The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-02
An Act to give Effect to Certain Acts, Contracts,
and Proceedings During the Late War


Passed February q, 1855.
Whereas convention assembled in the city
of Richmond did, on the 18th day of April,
1861, adopt an ordinance declaring the union
between the State of Virginia and the other
States to be dissolved, as OF that day, from
which time an authority was maintained IN
said city, which claimed to be the Govern
ment of Virginia and actually exercised over
much the greater part OF the STATE all tne
powers and functions of Government OF the
State of Virginia, until it was oyerthroWn
and suppressed by the military forces of the
United States in April, 1865; and whereas In
the interval which necessarily occurred De-
tween the overthrow of the said Government
and the actual establishment In the seVeral
conn ties and corporations OF authority under
the present State Government, many acts
We're proba bly, done by persons who had been
officers of the said Government, and also by
individuals, as before the said Government
was suppressed and whereas there also ex-
listed an organization known as the Confede-
rate States of America, which, for the greater
part of the same period, claimed certain rights
of government over the people OF Virginia,
and actually exercised the same throughout
much the greater part OF the State; ana
whereas doubts may arise whether any, ana
what acts, contracts, and proceedings done,
made, and had, and whether any and what
rights and titles acquired, under the autho-
rity, or supposed authority, of the said
Governments, or either of them, are valid
and effectual: now, therefore, for the better
protection of the people and for preventing
and settling such doubts:
l. Be it enacted by the General assembly, That
all contracts and agreements of every kind
and nature whatsoever, whether executory or
executive, and all acts and proceedings what
soever made, done, or had and all rights ana
titles of every kind and nature whatsoever,
accrued to or acquired by any person under
the authority Of either of the Governments
aforesaid, or of any law established or recog-
niZed thereby, or of any department or oiilcer
thereof, or Of any person exercising authority
under the same, in any way, Wnlle salo
Governments respectively existed as afore-
said, and not inconsistent with the Constitu-
ton or laws of the United States, or with the
Constitution of this State, land all such con-
tracts and other acts and proceedings, made,
done, or had, and rights ana uties ac
quired by any person, under the autho
rity of the said State Government, or
of the laws established or recognized
thereby, or of any department or ofhcer
thereof, or Of any person exercising authority
under the same in any way, in any county or
corporation during the interval between the
suppression Of said State Government and the
actual establishment in such county or corpo-
ration of authority under the present State
Government shall be held and taken TO be,
and to have been az all times, of the same
force, virtue, and effect, in all respects, and
none other, as If no question had ever been
made as 10 the lawful authority OF the said
Governments or either Of them.
Z. NO person VINO may nave UccH III TIC
civil or military service or in any way acting
under the control, direction, or authority OF
either of said governments, or OF any depart.
ment or officer thereof, civil or military, or OF
any law established or recognized thereby,
shall be held liable, civilly or criminally. for
any damages, or for any pain, penalty or Tor
feiture or in any other manner whatsoever, for
any act of any kind done in the prosecution OF
the late war with the United States but
every liability for every such act is hereby
fully and completely released, acquitted and
discharged. And no person whatsoever, act
ing as aforesaid, shall be held liable, ciylly or
criminally, for any damages, or for any pain,
penalty, or forfeiture, or in any other manner
whatsoever, for any other act done under any
such direction or authority as Is hereinbetore
mentioned, provided such act was not neon
sistent with the Constitution or laws of the
United States, or with the Constr tuition of this
State but every liability for any such act Is
hereby fully and completely released, acquit-
ted and discharged. But nothing herein
shall be construed TO bar any action or prose
cution, or TO release any liability, on account
Of any abuse or illegal execution OF any such
authority; nor shall any order or permission
given, without authority Of the laws esta-
blished or recognized by said Governments, or
either or them, protect any person from action
or prosecution, or any other liability, for any
illegal act done, or alleged TO be done. under
the same.
8. All judgments, DEGREES, orders, and other
proceedings rendered, made, or had by any
court, judge, or justice of the peace, acting
under authority OF said State Government, or
of any law established or recognized thereby
and all acts and ordinances Of any municipal
corporation and all acts Of any Incorporated
company, enacted or done under such autho-
rity; and all acts done by any sheriff, sergeant,
clerk, constable, commissioner, or other on
GER, or by any other person, in obedience TO or
by authority Of any such judgment, decree,
order, proceeding, Ordinance, or other act
and all other acts and proceedings OF any of1r
Ger OF the State, or OF any county or corpora:
ton, done or had by authority OF said State
Government, or OF any law established or re-
cognized thereby, shall, IL the same be not IN.
consistent with the Constitution or lawso Of the
United States, or with the Constitution OF this
State, sbe held to have and 10 have had at eli
times the same force, virtue, and effect, and no
other, as IL no question had been made as 70 the
lawful authority OF the said State Govern
ment, and whether the same were rendered,
made, had or done while the said State
Government was In existence and operation,
or In the interval which elapsed between. It's
suppression and the actual establishment OF
authority under the present Government in
the county or corporation where the same
took place.
4. Ali such judgments, DEGREES, orders, and
other judicial proceedings rs are mentioned
In the last foregoing section, shall be subject
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