|
|
|
WHEREAS by an Act of the General Assembly of this Province, made and passed in the thirty-first year of His Majesty's Reign, and afterwards confirmed and ratified by an Order of His Majesty in Council, intituled "An Act for regulating Elections of Representatives in General Assembly, and for limiting the duration of Assemblies in this Province," it it among other things enacted, that every Elector, before he is admitted to poll, shall, if required by the Candidates or any one of them, take the oaths in and by an Act made in the first year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the First, intituled "An Act for the further security of His Majesty's Person and Government, and the succesion of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being Protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors," appointed to be taken: And whereas in cases where the said oaths, have been required to be taken, Freeholders Professing the Religion of the Church of Rome, have thereby been prevented from Polling: And whereas it is just and expedient that all His Majesty's faithful subjects, should participate in the enjoyment of a right equally interesting to all, as far as may be consistent with the safety and security of His Majesty's Person and Government;
|
|
|
|
Be it therefore enacted by the President, Council, and Assembly, That at any future Election of Representatives to serve in General Assembly, instead of the oaths appointed to be taken by the said Act, made in the first year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the First, as aforesaid, every Elector at the time of Polling, and before he is admitted to Poll at the Election, shall, if required by the Candidates, or any one of them, take the following oath, that is to say,
|
Oath to be taken instead of the Oaths formerly appointed.
|
|
I A. B. do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George the Third, and him will defend to the utmost of my power, against all traitorous conspiracies and attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against His Person, Crown or Dignity. And I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to His Majesty and His Successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which I shall know to be against him or any of them. So help me God! — or being one of the People called Quakers, shall, if required as aforesaid, solemnly affirm the effect of the said oath; which oath or affirmation the Sheriff or any sworn Clerk duly appointed for taking the Poll, is hereby authorised to administer: Provided that this Act shall not be in force until His Majesty's Royal approbation be thereunto had and declared.
|
|
|
|
[This Act was confirmed, finally enacted, and ratified by an order of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent in Council, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, dated at the Court at Whitehall, the 22d of June, 1811.]
|