The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-25
CHR Wrstrrn DRmotrat.
THE GENERAL AMNESTY BILL
CHARLOTTE, !

=
Tie following Bill has passed The Legislature
and 10 Row a law:
An 4c, granting geperol amnesty and pardon
II. oil ahcrrs and soadirrs ey the STATE Ut
N,rM Iiarulinu, or of the Int Confederate
N,,,tes armies, ar of the United States, for
.fe.ces cnnmitted against The crinaindt lules
.y 1he I>fo,e ut North tarotinu.
Section l. he it enacted by the General Assem-
bly of the State of North Carolina, aud 1t is
hereby enacted hy the authority of the same,
That no person wh" may have been in the civil
or military service Of the State, AS officers or
soliiers of the Militia, Officers soldiers OF the
Home Guard, officers and soldiers of the Local
Police, officers or soldiers Of the late C"nttd-
crate States or as officers and soldiers OF the
United States, shall be held to answer on any
indictment, for any act done in the discharge OF
airy duties imposed on him purporting TO br ny
a law of the State or late Confederate States Gov
eminent, or 10y virtue of any order em'natIng
from any officer, commissioned or non commIs-
stoned of the NJ ilitia, or Home Guard, or Local
Police. of North Carolina or any officer, commls-
isjonea or non commissioned of the late onted-
crate States Government, or any officer, commis-
stoned or ioI.ed of the United States
Government. That no one of the above named
officers or privaies who now are. or may hereafter
be indicted for any h"mcides felonleS, or INSIDE
m-a,rors committed prior to the first day ofJan-
uary, A. ID. ls66, shall be held to answer for the
same. bu, shall be entitled to II full and complete
amuesty. pardon and charge from tie same upon
the payment of the costs: Provided, They shall
not lie taxed with the payment of the costs upon
amy indictment, preferred against them, from and
after the passage of this till, or III other words,
that no officer private in any Of the above
named organizations, against whom NO lndict-
rnent is now pending. shall be liable to proSec u
ton for any offence committed against the crimi-
nal laws of North Carolina prior TO the LIST day
of january. A. ID. lSG6. rs f,res aid.
S c 2 BE it further enacted. That in all cases
where in'iic,mrhts are now penng. either in the
County >or Superior Courts. if the defendant can
show that Ire was al officer or private in either
Of the above named oryaniza ions at the time, il
shall he presumed that he acted under orders,
until the contrary shall he made t" appear
Sec. 3. Be il further enacted, That all private
citizens, who, account of age, or from any
other Cause. were exempt from service in any OF
all "fthe above named organizations. who fol
the preservation oftheir lives property. or 70,
the protection of their fam lilies, associated them
REEVES together for the preservation of law and
order, in their respective counties or districts
shall lie entitled to all the benefits and provision.
of this act. ..~
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That no perso,
VIII" may have been in the civil or military service
of the State. or late Confederate States Govern
me,It- or in the service of the United States Gov
ernnlpnt. in either of the above named organiza
tiotis,sfalle held liable in any civil action f'
any act done in the discharge Of any duties i'm
posed upon him by any law or authority. purpor
ting 10 lac law of the State or late Confederate
States government.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That this &C
shall be in f'lce from and after its ratification
Ratified Eth December, A. d., 1866.