Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-02-13
The Civil Rights lsilI.

o. ".AA 90 ~ hhdiiy paosCu thS AouSc
OF Representatives
Whereas it is essential to just govern
ment, we recognize the equality of all
men before the law, and hold that it Is
the duty Of the government, in its deal
lngs with the people, to meet out equal
and exact justice to all, Of whatever ma
tionality, race, color or persuasion, relig-
lous or political; and it being the appro-
pirate object Of legislation to enact great
principles into law, therefore
Be it enacted, &C., That all persons
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 wa
ter, theatres and other places of public
amusement, subject only to the condi-
tons and limitations established by law,
and applicable alike to citizens of every
race and color, regardless of any previous
condition of servitude.
Sec. 2. That anv person who shall vio-
| late the foregoing section by denying to
any citizen, except for reasons by law APP
! plicable to citizens Of every race and col
or, and regardless of any previous condi-
! ton of servitude, the full enjoyment of
| any of the accommodations, advantages.
| facilities or privileges in said section en-
umerated or by aiding or melting such
denial, shall, for every such offence, for
felt and pay the sum of five hundred dol
lars to the person aggrieved thereby, to
be recovered in an action Of debt, with
! full costs and shall also, for every such
! offense be deemed guilty 6f niisdemea-
nor, and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined not less than five hundred nor more
| than one thousand dollars, or shall be i'm
prisoned 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 common law and by States statutes;
and having so elected to proceed in the
one mode or the other, their right to pro-
coed 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
provided further, that judgment for the
penalty in favor of the party aggrieved,
or 4 judgment upon an indictment, shall
be bar to either prosecution, respec-
lively.
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
fences against and 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 party.
And the district attorneys, marshals and
deputy marshals of the United States,
and commissioners appointed by the Cir
cult 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
specially authorized and required to in
sttute proceedings against every person
who shall violate the provisions OF this
act. and cause him to be arrested and i'm
prsoned 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 offence except in res
pect Of the right of action accruing to
the person aggrieved; and such district
attorneys shall cause such proceedings to
be prosecuted to their termination as i'll
other cases : Provided that nothing con-
tanned in this section shall be construed
to deny or defeat any right of civi; action
accruinG to any person, whether by rea-
son of this act or otherwise. And any
district attorney who shall wilfully fail
to institute and prosecute the proceed
in@s herein required shall, for every such
offence, forfeit and pay the sum of five
hundred dollars to the person aggrieved
thereby, to he recovered by an action of
debt, with full costs, and shall, on con-
viction thereof, be deemed guilty OF a
misdemeanOr, and be fined not less than
one thousand dollars nor more than five
thousand dollars. And provided further,
That judgment for the penalty in favor
of the party aggrieved against any such
district attorney, or 4 judgment upon an
Indictment against any such district at
torney, shall be bar to either prosccu-
ton, respectively.
Sec. 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 or pre-
vious condition Of servitude; and any Of
ficer or other persons charged with any
duty in the selection or summoning of
Jurors who shall exclude or fail to sum-
mon any citizen for the cause aforesaid
shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed
guilty of n1isdemeanor, and be fined
not more than five thousand dollars.
See. ). That all cases arising under 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 regula-
lions as are now provided by law for the
review of other causes i'll said court.
On Saturday night, an amateur vigi-
lance committee called at the residence