Newfoundland.—This, the oldest British colony in North America, is the most modern in its law of domestic relations.
Marriage is considered a civil contract, which may be solemnized before a qualified clergyman of any sect, or a judge, justice of the peace or other magistrate.
A married woman has the same right of buying, selling, owning and controlling any kind of real or personal property as a single woman. She has also the fullest right to make any lawful contract without adding her husband as a party. She may sue and be sued as if she were a single woman or a man.
There being no divorce courts, the Provincial legislature having no power to grant divorces, and the Colony of Newfoundland being outside of the jurisdiction of the Dominion Parliament of Canada, an absolute divorce cannot be obtained in the colony.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Republic of Mexico.
Mexico is a federative Republic composed of twenty-seven States, three Territories and a Federal District.
Under the present Constitution, which is dated February 5, 1857, each State has the power to control its own local domestic concerns and to have its own separate executive, legislature and judiciary.