Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-03
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

The United States Senate Saturday passed the
civil rights bill in the form in which it from
the House. The following is the full text Of the
bill
Whereas, ii is 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 dealings with the people, to unite ini
equal and exact justice to ALL Of whatever nation
atty, race, color or persuasion, religious or po-
ltical and it being the appropriate object of leg
islation to enact these great principles INTO law,
therefore
Be it enacted, etc., that all persons within the
jurisdiction of the United States shall be entitled
to full and equal enjoyment of the accommodation,
advantages, facilities and privileges Of inns, pub
lie 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 regardless Of any previous condition of SER
vitude.
Sec. 2. That any person who shall violate the
foregoing section by denying TO any citizen, ex-
cept by reasons by law applicable to citizens of
every iace and color, and regardless of any previ
GUS condition of servltude, full enjoyment of any
fthe accommodations, advantages, facilities or
privileges in the said section enumerated or by
aiding or melting such denial, for every such Of
Tense forfeit pay the sum Of $500 to the person
aggrieved thereby, to be recovered in an action of
debt with full costs, and shall also, for every such
offence, be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and up
on conviction thereof, be fined not less than $500
nor more than $1,000, or shall be imprisoned not
less than than thirty days or more than one year;
provided that all persons may elect to sue for the
penalty aforesaid proceed under their rights at
common law, and by State statutes, and, having
elected to proceed in the one mode or the other,
their right to proceed in the other jurisdiction
shall be barred, but this provso shall not admit to
apply to criminal proceedings either under this
act or the criminal law of any States and, provid-
ed, further that judgment for penalty in favor
of party aggrieved or q Judgment upon an in
dictment shall be bar either prosecution re-
spectively.
Sec. 3. That District and Circuit Courts of the
United States shall have, exclusive of the coarts
of the several States, cognizance of all crimes and
offences against and violations of the provisions of
this act, and actions for the penalty given by the
preceding sections, may be prosecuted in the
Territorial, District Circuit Courts Of the Unit
ed States wherever the defendants may be found
with regard to the other party, and the District
Attorney, Marshals and Deputy Marshals of the
United States, with powers of arresting, imprssn-
ing or baiing as the case may be, for tria! be-
fore such court of the nited States or Territorial
Court as, by law has cognizance of the offence,
except in respect Of the right of action ACQUIRING to
the persons sggrieved, and such proceedings to be
prosecuted to their termination as in other cases;
provided that nothing contained in this section
shall be constructed to deny or defeat any right of
civil action ACQUIRING to any person, whether by
reason OF this act or otherwise. Any District At
torney who shall wilfully refuse to institute or
proceedings herein required shall for every such
offence forfeit and pay sum of $500 to the per-
aggreved thereby, to be recovered by an action
Of debt with full costs, and shall, on conviction
thereof, be deemed guilty of msdemeanor, and
be fined not less than 500 nor more than $500;
and provided, further, that judgment for penalty
in favor of party aggrieved against any such Dis
trict Attorney, or judgment npon an indictment
against any such District Attorney, shall be bar
to either prosecution, respectively.
Sec. 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, on account of race, color previous
condition of servitude, and any officer or other
person charged with any duty in summonng of
Jurors who shall exclude or fail to summon any
citizen for the cause aforesaid shall. conviction
thereof, be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and be
fined 5000
Sec. 5. That all cases arising under the provis-
ions 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 contro
versy, under the same provisions and regulations
as are now provided by law for the review of 9TH
or causes in said court