National Republican., 1883-12-05
CIVIL RIGHTS.

The Constitutional Privileges OF Colored
Citizens TO he Guaranteed Beyond Dis
putc.
Senator Edmunds introduced bill in the
senate yesterday to provide for the further
protection of colored citizens Of the United
States against violations Of certain rights So
cured to them by tho constitution" IL begins
with preamble stating that doubt has arisen
whether the laws of the United States now
in force are in all respects adequate to the
protection of citizens of any race, color, or
previous condition Of servtude.
The bill provides that whenever, in any
case now pending, or which may hereafter bo
pending, in any court of any state, an issue
shall oxist or be made, or any material ques-
ton shall arise, concerningsany civil right of
person or right Of property which shall be
assailed or maintained, or assailed or denied,
in any such issue or question, ON the ground
that such issue or question depends upon or
is affected by race or color or previous con-
dition of servitude, any person or per-
sons concerned in and party
to such issue or question, tho
person or persons against whom such
issue or question shall be made, asserted, or
maintained, or against whom any such denial
shall be made on the ground aforesaid, shall
be thereupon entitled to remove such cause
to the circuit court Of the United States for
tho district within the territorial limits of
which such case shall be pending, for pro-
ceedings trial, and Judgment, in tho manner
and with like proceedings, as near as may be,
as are provided by section $3.50 of the revised
statutes.
When q ruling or decision, interlocutory or
other, shall be made adversely to tho civil
right or claim of any person on the ground of
his race, color, or previous condition of
| servitude, or the race or color or previous
| condition nf aaruituda nf ut,t
or juror in such cause tho person
being party to said cause against
whom such ruling or decision shall
be made is thereupon entitled to remove such
cause to the circuit court of the United
| States
Whenever the decision or Judgment of the
state court with which such case shall be
pending shall proceed upon or be- affected by
any matter or ground of the race or color or
previous condition of servitude of'any person
| being q party to or witness or juror
in such case, and the decision of
such court shall bo adverse to
| such person by reason of his race or color, or
previous condition of servitude, the person
being party to such cause against whom any
| such decision shall be made shall be entitled
to roviow of such decision by the supreme
court of the United States, upon his writ of
error to bo sued out and prosecuted in the
same mdnner, Us is now provided by law for
writs of error to the highest court of any
state; and in every such case such writ
of error may be sued out and prose-
cuted as of right, and without
giving any new bail or other security,
unless a justice of the supreme court of the
United States allowing such writ of error, or
said court itself. shall bo of opinion that the
public interest or safety requires it,
No law, usage, or custom and no practice,
decision, or rule of any department of the
government of any state which may now OF
hereafter exist which shall in any manner
property upon the grounds of race, color, OF
previous condition of servitude shall be
deemed valid.