Chap. 137.—An ACT to incorporate the Southern Association for the
benefit of the Widows and Orphans of the Southern States.

Passed January 30, 1867.

Whereas it is represented that Henry A. Wise, P. T:
Moore, J. D. Imboden, R. L. Walker, T. L. Rosser, J. R.
Anderson, T. E. Ballard and R. W. N. Noland, 8. P. Moore,
John Dooley, David I. Burr, John Purcell and R. H. Maury,
and others, have associated themselves for the purpose of
disposing of certain real and personal estate to the best ad-
vantage, the proceeds arising therefrom to be devotéd to
relieve the sufferings of the widows and orphans of the
Southern states who have been left homeless, helpless and
penniless by the late war; and that, having thoroughly ex-
amined the condition of this unhappy class, and communi-
cated their plans and purposes to many eminent and popular
gentlemen, and generous and philanthropic ladies in the South,
they are led to believe, that by prompt and energetic mea-
sures the object in view will be surely accomplished; to
effect which, corporate privileges ‘and facilities are deemed
expedient : ,

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the persons above named, and such others as may hereafter
be associated with them under this charter, be and they are
hereby created a body politic and corporate, under the name
and style of The Southern Association for the benefit of the
widows and orphans of the Southern states, for effecting the
purposes and objects hereinbefore declared and expressed ;
and to that end all the estate, real and personal, now held by
them for the purpose aforesaid, or, hereafter acquired there-
for, whether by purchase, gift, devise, or donation in any
way, 18 hereby vested in the said corporation for the purposes
and objects aforesaid: provided, that the amount of property
held at any one time shall not exceed in value five hundred
thousand dollars. |

2. The said corporation is hereby invested with all the
general powers conferred, and made subject to all the restric-
tions imposed by chapters fifty-six and fifty-seven of the
Code of Virginia, so far as the same are not inconsistent
with this act: provided, however, that in the mode of dis-
position of the said real and personal estate, nothing shall be
done or performed by the said corporation in conflict with
or violation of the provisions of the constitution and laws of
Virgmia, prohibiting lotteries; but as a means and mode of
selling said property to the best advantage, and for the fullest
price, the said corporation shall be and are hereby authorized
and empowered to disposed of the same from time to time
by raffle; and for that purpose to divide said property into
prizes to be raffled for, and to sell the chances in said raffle
for such prices as they’ may affix upon them, and to adopt
such rules and regulations as to the mode in which the draw-
ing or deciding of the chances shall be conducted as they
may deem advisable to effect a fair decision of such chances.
And the said corporation shall not, in exercising the powers
and using the privilege hereby granted, be amenable to any
of the pains and penalties imposed by the laws now in force
prohibiting and imposing penalties for raffling.

3. The corporate privileges hereby conferred, and the pro-
perty of the said corporation while so held by them, are
hereby exempted from taxation. ,

4. This act shall be in force from its passage, and subject
to amendment or repeal at the pleasure of the general as-
sembly.

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