The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-10-31
IMPORTANT ORDINANCES.

dindnces are ar force ana TOR 0fAer f17fr-s
poses:
WHEREAS, Doubts may arise from the late
attempt of the State Of North Carolina to seeede
from the United States, whether any, and what
laws have been and are now in force, and what
acts done by officers and individuals are valid
and obligatory: Now, for the purpose OF pre-
venting such doubts about these and other mat
tiers hereinafter mentioned: BE it ordained by
the delegates Of the people of the State of North
Carolina. in Convention assembled, and it is
hereby declared and ordained as follows:
3 l. All the laws of the State, exceps1as hegez
matter is exec paed Which on the twrutieth day
OF May, eighteen hundred aud sixty-one, were
CONF atible with the allegiance of the citizens OF
the State to the government of the United
States, aud not since repealed or modified; and
all the laws aud ordinances passed since that
day, except hereinafter excepted, compati
bic With such allegiance, and not since repealed
or modified, and which are consistent with the
Constitution of the State and the United States,
are hereby declared to have been at all times
! since their enactment, and now to be in full
/ force, in like manner, and to the same extent,
and not otherwise as if the State had not that
! day, nor at any time since attempted to secQde
from the government of the United States, and
as if no question had been made of the lawful
authority of the Convention assembled on that
day, of any General Assembly assembled
stHce that day to enact such laws and ordinan-
ces; and all other of said ordinances and laws
are hereby declared to have been and to be null
and void: Provided, however, That nothing
herein contained shall be SO construed as to pre-
vent the General Assembly from repeating or
modifying any Of said laws and ordinances here
| by ratified, which shall not form part Of the
Constitution Of the State
2 All the judicial proceedings had or which
may be had in the Courts Of Record aud before
Justices of the Peace, shall be deemed and held
valid In like manner and to the same extent,
and not otherwise as if The State had not on the
said day, or since, attempted to secede from the
United States
g. ALI contracts executory and executed, of
every nature and kind, made on since the
twentieth day of May, eighteen hundred and
sixty-one, and all marriages solemnized on or
since that day, under any authority purporting
| to be the law Of the State shall be deemed to be
valid aud binding between the parties 10 like
manner aud nut otherwise as if the State had
not on the said day. or afterwards, attempted to
secede from the United States; and it shall be
the duty Of the General Assembly to provide a
scale of depreciation Of Confederate currency
from the time Of its first issue to the end of the
war; and executory contracts, solvabie in money,
whether under seal or not, made after the de-
probation of said currency before the first day
of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-fve, and
yet untitled, Except official bonds and penal
bonds payable to the State) shall be deemed to
have been made with the understanding that
they were solvable in money Of the value of the
said currency; it shall be competent for either
of the parties to show, by paroI or other relev-
ant testimony, what the understanding was in
regard to the kind of currency in which the
same arc solvabe; and in such case, the true
understanding shall regulate the value of the
contract; Provided, That in case the plaintiff
| in any suit upon such contracts will make an
! affidavit that it was @olvable in other currency
than that above referred to, then such presump-
tiou shall cease, and it shall be presumed to be
payable in such currency as shall be mentioned
in the affidavit, subject to explanation by evil
dence as aforesaid.
| f. All the acts and dorgs of the civil officers
of the State since the twentieth day of May,
eighteen hundred and sixty -one done or which
may be done under, and in virtue of any author
ity purporting to be law of the State which
is consistent With its allegiance to the United
States, and with the Constitution Of the State,
shall be deemed valid, and Of the same force
and effect as if the State had not on that day or
since attempted to secede from the United
! States. -s...
| 5 No person WHO may have been in the civil
or military Service of the State or Of the Con-
federate Statcs shall lie held liable for any act
! done, which may be done in the proper dis
charge Of the duties imposed on him by any au-
thoriy purporting to be law of the State or
Confederate States Government; but such per-
| son shall be exempt from all personal liability
/ therefor, in like manner as if such act had been
done under lawful authority; Provided, never
| theless, That nothing herein contained shall be
so construed to bar any citizen of the State
, FROM the civil action for the recovery of dam
ages or from indictment on account Of any i'm
proper or illegal execution of the law or author
ity imposing such duties: Provided, That 40
order issued without authority Of what purport-
ed to be a law o. the State or Confederate States
shall be any protectiod to illegal acts done there
| under.
6. Ali the acts aud deeds of the Provisional
Governor Of the State appointed by the Presi-
dent Of the United States, and likes Use all the
acts OF any officer agent by him appointed or
under his authority, done which may be done
in pursuance of the authority conferred on such
officer, agent, are hereby ratified and declared
to be valid to all intents aud purposes Proyi-
DIED. nevertheless, That SO far as it may be COM
petent for this Convention to declare the same,
all appointments made, and all officers and
| places created by under the authority of the
Provisional Governor shall cease at the close of
the first session Of the next General Assembly,
or at such other time as that Assembly shall
direct successors in such appointments or Off
GERS to DC chosen to be qualified, ubject,
| however, to the provisions of the ReyisdG Code,
chapter seventy-seven, section three; Provided,
! however, That in all cases of appoint made
/ by bin of directors in any corporation they