This is a pamphlet with a critical speech delivered by the Lord Coleridge in the House of Lords on March 17th, 1902, in support of the motion of Lord Spencer for papers referring to the exercise of Martial Law by the officers of His Majesty's Military Forces in Cape Colony or in Natal over civilian subjects of His Majesty.
The Martial Law in the Cape Colony was extensively proclaimed between 1899 and 1902 during the Second Boer War, covering the entire colony by late 1900 to combat Boer invasions and rebellions. It was marked by harsh military rule over civilians, including arrests, detention, and strict controls, causing significant conflict with the Supreme Court. Initially proclaimed in border districts in October 1899, it spread rapidly, and by mid-November 1901, all Cape districts near the Orange Free State and South African Republic were under martial law due to Boer commando invasions. It was designed to suppress local Dutch-speaking, pro-Boer rebellions, with about 10,000 residents in border areas supporting the invaders.
Military officials often ignored civil court orders, including habeas corpus petitions, leading to criticism that it was an "illegal and disastrous" infringement of rights. The administration of martial law in the Cape Colony was highly controversial, and it highlighted the unsettled relationship between military necessity and constitutional law within the British Empire at the time. Martial law was finally repealed in the Cape Colony in September 1902 after the end of the war.
Paperback; Text in English; Collation complete - Title page, 8 pages; Text block/pages in good condition, with some yellowing and light foxing (more to the title page and white margins), otherwise no markings or annotations. Top of the corners dog-eared. A small piece at the middle left white margin of the title page chipped.
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- Binding Condition: Good
- Overall Condition: Good
- Size: 21,5 x 14 cm
