Year: 1866

remain,


Yours very respectfully, a-.
e. WHITTLESEY
! Assistant Commissioner.


The Civil Rights Bill q S 1T Passed Both Houses o


Congress and Repassed over the Presidents Veto


SECTION That all persons born in the United States
and 6 ce s3enpg e Indians Ind
States and such citizens Of every and color without
regard to any previous condition OF slavery or
party shall have been duly convicted shall have the


e I b be- psr an


dence, to Inherit purchase, lease sell hold and convey
of ali laws and for the security of person and
property enjoyed by white ctzens and shall be
noEe other any Iaw Statute ordinance regulation oI
custom to the contrary notwithstanding.


2 And that ANY who una color Of


ec to be subjected nhabitan of any State
protected by this ac to punishment pains and penal


ties Oh account OF such person having at any time been
except the punishment Of crime whereof party
shall have been duly convicted, by the of his
white persons, shall be deemed guilty of msdemea or
and conviction shall be punished by fine exceed
one year. or both in the discretion Of the court


Sec That the district courts OF the United Stat0s
within their respective districts shall have exclusively
the courts of the several States cognzance of all
and offences committed against the provisions of this ac
and also concurrently with the circuit courts of the Uni
ted States of all causes, civil and criminal affecting per-
who denied cannot enforce the courts u
dicia tribunal of the State locality where they
of the rights secured to them by the first section
this act and any suit o. prosecution, civil criminal
has been shall be commenced in State Court against
such person for any whatsoever civil crim
na or any other person, any arrest or imprisonment,
trespasses or wrong done or committed by value under
color of authority derived from this act the act estab


fishing bureau for the relief OF freedmen and refugees
and ali acts amendatory thereof for refusing to do
act upon the ground that would be inconsistent with
such for trial to the proper district circuit court
in the prescribed by the act relating to hdbeas
approved March 1863 and all amendatory thereof
The jurisdiction i'll civil and criminal matters hereby
ferred the district and circuit courts of the United
States shall be exercised and enforced conformity with
the laws of the United States far such laws suit
such laws not adopted to the object deficient in
the provisions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and


ed and changed by the constitution and statues of the
State wherein the court having jurisdiction of the cause
ssent with the constitution and laws of the United States
shall be extended and govern the said courts in the trial
in the inicon of punishment the party found guilty.


Sec f. That the district attorneys marshas and depu
pointed by the circuit and territorial courts of the United
States, with powers of arrestng, imprsoning baing
GERS and agents of the Freedmens Bureau and every
other officer who may be specially empowered by the
hreby specially authorized and required at the expense
of the United States to inst ue proceedings against all
act and him them to be arrested and imprisoned
baied the be- for trial before such of the





nzanee of the offence; and with view to atfordng
sonabe protection to all persons in their constitutional
rights of equality before the law, without distinction Of
color previous condition of slavery invoun
tary servitud except punishment for crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted and the prompt
discharge of the duties of this act it shall be the duty of
the circuit courts Of the United States and the superior
courts of the Territories of the United States from time
time to increase the number of commissioners, to
afford speedy % meahs % Tor the arrest est and


SEC S. That said commissioners shall have concurrent


6ioti0 with diStr
of the United States and the judges of the superior
courts OF the seEefsy and collectively IN term m
warrants and precepts for arrestng and bringing
act and on examination discharge admit to ball.
NIT them for trial. as the facts may warrant.


and required to and discharge all the and
duties with regard offences created by this they
against the laws Of the United States That it shall be
the duty of all marshas and deputy mahals to obey and
visions this when to them directed and should any
marshal deputy marshal refuse to receive such war
diligently to execute the same he shall on convc
ton thereof be fined in the of thousand dollars,
to have Committed the and the better to enable
said commissioners to execute their duties faithfully and
conformity with the constitution Of the Uni
ted States the requirements of this act they here
by authorized and empowered within their counties
or more suitable persons from time time execute
in the lawful performance of their respective duties and
the person appointed to execute any warrant
Aforesaid shall have authority TO summon and call to
county such portion Of the land naval forces Of the
the performance the duty with which they charged
and faithful observance of the clause of the
constitution which prohibits slavery in oonformntX with
and executed by said officers anywhere in the State
Territory within which they are ssaed.


SEC 7. That any person who shall knowingly and
wrongully obstuct hinder prevent officer other
persons charged with the execution of any warrant
person persons lawfully assisting him or them from
arresting person for whose apprehension such
process may have been ssued shall rescue
attempt to rescue such person from the custody of the
officer other person persons those lawfully assist
ing as aforesaid when arrested pursuant to the
thorty herein given and declared shall aid, abet
any person arrested aforesaid directly
directly to escape the custody the officer other
persons legally authorized, aforesaid shall harbor
or conceal any person for whom warrant or process
and arrest after notice knowledge of the
warrant has been issued for the apprehension OF
to fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and mpris-
ment not exceeding six months by Indictment 6eore the
District Court OF the Ued states 1or me Dstct Isl IN
the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, committed
within any of the organized Territories Of the United


g. That the district attorneys the marshas their epu
ties and the clerks of the said district and territorial COURTS
shall paid their services the like fees be all
lowed to them for similar services other and in al
where the proceedings before commissioner he
vices each case inclusive of all services incident to such
ARE and examination The person or persons author
lied to execute the to be issued by such commits
sioner or the arrest OF offenders against the PROVISIONS
of this ac shall be entitled to fee OF five dollars for each
person he they may arrest and take before any such
be deemed reasonable by such commissioner for such
other additional services may be necessarily performed
by him or them-such attending at the examination
Keeping prisoner in custody and providing food and
lodgings during his detention and until the final detern
nation of such commissioner, and in general for perform
ing such other duties may be required In the prem
such fees be made up in conformity with the fees
snaly charged by the officers fthe Of justice within