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WHEREAS it is reasonable and expedient that all free persons of colour being Creoles, born within these islands or elsewhere, should be admitted to your evidence in all cases, civil and criminal. May it please Your Majesty that it may be enacted, Be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency Lewis Grant, Esq. Major-General of Your Majesty’s forces, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, the Council and Assembly of Your Majesty’s Bahama islands, and it is hereby enacted and ordained, by the authority of the same; that from and after the passing of this act, all Negroes, Mulattoes, and other persons of colour, born free within these islands, and all other Creole Negroes, Mulattoes, and persons of colour born free, although not born within these islands, but who shall have been resident therein for the space of five years, shall and lawfully may be admitted and received to give evidence in any process, suit, or trial of any nature or kind whatsoever, in any of the Courts of Law or Equity within these islands, or before any Coroner or Magistrate.
II. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that all Creole Negroes, Mulattoes, and other persons of colour born within these islands, or elsewhere, although not free at the time of their birth, but who shall have been lawfully manumitted by bequest, deed of gift, or otherwise, and who shall have actually and bonâ fide enjoyed a state of freedom for the space of five years at least, within these islands, and professing the Christian religion, shall be admitted to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of persons of colour born free within these islands, within the intent and meaning of this act: provided, however, that no such manumitted person or persons, shall be allowed to give evidence of any treason, felony, misdemeanour, or other offence against the peace, or trespasses with force, which may be or shall have been committed, or alleged to have been committed, previous to their emancipation.
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