Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-20
rha General Amnesty BIN.

This bill having passed the Legislature
of North Carolina, and having been rati-
fed by that body, we are enabled to lay
the same before our readers as q law of the
State. We suppose it will be complied
with by our courts, unless Mr.. Holden and
his tribe of disunionists can induce an Or
der from Gen. Sickles, or some one else, to
suppress its operations.
The bill is as follows:
An ACT granting general amnesty and pardon to
all officers and soldiers of the State of North
Carolina, or of the late Confederate States ar
mics or of the United States for offences COM
rnitted against the criminal laws OF the State OF
North Carolina.
SECTION l. Be ii enacted by the General
Assena5Ey Of The State Of North Carolina. and
Il IS Hereby enacted by tie dUtbo7rtg Of tie
same, That no person who may have been
IN the civil or military service of the
State as officers Or soldiers OF the Militia,
officers or soldiers of the Home Guard, of
iicers and soldiers of the Local Police, Off
GERS or soldiers of the late Confederate
States, or as officers and soldiers Of the Uni
ted States, shall be held to answer on any
Indictment, for any act done in the dis
charge of any duties imposed on him pur
porting to be by a law Of the State or late
Confederate States Government, or by viz
tIs of any order eminating from any officer,
commissioned Or nOn-COmmissionedo of the
Militia or Home Guard, or Local Police,
Ui North Carolina, or any officer. commits
stoned or non commissioned of the late
Confederate States Government, or any of
Iicer, commissioned or non-commis3ioned
OF the United States Government. That
uOOne of the above named officers rprivates
who now are, or may hereafter be indicted
Tor any homOcides, felOnieS, or misdemean-
orS committed prior to the LIST day of Jan
uary. \. ID. 1866, shall be held TO answer
iOr the same, but shall be emit
tied to q full and complete amnesty,
pardon and charge from the same,
upon the payments of the costs =
PrDrided, They shall not be taxed with the
payment OF the costs upon any Indictment
preferred against them, from and after the
passage OF this bill, or In other words, that
10 officer or privatcs IN any of the above
named organizations, against whom no III
dictment IS now pending, shall be liable to
prosecution for any offence committed
against the criminal laws of North Carolina
prior to the Ist day of January, A. ID. 1866,
rs aforesaid.
See ;. BE HJmtler enacted, That in all
cases, where indictments are now pending,
tIl4tt III IGc county or superior courts, II
the defendant can show that he was an Off
GER or private in either of the above named
organizations, ut the time it shall be pre-
sHned that he acted under orders, until the
contrary shall be made to appear.
SEC. ,. BE ii ft,rtter enacted, That all
private citizens, who, on account of age,
o. from any other cause, were exempt from
service IL any or al of the above named
organizations, who for the preservation of
their lives or property, or for the protec-
ton OF their families associated themselves
together for the preservation of law and
order, in their respective counties or dis
tricts, shall be entitled to all the benefits
and provisions of this act.
SEC :. BE It FURTHER enacted, That no
person wkO may have been in the civil or
military service of the State, or late Con-
Icicrate States Government, or in the ser
vice OF the United States Government, in
either OF the above named organizations,
shall be held liable in any civil action for
any act done III the discharge of any du-
ties imposed upon him by any law or au-
thorty, supporting to be a law of the State
OF late Confederate States Government.
Sec. ;. Be further enacted, That this
act shall be in force from and after its rati-
hcation.
Ratified 18th December, A. D., 1866
r. Y. MCADEN,
Speaker Commons.
NJ L. MANLY,
Speaker Senate.