Year: 1866

The Senate of the United States last week
passed the Civil Rights Bill, over the Presi-
dents veto, by vote Of 80 to Is. On Mon
day last the House of Representatives took a
vote and passed it by the modest little ma
jority of l22 to Is, and adjourned amid
uproarious cheering. Following is tele
graphic synopsis of the bill:


The first section provides that all persons
born in the United States. and not subject to
any foreign power. excluding Indians not
taxed. are hereby declared to be citizens OF
the United States, without distinction OF
color but the inhabitants of every race and
color, without regard to any previous condi
ton of slavery or involuntary servitude ex-
cept as a punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall
have the same right to make and enforce
contracts. to sue. to be parties to suits. give
evidence. and to inherit. purchase. lease.
SELL hold and convey real and personal
property, and to have the full and equal
benefit of all laws and proceedings for the
security Of person and property. and shall be
subject to like punishment, pains, penalties,
and to none other, any law, statute, ordi
nance regulation OF custom to the contrary
Notwithstanding.


The second section declares that any person
who under color of any law, shall subject or
cause to be subjected any inhabitants Of any
State or Territory to deprivation of any right
secured or protected by this Act, or to differ
ent punishments, pains or penalties on ac-
count of such person having at any time been
held in a condition of slavery or involuntary
servitude except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly con-
victed. or by reason of his color or race, than
is prescribed for all other persons, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall
on conviction be punished by fine not exceed
ing 81 600, or imprisonment net exceeding
one year, or by both. at the discretion of the
Court.


The third section gives the United States
District Courts exclusive jurisdiction of
cases arising under the Act and also con-
currently with the United States Circuit
Courts of all cases civil or criminal affect
ing persons who are denied or cannot en-
force the rights secured by this Act in
judicial tribunals of the State and if any
suit or prosecution, civil or criminal, has
been or shall be commenced in any State
Court against any such persons for any
cause whatever against any officer civil or
military or other persons for any arrest or
imprisonment, trespasses or wrongs done or
committed by virtue or under authority de-
rived from this Act or the Act establishing
the bureau for the relief of freedmen and
refugees and all Acts amendatory thereof,
or for refusing to obey any Act upon the
ground that it would be inconsistent with
this Act. such defendant shall have the
right to remove such cause for trial to the
proper District or Circuit Court in the
manner prescribed by the Act relating to
habeas corpus and regulating judicial pro-
ceedings in certain cases.


United States Marshals, District Attor
neys and Agents of the Freedmen's Bureau,
are empowered to prosecute cases under
this bill. Severe penalties are provided for
all persons who may in any way hinder the
operations of il.


An additional section provides that on all
questions of law arising in any case under
this Act. final appeal shall be taken to the
Supreme Court of the United States !;
nothing in this Act, however, is to be so
construed as to effect the laws of any State
concerning suffrage.