi'
tude.
Sec. 2. That any person who shall violate
the foregoing section by denying to any citi-
zen, except for reasons by law applicable to
citizens of every race and color, and regard
less of any previous condition of servitude,
the full enjoyment of any of the aecommoda-
tions, advantages, facilities or privileges in
said section enumerated, or by aiding or Incl
ting such denial, shall, for any such offense,
forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dol
lars to the person aggrieved thereby, to be re-
covered in an action of debt, with full costs +;
and shall also for every such ofense be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined not less than five hun
dred nor more than one thousand dollars, or
shall be imprisoned not less than thirty days
nor more than one year; propided, that all per-
sons may elect to sue for the penalty aforesaid,
or to proceed under their rights at common law
and by State statutes and having so elected
to proceed in the one mode or the other, their
right to proceed in the other jurisdiction shall
be barred. But this proviso shall not apply
to criminal proceedings either under this act
or the criminal law of any State And pro-
vided, further, that judgment for the penal
ty in favor of the party aggrieved, or judg-
ment 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 oFenses against and viola
tions of the provisions of this act and actions
for the penalties given by the preceding Sec
ton may be prosecuted in the Territorial,
District or Circuit Courts of the United States
wherever the defendant may be found, with
out regard to the other party. And the dis
trict attorneys, 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 or bailing offenders against
the laws of the United States, are hereby spe-
cially authorized and required to institute
proceedings against every person who shall
violate provisions of this act, and cause him
to be arrested and imprisoned or bailed as
the case may be, for trial before such courts
Of the United 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 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