Chap. 37.—An ACT to Release Certain Taxes and County Levies, in
the County,of Elizabeth City, and other Counties.

Approved February 11, 1874.

Whereas, certain lands in the county of Elizabeth City, and
in other counties of this commonwealth, were held and occu-
pied between the years eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and
eighteen. hundred and seventy, by squatters, against the con-
sent of the owners of such lands, who were without ade-
quate remedy to recover their possession, which was withheld
by such power as the state could not resist; and whereas,
the said lands have been advertised for sale as delinquent for
the non-payment of taxes, under and by virtue of chapter
thirty-eight, of the Code of Virginia (edition of eighteen
hundred and seventy-three) ; therefore,

1. Be it enacted, That all taxes and county levies due for
said lands be released and discharged, for so much of the period
between the years eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and
eighteef' hundred and seventy, inclusive, as the said lands
were withheld from the owners thereof, as aforesaid: provi-
ded, however, that no owner of said lands shall be entitled
to the benefit of this act, who shall not, within four months
after the passage hereof, obtain from the county court of the
county wherein his said land is situate, an order or certificate
that he is entitled to such benefit, a copy whereof shall be
forwarded by the clerk of said court to the auditor of public
accounts. The attorney for the commonwealth shall defend
the application for such order or certificate, and it shall be
therein stated that he did make such defence.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.