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No 39  Ordinance
To ratify marriages between Freedmen and women and for other purposes.
Section 1 All marriages between Freedmen and freedwomen whether in a state of slavery or since their emancipation, heretofore solemnized by any one acting or officiating as a minister, or any one claiming to exercise the right to solemnize the rights of matrimony, whether bond or free are hereby ratified and made valid, provided the parties are now living together as man and wife: and in all cases of freedmen and freedwomen and who are now living together recognizing each other as husband and wife, [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] be ordained that the same are hereby declared to be man and wife and bound by the legal obligations of such relationship
Section 2 The issue of such marriage or cohabitation are hereby legitimatized and shall be held to the same relations and obligations from and to their parents as if born in lawful wedlock