Stamp Act: What's Up With the Closing Lines?
Stamp Act: What's Up With the Closing Lines?
And it is hereby further enacted, That if any person or persons shall be sued or prosecuted, either in Great Britain or America, for any thing done in pursuance of this act, such person and persons shall and may plead the general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence; and if it shall appear so to have been done, the jury shall find for the defendant or defendants: and if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall become nonsuited, or discontinue his or their action after the defendant or defendants shall have appeared, or if judgement shall be given upon any verdict or demurrer against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant or defendants shall recover treble costs and have the like remedy for the same, as defendants have in other cases by law. (63.1)
The closing line is merely the final section of the act. This section explains some of the rights of those who are being prosecuted according to the act. It's not so much a closing remark as the final bit of business before we can all go home and stop thinking about it so much.