Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-03-09
In Act to give Eject to Certain Acts, Con-
tracts, and Proceedings During the Late
Wap
Passed February %, 1861

" hereas q convention assembled n 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 main
tanned in said city, which claimed to be the
Government Of Virginia, and actually exer-
cised over much the greater part OF the State
ali the powers and functions Of Government
Of the State of Virginia, until it was over
thrown and suppressed by the military for
ces Of the United States in April, 1865 and
whereas in the interval which necessarily oc-
CURED between the overthrow Of the said
Government and the actual establishment in
the several counties and corporations Of au-
thority under the present State Government,
many. acts were probably 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 existed an organization known as
the Confederate States Of America, which,
for the greater part Of the same period, claim
ed certain rights of government over the pco-
pie Of Virginia.. and actually exercised the
same throughout much the greater part Of
the State; and whereas doubts may arise
whether any, and what acts, contracts, and
proceedings done, made, and had and wlleth-
er any and what rights and titles acquired
under the authority, or supposed authority,
Of the said Governments. or either Of them,
are valid and efectual now, therefore, for
the. better protection Of the people and for
preventing and settling such doubts
I. BE 1t enacted By, the General assembly,
That all contracts and agreements Of every
kind and nature whatsoever, whether execu-
tory or executive, and all acts and proceed
ings whatsoever made, done, or had and all
rights and titles Of every kind and nature
whatsoever, accrued to OF acquired by any
person under the authority Of either Of the
Governments aforesaid, Or of7any law estab-
lishea or recognized thereby; O. Of any de-
partment or officer thereof, or Of any person
exercising authority under the same, in any
way, while said Governments respectively
existed as aforesaid, and not inconsistent with
the Constitution or laws of the United States,
or with the Constitution Of this State, and
all such contracts and other acts and proceed
ings, made, done, or had, and rights and IT,
ties acquired by any person, under the au-
thority of the said State Government, or of
the laws established or recognized thereby,
or Of any department o. officer thereof, or of
any person exercising authority under the
same in any way, IN any county or corpora
ton during the interval between the sup
preston Of said State Government and the
actual establishment in such county CT corpo-
ration of authority under the present State
Government, shall he held and taken to be,
and to have been at all times, Of the Same
force, virtue, and effect, i'll all respects, and
none other, as if no question had ever been
made as to the lawful authority Of the said
Governments OF either of them. -r-f. cd,
2 No person who may have been in the
civil or military service, or in any way act
ing under the control, direction, or authori y
of either of said governments. Or Of any de-
partment or officer thereof, civil or military
or Of any law establisf1ehor recognized there
By, shall be held liable, ciyilly or eriminaliy,
for any damages, OF for,any pain, penalty or
forfeiture, or in anyother manner waatsoev-
er. for any act 0: any kind done III the r.,s-
.acution Of thulltcral witltthc Unit e States.