Bermuda Consolidated Legislation

BERMUDA
1834 : 2

EMANCIPATION ACT 1834

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1 Extension of rights, privi leges and franchises

2 Qualification for voting in municipal election

3 Qualification for Alderman
or Common Councillor of municipality

4 [repealed]

5 [repealed]

6 Abolition of jury de medi etate linguae

[10 February 1834]

 

WHEREAS it is expedient to relieve free blacks and free persons of colour, from certain disabilities, liabilities and restrictions to which they are now subject, to extend to them the laws now applicable to white per sons, and to fix the qualifications for voters and the electors, and for candidates for certain offices and places of trust:

Be it therefore, enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly of the Bermudas or Somers Islands as follows:

Extension of rights, privileges and franchises

1 All rights, privileges and franchises which upon and from and after 1 August 1834, shall or may be enjoyed by white persons, shall, upon, from and after 1 August 1834, be equally enjoyed by free black and coloured persons; and upon, from and after 1 August 1834, all free black and coloured persons shall be subject to and liable to all the pains, penalties, duties, conditions, restrictions, disabilities and liabilities to which white persons shall be subject and liable.

Qualification for voting in municipal election

2 Upon, from and after 1 August 1834, no person shall be capable of voting in the election of a Mayor, Alderman or Common Councilman for the City of Hamilton, or for the Town of St. George, who does not pos sess, in his own right, or receive to his own use the profits of a freehold within the municipality to which such vote may refer, rated at the last parish assessment at not less than $144.

Qualification for Alderman or Common Councillor of municipality

3 Upon, from and after 1 August 1834, no person not possessing in his own right, or receiving the profits to his own use, of a freehold within the municipality to which such election refers, rated at the last parish assessment at not less than $576, shall be capable of being Al derman or Common Councilman for the City of Hamilton or for the Town of St. George.

4 [repealed by 1971:116]

5 [repealed by 1971:116]

Abolition of jury de medietate linguae

6 From and after 1 August 1834 no jury de medietate linguae shall be allowed by any Court of Judicature in Bermuda, nor shall any chal lenge or exception be allowed for want of any jury de medietate linguae.

 

 

 

 

 

1896 : 5
1901 : 39
1928 : 22
1951 : 78

1952 : 11
1961 : 146
1971 : 116]