The Civil Rights Bill
The Civil Rights bill
declares that all persons born in the United States, and not subject to any foreign power,
excluding Indians not taxed, are citizens of the United States, and that such citizens, of
every race and color, "shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make
and enforce contracts, to sue, to be sued, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit,
purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property, and to be entitled to
full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property
as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishments, pains and
penalties, and to none other, any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the
contrary notwithstanding."The
bill then defines the method of protecting these rights, the details of which, if
imperfect, can readily be corrected. It leaves the adjustment of political privilege to
the States. It does not say that a citizen shall be a voter: it says only that he shall
have the equal rights of a man.
This law, which was passed by an imposing
vote in both Houses, 33 to 15 in the Senate, and 122 to 41 in the House, unquestionably
expresses the profound determination of the people of the United States. They conferred
freedom, and they have now defined what they mean by freedom. If a man can not own
property and exercise every right that springs from its possession he is not free. This
truth is fully recognized by Alexander H. Stephens, at whose instance, and against the
wishes of many leaders, the Georgia Legislature has passed a bill legalizing equal civil
rights to the freedmen. What Georgia has wisely done for itself the United States have
done for the whole country. In doing it Congress has secured one of the most legitimate
results of the war, and has laid the corner-stone of enduring peace and Union.
Articles Relating to Johnson's First Vetoes:
A Long Step
Forward
January 27, 1866, page 50
Congress
February 10, 1866, page 83
Education of the
Freedmen
February 10, 1866, page 83
The Veto Message
March 3, 1866, page 130
The Freedmens
Bureau
March 10, 1866, page 146
The Presidents Speech
March 10, 1866, page 147
The Political
Situation
April 14, 1866, page 226
The Civil Rights
Bill
April 14, 1866, page 226
The Civil Rights
Bill
April 21, 1866, page 243
The Congressional
Plan of Reorganization
May 12, 1866, page 290
The Trial of the
Government
May 26, 1866, page 322
Making Treason
Odious
June 2, 1866, page 338
The Final Report of
the Reconstruction Committee
June 23, 1866, page 387
The Report of the
Congressional Committee
June 23, 1866, page 386
The Case Stated
August 4, 1866, page 482
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