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AFFIRMATIVE STATUTE. [Bouvier's Law, 1856 Edition] 7. Affirmative or negative. 1.

An affirmative statute is one which is enacted in affirmative terms; such a statute


does not take away the common law. If, for example, a statute without negative
words, declares that when certain requisites shall have been complied with, deeds
shall, have in evidence a certain effect, this does not prevent their being used in
evidence, though the requisites have not been complied with, in the same manner as
they might have been before the statute was passed. 2 Cain. R. 169. 2. A negative
statute is one Bouvier's Law Dictionary, 1856 Edition - Letter S
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expressed in negative terms, and so controls the common law, that it has no force
in opposition to the statute. Bro. Parl. pl. 72; Bac. Ab. h. t. G.

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