Bell v. Dole

Per Curiam. By the act of 1801 persons appointed to office are directed to take and subscribe the necessary oaths before such persons, as shall be appointed for that purpose, in the nature of a dedimus potestatem. The act also directs how such oaths are to be disposed of when taken; and in the section under which the present action is brought, declares, that if any person whose name is inserted in the commission of dedimus potestatem, shall not make return of the rolls, &c. within six months, he shall forfeit 25 dollars. It was not under this act that the defendant derived his authority to administer oaths; but under the act of 1809, (sess. 32. c. 141., sess. 36. c. 13. 1 N. R. L. 385.) which extends the power to the judges of the respective counties. This act directs the rolls to be disposed of in the same manner as prescribed in the former act, but does not extend the penalty for neglect. It is a settled rule, that penal statutes are to be construed strictly, and not extended by implication. Under this rule of construction, the penalty given by the act of 1801 cannot be extended to persons not [174] named in the dedimus potestatem. The judgment must, accordingly, be reversed. Judgment reversed. (a) Footnotes [(a)] By the 10th section of the act of the 25th of February, 1813, (sess, 36. c. 13, 1 N. R. L. 85. concerning oaths, the lieutenant governor, chancellor, secretary of state, attorney general, mayors, recorders, and clerks of cities, and the judges and clerks of the several counties, are declared to he, ex officio, commissioners for administering the oaths of office to civil and military officers; and by the 13th section of the same act, all the persons named as such commissioners, ex officio, are to return the rolls, &c. within 6 months. The act is silent! as to the former practice of issuing a special commission in the nature of a dedimus potestatem^ for the purpose of administering oaths of office.