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The Civil Rights Act of
March 1, 1875
The following civil rights
legislation passed in 1875 was later declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court, and represents the last Congressional effort to
protect the civil rights of African-Americans for more than half a
century.
Whereas it is essential to just
government we recognize the equality of all men before the law,
and hold that it is the duty of government in its dealings with
the people to mete out equal and exact justice to all, of whatever
nativity, race, color, or persuasion, religious or political; and
it being the appropriate object of legislation to enact great
fundamental principles into law: Therefore,
Be it enacted, 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
water, theaters, 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 servitude.
SEC. 2. That any person who
shall violate the foregoing section by denying to any citizen,
except for reasons by law applicable to citizens of every race and
color, and regardless of any previous condition of servitude, the
full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages,
facilities, or privileges in said section enumerated, or by aiding
or inciting such denial, shall, for every such offense, forfeit
and _ ýïthe sum of five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved
thereby, . . . and shall also, for every such offense, be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand
dollars, or shall be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more
than one year . . .
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
offenses against, and violations of, the provisions of this act .
. .
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, or previous condition of servitude; and any officer
or other person charged with any duty in the selection or
summoning of jurors who shall exclude or fail to summon any
citizen for the cause aforesaid shall, on conviction thereof, be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined not more than five
thousand dollars.
SEC. 5. That all cases arising
under the provisions of this act ... shall be renewable by the
Supreme Court of the United States, without regard to the sum in
controversy ...
Source: US Statutes at
Large, Vol. XVIII, p. 335 ff. * * * *
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updated 23 July 2008
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