Inhabitants of Saco v. Gurney

This suit was brought for the penalty provided. by the Act of 1850, chap. 202, for the unlawful sale of spirituous liquors, and was pending at the passage of the Act of June 2, 1851, chap. 211. By section 18, of the Act last mentioned, the former was repealed, without any reservation or saving clause, as to actions then pending.

The right of the Legislature to repeal the Act without a saving clause is indisputable; nor can it be questioned, that the repeal operated as a bar to the further prosecution of all suits pending under that Act. It took from the Courts their power and' jurisdiction,…