The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-28
AMNESTY AND PARDON.
The state VS.. William Blalock and
others.


the war they enlisted in the Federal
service, and engaged in a fight, will,
arms. with certain of the Home Guards
in the Confederate service; and some
were wounded on both sldes.-Several
interesting questions were discussed at
the Bar as to the regularity of the en-
listment and Of the swearing and mus
tering in Of the defendants, involving
the general question, whether they were
soldiers in the Federal service ut all.
And if they were, then, whether they
were acting under orders, or were ma
RAIDERS.
But we are relieved from deciding
these complex and embarrassing ques
tions, by reason Of the fact, that since
the trial below, the Legislature has pass
ed an act of Amnesty and Pardon,
which embraces this case. We did ill.,
deed, so fur consider the facts rs to ena-
bic us to determine that the defendants
are not clearly entitled to an acquital
upon the merits, because, if they were,
they would be entitled to a new trial
to save the costs. But it is evident
that their guilt or innocence is involved
in much doubt, and we can see 10 good
likely to result from another trial.
The conflict Of arms and political dis
turbanccs through which we have pass
ed, have troubled society to its deep
foundations-Th who are now neigh
bors have lately been in armed hostility
and met each other with deadly pur-
pose; property and lives have been sac
rificed those who were in command
had to compel obedience, and were
sometimes too imperious; those who
had to serve were worn out and irrita-
bic, and sometimes resistant the rapa- !
cious plundered and the innocent suffer
ed Every one has something unplcas- |
ant to remember, and many have wrongs |
civil suits necessarily spring out of such .
a past. The details, not to say the ex-
aggerations of irritating facts; the con-
f1ict Of witnesses the discussions be-
tween jealous advocates the denuncia-
tons of parties the hazard of costs ard
damages, and the infections of punish
mcnts, would not only keep alive, but
would cause these evils to spread into
a pestilcnce. While so many have in
.jurics to revenge, quite as many lave
errors to regret and it will be a great
public good if the past can be forgiven
and forgotten. In view OF this, the
Legislature at its present session passed
an act which provides :
An Act granting a general Imaesty
and Pulomto uN officers md %ojIjefs
ot'Me St0te Of A07h- Carolilt0, or Of
the late ConJedeFute Ntdte$ armies, or
ofthe United State&, for Qt;nces COM
mitted against the Criminal Lulcs
Of tile State Of y ortiz Curolij,U.
BE 1t enacted by the GencrN assem-
bly, ofMe State Of Worth Caro7inu,
and is hereby eoactedGy tie autIori-
ty ot'the same, That no person who
may have been i'll the civil or military
service OF, the State, as officers or sol
diers of the militia, officers or soldiers
of the home guard, officers and soldiers
of the local police, officers and soldiers
of the late Confederate States, or as
officers and soldiers ofthe United States,
shall be held to answer on any indict-
mcnt for any act done in the discharge
of any duties imposed Oh him purport-
ing to he by law of the State or late
Confederate States Government, or by
virtue of any order emanating from any
officer commissioned, or non-commis-
stoned of the Militia or Home Guard,
or local police of North Carolina, or
any officer commissioned, OF non com
Of the late Confederate States
Government, or any officer or soldier
of the United States Government. That
no one Of the above named officers or
prlvates, who now are or may hereafter
be indicted for any homicides, fclonies
or misdemeanors committed prior to
the first day Of January, \. D., 1866.
shall be held to answer for the same,
but shall be entitled to full and COM
plete amnesty pardon and discharge
from the same upon the payment of the
costs. provided they shall not be taxed
with the payment ofthe costs upon any
Indictment preferred against them from
and after the passage of this bill or in
other words, that no officers or privatec
n any of the above named organize
lions against whom no Indictment is
now pending, shall be liable to prose-
'ution for any offence committed against
The criminal laws of North Carolina
prior to the first day of January, A. D.,
1866, as aforesaid
BE IL. further enacted, That in all cases
where indictments are now pending,
either in the County or Superior Courts,
+ the defendant can show that he was
IN officer or private in either of the
above named organizations at the time.
shall be presumed that he acted under
orders until the contrary shall be made
20 appear.
BE 1t further enacted, That all pri
''ate citizens, who, on account of age or
rom any other cause, were exempt from
ervice in any or all of the above NAM
ID organizations, who for the preserva- !
ion Of their lives or property, or for
'he protection of their families, associa-
ed themselves together for the preser-
vatlon of law and order, in their respec-
i've counties or districts, shall be emit
led to all the benefits and provisions
If this act
BE ii. further enacted, That no person
who may have been in the civil or mill
AIRY service of the State, or late Con
federate States Government, or in the
service of the United States Govern
nent, IN either of the above named Or
CARNATIONS, shall be held liable in any
civil action for any act done in the dis
CHARGE of anV 0utios imDOseS rno,, liz, |