Chap. 27.—Aun ACT instructing the Attorney-General ta contest the
constitutionality of the act entitled an act to authorize the forma-
tion of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad company, in so
far as it disposes of certain claims of the state for loans to the Nor-
folk and Petersburg, Southside, and Virginia and Tennessee railroad

colnpanies.
Approved January 11, 1879.

Whereas by section twenty-one of article ten of the state
constitution, it is provided that the liability to the state of any
incorporated company or institution to redeem the principal
and pay the interest of any loan heretofore made by the state
to such company or institution shall not be released or com-
muted ; and whereas the general assembly, by the act approved
June seventeenth, eighteen hundred and seventy, constituting
chapter one hundred and forty-three of the acts of the general
assembly of the session of eighteen hundred and sixty-nine,
seventy, entitled an act to authorize the formation of the At-
lantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad company, disposes of the
claims of the state for loans to the Norfolk and Petersburg,
Southside, and Virginia and Tennessee railroads, to the Atlan-
tic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad company, which is composed
of the roads aforesaid, and of the Virginia and Kentucky rail-
road company; and whereas a question exists whether or not
this disposition was not substantilly and im effect a commuta-
tion or release of said claims, in the meaning of the constitu-
tion, and in contravention thereof; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the attorney-
general be and he is hereby instructed to take proper proceed-
ings to contest the constitutionality of the act aforesaid, in so
far as it disposes of the said claims of the state, and to assert
the right of the state to collect said loans, as secured under
the contracts existing prior to the passage of the act afore-
said.

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