classic argued april decided may rehearing denied robert jackson atty herbert wechsler washington appellant warren coleman new orleans appellees justice stone delivered opinion two counts indictment found federal district charged appellees commissioners elections conducting primary election louisiana law nominate candidate democratic party representative congress willfully altered falsely counted certified ballots voters cast primary election questions decision whether right qualified voters vote louisiana primary ballots counted right constitution within meaning criminal code whether acts appellees charged indictment violate sections september appellees indicted district eastern louisiana violations criminal code first count indictment alleged primary election held september purpose nominating candidate democratic party office representative congress second congressional district louisiana chosen election held november district nomination candidate democratic party always equivalent election appellees commissioners election selected accordance louisiana law conduct primary second precinct tenth ward new orleans five hundred citizens qualified voters charge based allegations appellees conspired others unknown injure oppress citizens free exercise enjoyment rights privileges secured constitution laws namely right qualified voters cast ballots primary election ballots counted cast candidate choice right candidates run office congressman votes favor nomination counted cast overt acts alleged appellees altered ballots cast one candidate fourteen cast another marking counting votes third candidate falsely certified number votes cast respective candidates chairman second congressional district committee second count repeating allegations fact already detailed charged appellees commissioners election willfully color law subjected registered voters pr mary inhabitants louisiana deprivation rights privileges immunities secured protected constitution laws namely right cast votes candidates choice votes counted cast charged deprivation effected willful failure refusal defendants count votes cast alteration ballots false certification number votes cast respective candidates manner already indicated district sustained demurrer counts ground criminal code indictment drawn apply state facts disclosed indictment applied facts without constitutional sanction citing gradwell newberry case comes direct appeal district provisions criminal appeals act judicial code authorize appeal decision judgment sustaining demurrer indictment decision judgment upon invalidity construction statute upon indictment founded upon appeal review confined questions statutory construction validity decided district patten birdsall borden hence pass upon various arguments advanced appellees sufficiency construction indictment section criminal code condemns criminal offense conspiracy injure citizen exercise right privilege secured constitution laws section makes penal offense anyone color law subjects causes subjected inhabitant state deprivation rights privileges immunities secured protected constitution laws government argues right qualified voter louisiana congressional primary election vote counted cast right secured article constitution conspiracy deprive citizen right violation also willful action appellees state officials falsely counting ballots primary election falsely certifying count deprived qualified voters right equal protection laws guaranteed fourteenth amendment violation criminal code article constitution commands house representatives shall composed members chosen every second year people several electors state shall qualifications requisite electors numerous branch state legislature article times places manner holding elections senators representatives shall prescribed state legislature thereof congress may time law make alter regulations except places chusing senators right secured constitution qualified voters choose members house representatives thus exercised conformity requirements state law subject restrictions prescribed authority conferred congress regulate times places manner holding elections representatives look statutes louisiana involved ascertain nature right constitutional mandate define confer voter effect upon exercise acts appellees charged view determining first whether right privilege one secured constitution second whether effect state statute appellee alleged acts operate injure oppress citizens exercise right within meaning deprive inhabitants state right within meaning finally whether respectively respects applicable alleged acts appellees pursuant authority given article constitution subject legislative power congress article pertinent provisions constitution given fact exercise wide discretion formulation system choice people representatives congress common many louisiana exercised discretion setting machinery effective choice party candidates representative congress primary elections laws eliminates seriously restricts candidacy general election defeated primary political parties defined cast least per cent total vote specified preceding elections required nominate candidates representative direct primary elections louisiana act regular session primary conducted state public expense act supra primary general election subject numerous statutory regulations time place manner conducting election including provisions insure ballots cast primary correctly counted results count correctly recorded certified secretary state whose duty place names successful candidates party official ballot secretary state prohibited placing official ballot name person candidate political party nominated accordance provisions act act one whose name appear primary ballot otherwise eligible become candidate general election may either two ways filing nomination papers requisite number signatures name ballot final election louisiana act regular session section act provides one participates primary election political party shall right participate primary election political party view nominating opposing candidates shall permitted sign nomination papers ny opposing candidate candidates shall permitted candidate opposition one nominated primary election took part section article viii constitution louisiana amended act provides person whose name authorized printed official ballot nominee political party independent candidate shall considered candidate unless shall file appropriate office least ten days general election statement containing correct name voted containing statement willing consents voted office article also provides commissioners election shall count ballot cast person whose name printed ballot become candidate foregoing manner applying provisions louisiana appeals parish orleans held serpas trebucq decided april rehearing denied opinion april unsuccessful candidate primary may offer candidate general election votes may lawfully written ballot counted election right vote representative congress general election matter law thus restricted successful party candidate primary candidates primary file nomination papers whose names may lawfully written ballot electors even appellees argue contrary decision serpas trebucq supra voters may lawfully write ballots cast general election name candidate rejected primary ballots counted practical operation primary law otherwise excluding ballot general election names candidates rejected primary impose serious restrictions upon choice candidates voters save voting primary election fact alleged indictment practical operation primary louisiana since primary election established secure election democratic primary nominee second congressional district louisiana interference right vote congressional primary second congressional district choice democratic candidate congress thus matter law fact interference effective choice voters stage election procedure choice significance since stage interference practical effect ultimate result choice congressman represent district primary louisiana integral part procedure popular choice congressman right qualified voters vote congressional primary louisiana ballots counted thus right participate choice come question whether right one secured constitution section article commands congressmen shall chosen people several electors qualifications prescribes right people choose whatever appropriate constitutional limitations respects defined mode exercise prescribed state action conformity cons itution right established guaranteed constitution hence one secured citizens inhabitants state entitled exercise right ex parte yarbrough cases mosley see hague giving interpretation like phrase constitution appearing civil rights act stat loose sense right vote representatives congress sometimes spoken right derived see minor happersett wall reese mcpherson blacker breedlove suttles statement true sense authorized constitution legislate subject provided art extent congress restricted state action exercise powers regulate elections general power article clause constitution make laws shall necessary proper carrying execution foregoing powers see ex parte siebold ex parte yarbrough supra swafford templeton wiley sinkler obviously included within right choose secured constitution right qualified voters within state cast ballots counted congressional elections consistently held right secured constitution ex parte yarbrough supra wiley sinkler supra swafford templeton supra mosley supra see ex parte siebold supra coy logan since constitutional command without restriction limitation right unlike guaranteed fourteenth fifteenth amendments secured action individuals well ex parte yarbrough supra logan supra concerned question whether right choose primary election candidate election representative embraced right choose representatives secured article may assume framers constitution adopting section specifically mind selection elimination candidates congress direct primary contemplated application commerce clause interstate telephone telegraph wireless communication concededly within determining whether provision constitution applies new subject matter little significance one framers familiar setting enduring framework government undertook carry indefinite future vicissitudes changing affairs men fundamental purposes instrument discloses hence read words read legislative codes subject continuous revision changing course events revelation great purposes intended achieved constitution continuing instrument government cf davidson new orleans brown walker robertson baldwin member constitution expounding rightly prefer possible meanings words defeat rather effectuate constitutional purpose free choice people representatives congress subject restrictions found article elsewhere constitution one great purposes constitutional scheme government doubted regard less constitutional purpose words less guarantying integrity choice state exercising privilege absence congressional action changes mode choice single step general election two first choice primary candidates second step representative congress chosen election say choice constitution protects restricted second step article means securing free choice representatives people authorized congress regulate manner elections without making mention primary elections think authority congress given includes authority regulate primary elections case step exercise people choice representatives congress point whether power conferred includes circumstances power regulate primary elections reserved gradwell supra newberry supra four justices opinion term article embrace primary election since procedure unknown framers fifth justice pronounced judgment opinion primary held law enacted adoption seventeenth amendment nomination candidates senator election within meaning article constitution presumably choice primary imposed legal restrictions election senators state legislatures election committed article remaining four justices opinion primary election choice candidates senator representative elections subject regulation congress within meaning article question prejudged decision decide turn words constitution read historical setting revealing purpose framers search admissible meanings words circumstances application effectuate purposes said dominant purpose far selection representatives congress concerned secure people right choose representatives designated electors say form election cf seventeenth amendment popular senators time immemorial election public office point substance less expression qualified electors choice candidates long adoption constitution form mode expression changed time time historical warrant supposing framers illusion method effecting choice electors never change change reason permitted defeat right people choose representatives congress constitution guaranteed right participate choice representatives congress includes said right cast ballot counted general el ction whether successful candidate state law made primary integral part procedure choice fact primary effectively controls choice right elector ballot counted primary likewise included right protected article right participation protected right vote election primary law made integral part election machinery whether voter exercises right party primary invariably sometimes never determines ultimate choice representative even apart circumstance louisiana primary made law integral part procedure choice right choose representative fact controlled primary alleged indictment choice candidates democratic primary determines choice elected representative moreover close eyes fact already mentioned practical influence choice candidates primary may great affect profoundly choice general election even though effective legal prohibition upon rejection election choice made primary may thus operate deprive voter constitutional right choice noted extensively commented upon concurring justices newberry supra unless constitutional protection integrity extends primary elections congress left powerless effect constitutional purpose popular choice representatives stripped constitutional protection save congress taking control state elections may exclude influence state primaries expedient end state autonomy respect elections constitution contemplated congress free leave undisturbed subject minimum regulation find necessary insure freedom integrity choice words especially constitution read stultifying narrowness words article read sense plainly permissible light constitutional purpose require us hold primary election involves necessary step choice candidates election representatives congress circumstances case controls choice election within meaning constitutional provision subject congressional regulation manner holding article authorize congress regulate manner holding elections article clause congress given authority make laws shall necessary proper carrying execution foregoing powers powers vested constitution government department officer thereof provision leaves congress choice means constitutional powers carried execution end legitimate let within scope constitution means appropriate plainly adapted end prohibited consist letter spirit constitution constitutional mcculloch maryland wheat principle consistently adhered liberally applied extends congressional power appropriate legislation safeguard right choice people representatives congress secured article ex parte yarbrough supra cf second employers liability cases mondou new york houston texas ry wilson new et first national bank union trust company selective draft cases ferger et hamilton kentucky distilleries jacob ruppert caffey smith kansas city title trust darby decided february cases cited remains question whether exercise congressional authority applicable acts appellees charged indictment section makes crime conspire citizen free exercise right privilege secured ex parte yarbrough supra mosley supra seen held right vote congressional election right secured constitution conspiracy prevent citizen voting prevent official count ballot cast conspiracy injure oppress citizen free exercise right secured constitution within meaning reaching conclusion found uncertainty ambiguity statutory language obviously devised protect citizen free exercise right privilege secured constitution concerned question whether right participate choosing tive secured function conspiracy prevent official count citizen ballot held mosley supra violation case congressional election equally conspiracy injure oppress citizen ballots cast primary election prerequisite choice party candidates congressional election cases right infringed one secured constitution injury suffered citizen exercise right injury statute describes applies one case suggestion concededly applicable conspiracies deprive electors votes congressional elections sufficiently specific deemed applicable primary elections hardly bear examination section speaks neither elections primaries unambiguous language protects right privilege secured constitution phrase seen extends right voter vote counted general election primary election latter part election machinery well numerous constitutional rights wholly unrelated choice representative congress waddell logan quarles motes guinn face broad language statute pointed principle statutory construction significant legislative history thought sanction saying statute applies less primaries elections one constitutional right infringed avail attempt distinguish protection afforded civil rights act right participate primary well general elections secured citizens constitution see guinn nixon herndon nixon condon lane wilson ground cases injured citizens negroes whose rights clearly protected fourteenth amendment least since ex parte yarbrough supra member seems ever questioned right participate choice representatives congress recognized right protected art constitution differences opinion arisen effect primary particular cases choice representatives troubled doubt hence right participate primary choice representatives right clearly secured within words purpose manner extent right vote general election mosley supra extension criminal statute civil statute nixon herndon supra find violation new method interference right words protect constitutional right regardless method interference subject statute precise terms protects injury oppression hardly performance judicial function construe statute terms protects right secured constitution right choose representative congress applying election whose function ratify choice already made primary application primary effective means choice withdraw scope statute effective interference constitutional right choice wholly different situations us may found involve interference cf bathgate gradwell say acts plainly within statute deemed without hypothetical cases may later found infringe constitutional right alone statute concerned right secured constitution may infringed corrupt failure include vote primary official count significant primary like voting machine unknown adopted abuse either may infringe right therefore violate see pleva cf browder fact circumstances present may difficulty determining whether primary affects right choice bring within constitutional protection afford ground doubting construction application statute constitutional question resolved difficulty inherent judicial administration every federal criminal statute none whatever terms applied beyond reach congressional power constitution confers standard sanitary mfg hoke nash freeman darby decided february right voters primary votes counted stated right privilege secured constitution also gives protection alleged acts appellees committed course performance duties unde louisiana statute requiring count ballots record result count certify result election misuse power possessed virtue state law made possible wrongdoer clothed authority state law action taken color state law ex parte virginia home telephone telegraph los angeles et hague cf acts appellees infringed constitutional right deprived voters benefit within meaning unless terms application restricted deprivations account inhabitant alien reason color race last clause protects inhabitants state subjected different punishments pains penalties reason alienage color race prescribed punishment citizens qualification respect alienage color race refers differences punishment deprivations rights privileges secured constitution evidenced structure section necessities practical application provisions qualification alienage color race parenthetical phrase clause penalizing different punishments prescribed citizens common use language refer subject matter clause earlier one relating deprivation rights makes reference terms moreover prohibited differences punishment account alienage color race referable prescribed punishments compared prescribed citizens standard thus set applicable differences prescribed punishments account alienage color race cult impossible apply willful deprivations constitutional rights privileges order determine whether account alienage color race think authorizes punishment two different offenses one willfully subjecting inhabitant deprivation rights secured constitution willfully subjecting inhabitant different punishments account color race prescribed punishment citizens meager legislative history section supports conclusion interpreted applies deprivation constitutional rights qualified voters choose representatives congress generality section made applicable deprivations constitutional right obscure meaning impair force within scope application restricted terms deprivations willfully inflicted acting color law statute like discuss application deprivations right equal protection laws guaranteed fourteenth amendment point apparently raised discussed first time government brief point specially considered decided assigned error government since indictment face purport charge deprivation equal protection voters candidates called upon construe indictment order raise question statutory validity construction alone authorized review upon appeal reversed chief justice took part consideration decision case justice douglas dissenting free honest elections foundation republican form government hence attempt defile sanctity ballot viewed equanimity stated justice miller ex parte yarbrough cases temptations control elections violence corruption constant source danger history republics acts charged proven kind carries threat highly offensive since corrupt process congressional elections transcend mere local concern extend contaminating influence national domain think congress ample power deal say disagree newberry extent holds congress power control primary elections art constitution provides house representatives shall composed members chosen every second year people several art provides times places manner holding elections senators representatives shall prescribed state legislature thereof congress may time law make alter regulations except places chusing senators art clause gives congress power make laws shall necessary proper carrying execution foregoing powers powers vested constitution government department officer thereof sections arsenal power ample protect congressional elections forms pollution fact particular form pollution indirect effect final election immaterial fact occurs primary election nominating convention likewise irrelevant important consideration constitution interpreted broadly give representatives free people abundant power deal exigencies electoral process means constitution read give congress expansive implied power place beyond pale acts direct indirect effect impair integrity congressional elections corruption enters election longer free choice people affected hold congress powerless control primaries indeed narrow construction constitution inconsistent view instrument government designed contemporary needs vicissitudes time agree views expressed opinion diffidence dissent result reached disagreement centers meaning criminal code protects every right secured constitution right vote final congressional election right one vote counted election held protected ex parte yarbrough supra mosley yet think principles cases properly extended primary elections sustain indictment must extend enter perilous territory enter perilous territory stated gradwell common law offense legislative authority union must first make act crime affix punishment declare shall jurisdiction offence hudson cranch person convicted crime offense must clearly plainly embraced within statute stated chief justice marshall wiltberger wheat guide construing penal statute safely take one thing allow wide generous scope express implied powers congress distinctly another read vague general language act congress specifications crimes ever mindful man punished case must plainly unmistakably within statute lacher admonition reemphasized fact imposes fine ten years prison also makes convicted office place honor profit trust created constitution laws enough us find vague penumbra statute offense congress legislated particularize crime highly offensive cf james bowman civil liberties dear permit conviction crimes implied spelled adding inference inference sec purport exercise congress power regulate primaries merely penalizes conspiracies injure oppress threaten intimidate citizen free exercise enjoyment right privilege secured constitution laws thus refer us purpose determining whether right vote primary secured hence must find constitution power congress afford protection must find protection face constitution say must view wording read relevant provisions constitution purposes case window criminal statute put one side cases state election officials deprive negro citizens right vote general election guinn primary nixon herndon nixon condon discrimination basis race color plainly outlawed fourteenth amendment since constitutional mandate plain reason applicable situation quite different turn constitutional provisions relevant case find unambiguous mandate art specifies machinery whereby times places manner holding elections shall established controlled art provides representatives shall people purposes criminal law contrasted interpretation constitution source implied power congress hink provisions absence specific legislation congress protect primary election nominating convention protect right vote right one vote counted final election held yarbrough mosley cases certainly per se extend acts indirect incidental effect restrain restrict interfere choice bribery voters general election certainly interference freedom choice corruptive influence impact election process intimate direct acts charged indictment congress ample power deal bathgate unanimous vote held conspiracies bribe voters general election covered conclusion case may reconciled results yarbrough mosley cases ground right vote general election personal bribery voters indirectly affects personal right distinction aid failure count votes cast primary token indirect effect voting general election terms causal effect tampering primary vote may important outcome general election bribery voters general election certainly viewpoint individual voter much dilution vote one case light mosley bathgate cases test whether acts question constitute interference effective choice voters whether voters deprived votes general election test comports standards construction criminal law since restricts protection rights plainly directly guaranteed constitution test entails inquiry indirect incidental effect general election acts done view generality words employed test incompatible criteria appropriate criminal case mosley case view went verge held relevant constitutional provisions made crime fail count votes cast general election congress intended effect none clear dissenting opinion justice lamar case points originally part enforcement act may stat another section act repealed act february stat crime charged mosley case punishable fine less imprisonment months carried still penalty ten years prison committee report sess recommended repeal sections clearly indicated intent remove hand federal government elections restore conduct policing report stated every trace reconstruction measures wiped statute books let great union understand elections hands fraud coercion force used first feel responding universal sentiment throughout country greater purity elections many enacted laws protect voter purify ballot guidance state officers worked efficiently satisfactorily beneficently federal statutes repealed sentiment receive impetus cause still exists carry enactments every state union view broad comprehensive program repeal easy conclude general language repealed continued effect much repealed also upped penalties certain offenses explicitly covered one repealed sections justice holmes writing majority mosley case found legislative historical setting revised form congressional interpretation taken face value thought afford voters final congressional elections general protection view tenable one since originally part act regulating general elections since acts charged direct rather indirect effect right vote general election stated unanimous gradwell supra page page mosley case far short making conduct state nominating primary indeed justice holmes author mosley opinion joined justice mcreynolds newberry case view congress authority art constitution legislate primaries part act may certainly never contended embraced primaries hardly known time true criminal statute embraces everything subsequently falls within scope browder yet attempt bring offenses conduct primary elections nominating caucuses conventions rejected gradwell case said absence legislation congress subject primaries courts attempt supply stretching old statutes new uses adapted intended section criminal code relied upon originally enacted protection civil rights lately enfranchised negro extended make agency enforcing state primary law pages page fact primaries hardly known enacted fact part legislative program governing general elections primary elections fact nowise implemented legislation directed primaries give credence unanimous view gradwell case mere passage time taken new broadened meaning least seems plain difficulties applying historical reason adduced justice holmes mosley case bring general elections within great case primaries left safety zone interpretation criminal statutes sustain indictment one thing say mosley case congress legislating respects general elections passed fact qu te another thing say congress leaving unmolested seventy years legislated unwittingly primaries sec never part act congress directed towards primaries original frame reference therefore unlike mosley case said still covers primaries integral part primary legislation furthermore fact congress legislated sparingly infrequent intervals even subject general elections gradwell supra make us hesitate conclude mere inaction congress taken greater step entered field primaries gone announced legislative program indicated acts charged constitute crimes louisiana statute absence specific congressional action assume congress left control primaries nominating conventions assumption plainly line committee report quoted recommending repeal portions enforcement act may place details elections state hands ground inference subsequent legislative history congress departed policy superimposing primary penal law primary penal laws rather congress fairly consistent recognizing state autonomy field elections sure occasionally legislated primaries even dealing specifically nominating process never made acts kind question crime connection noted bill became hatch act stat et et contained section made unlawful person intimidate threaten coerce attempt intimidate threaten coerce person purpose interfering right person vote vote may choose causing person vote vote candidate nomination party candidate various federal offices including representatives primary nominating convention held solely part purpose stricken senate pt section extended protection primary nominating convention hatch extends general election senate however refused yet holds protected primary vote along covers conspiracies precise thing congress refused legislate hesitation part congress years enter primary field refusal restricted scope primary laws passed ample evidence legislating takes initiative extending primaries adhere strict construction given unanimous bathgate supra page page said criminal code course meaning first enacted considering policy congress interfere elections within state except clear specific provisions together rule respecting construction criminal statutes think intended apply conspiracies bribe voters leads conclusion relevant constitutional provisions read exclude acts direct effect depriving voters right vote general elections view received tacit recognition congress history legislation governing federal elections shows occasional acts subject primarily directed towards supplying detailed regulations designed protect individual constitutional right vote pollution corruption laws latest hatch act ample recognition congress specific legislation necessary order protect electoral process wide variety acts indirect incidental effect interfere voter freedom choice corrupt electoral process evidence detailed regulations essential order reach acts directly interfere voting privilege inconsistent notions opinion constitution unaided definite supplementary legislation protects methods party candidates nominated lacks requisite specificity necessary inclusion acts interfere nomination party candidates reemphasized test employed opinion stresses indictment winner democratic primary louisiana invariably carries general election also emphasized candidate defeated louisiana primaries candidate general election hence argued interference right vote primary matter law fact interference effective choice voters stage election procedure choice significance louisiana integral part procedure popular choice representatives means gradwell case apparently distinguished think valid distinction purposes case one indictments gradwell case charged defendants conspired procure one thousand unqualified persons vote west virginia primary nomination senator unanimous vote affirmed judgment sustained demurrer indictment specifically reserved question whether shall treated election within meaning constitution went say even assuming certain unusual features particular primary precluded holding case noted candidates certain parties excluded primary even candidates defeated primary certain conditions nominated general election therefore concluded whatever power congress might control primaries done gradwell case survive think therefore rather curious situation primaries winner invariably carries general election protected constitution even though primaries law integral part election process primaries successful candidate never wins seldom wins may win general election protected unless perchance state law makes primaries integral part election process congress broad control primaries might conceivably draw distinctions penal code us draw quite another matter must go outside statute examine local law local customs basis legal practical importance particular primary interpret vague language light significance acts done result make refined nice distinctions congress certainly made create unevenness application among various make existence crime depend plain meaning words employed interpreted light legislative history statute result research local law local practices unless congress explicitly made crime dependent facts undertake procedure comport strict standards essential interpretation criminal law necessity resorting circuitous route sufficient evidence performing legislative function finding definition crime sustain indictment crime matter offensive spelled vague inferences justice black justice murphy join dissent footnotes ballots printed public expense act regular session furnished secretary state form prescribed statute close supervision delivery ballots election commissioners prescribed polling places required equipped secure secrecy selection election commissioners prescribed duties detailed commissioners must swear conduct election impartially subject punishment deliberately falsifying returns destroying lists ballots must identify certificate ballot boxes used keep triplicate list voters publicly canvass return certify secretary state discussion practical effect primary controlling restricting election candidates general elections see hasbrouck party government house representatives merriam overacker primary elections stoney suffrage south survey graphic congress recognized effect primaries free exercise right choose representatives inquired frauds primaries well general elections judging returns qualifications members art see grace whaley rept sess peddy mayfield sess wilson vare cong res sess see also investigation campaign expenditures campaign et seq section criminal code title sec two persons conspire injure oppress threaten intimidate citizen free exercise enjoyment right privilege secured constitution laws exercised two persons go disguise highway premises another intent prevent hinder free exercise enjoyment right privilege secured shall fined imprisoned ten years shall moreover thereafter ineligible office place honor profit trust created constitution laws mar stat mosley thought words broad enough cover case canvassed length objections never intended apply crimes franchise contention also rejected repealed restricted apply offenses class unnecessary repeat discussion section reads person color statute ordinance ulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress see guinn affirmed gradwell aczel felix karem walker luteran conclusion drawn failure hatch act stat et et enlarge provisions specifically applicable primaries failure deal subject seems attributable constitutional doubts stimulated newberry resolved see cf investigation campaign expenditures campaign section criminal code title sec color law statute ordinance regulation custom willfully subjects causes subjected inhabitant state territory district deprivation rights privileges immunities secured protected constitution laws different punishments pains penalties account inhabitant alien reason color race prescribed punishment citizens shall find imprisoned one year mar stat precursor civil rights act april stat reads person color law statute ordinance regulation custom shall subject cause subjected inhabitant state territory deprivation right secured protected act different punishment pains penalties account person time held condition slavery involuntary servitude except punishment crime whereof party shall duly convicted reason color race prescribed punishment white persons shall deemed guilty misdemeanor conviction shall punished fine section far material substance except qualifying reference differences punishment made mention alienage reference punishment account person time held condition slavery involuntary servitude senator trumbull putative author civil rights bill chairman senate judiciary committee reported bill explaining stated bill protect persons civil rights furnishes means vindication also declared bill applies white men well black men opponents bill agreed construction first clause section declaring referred deprivation constitutional rights inhabitants every race color pp february senator stewart nevada introduced read person color law statute ordinance regulation custom shall subject cause subjected inhabitant state territory deprivation rights secured protected act different punishment pains penalties account person alien reason color race prescribed punishment white persons shall deemed guilty misdemeanor explaining bill declared cong globe purpose bill extend benefits aliens saying extends operation civil rights bill well known senate country persons within jurisdiction committee reported substitute bill added amendment amended bill adopted became present criminal code read exactly civil rights act except word added word substituted phrase persons legislative history indicates immediate occasion adoption like fourteenth amendment adequate protection colored race civil rights shows neither restricted purpose first clause intended protect constitutional rights inhabitants later amended senate include bill passed criminal code originally entitled bill enforce right citizens vote several union hitherto denied right account race color previous condition servitude bill came senate title amended adopted read bill enforce right citizens vote several union purposes also refers statutes directly point sec person unlawful means hinders delays prevents obstructs combines confederates others hinder delay prevent obstruct citizen act required done qualify vote voting election shall fined less five hundred dollars imprisoned less one month one year punished fine imprisonment sec provided election representative delegate congress person knowingly receives vote person entitled vote refuses receive vote person entitled vote shall punished fine five hundred dollars imprisonment three years merriam overacker primary elections chs sait american parties elections ch brooks political parties electoral problems ch act june stat amended act august stat et seq act october stat shall unlawful person intimidate threaten coerce attempt intimidate threaten coerce person purpose interfering right person vote vote may choose causing person vote vote candidate office president vice president presidential elector member senate member house representatives election held solely part purpose selecting president vice president presidential elector member senate member house representatives delegates commissioners territories insular possessions sec hatch act however make unlawful certain acts administrative employees even connection nominations certain federal offices see stat ch cong sess power congress employees officers government see wurzbach see example act may stat act july stat act stat act june stat act august stat et seq act august stat act october stat federal corrupt practices act stat et seq hatch act august stat et seq