Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Governor Frederick to
Grenville, Richard 9 May 1868, CO 60:32, no. 6951, 358.
Abstract
Seymour, Governor Frederick to
Grenville, Richard 9 May 1868, CO 60:32, no. 6951, 358.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
No. 42
New Westminster
9th May 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward for Your Grace's consideration a
resolution passed by the Legislative Council in favour of a
larger popular element being infused into it.
2. I add
2. I add a statement by the Acting Colonial Secretary shewing
why he, as President, gave his casting vote in support of the
resolution.
3. The Present Legislative Constitution copied I believe from
that of Ceylon is without precedent in its application to an
English Community. Here the difficulties of working it are
perhaps greater than would be found elsewhere from our being
overlapped North and South by theRepublic
Republic of the United States.
Yet I have not found that practically it works badly. I know
that I find, now that the Western Colonies are united, that
things were on a much more satisfactory footing on the mainland
than on Vancouver Island, and that there was less of the
"Jobbery" which seems inevitably to belong to the premature
extension of a representative Constitution, to a small community.
4. The
Republic of the United States.
Yet I have not found that practically it works badly. I know
that I find, now that the Western Colonies are united, that
things were on a much more satisfactory footing on the mainland
than on Vancouver Island, and that there was less of the
"Jobbery" which seems inevitably to belong to the premature
extension of a representative Constitution, to a small community.
4. The question however is one which I shall very carefully
consider and report upon before the next Legislative Session.
The Council will expire by efflux of time next month and though
it is probable that I shall not place any more seats than the
present number to be filled on the recommendation of the people,
I think I shall popularize the Legislature by placing several
independent Gentlemenin
in the position of Magistrates in the
Council, instead of filling up all the Magistorial Seats by
Salaried Officers.
in the position of Magistrates in the
Council, instead of filling up all the Magistorial Seats by
Salaried Officers.
5. The present system of Government, I need hardly say, imposes
in a Colony like this enormous responsibility on the Governor
not alone as a Legislator; but he stands so entirely removed by
his extraordinary powers from the public officers that he has
occasionally as stated in my despatch No 37 of 9 September
1864 to appearin
in the character of an Armed Volunteer and at
others as mentioned in my despatch No 92 of 16 August 1867 to
assume the duties belonging to a Constable for the Maintenance
of the Public peace.
in the character of an Armed Volunteer and at
others as mentioned in my despatch No 92 of 16 August 1867 to
assume the duties belonging to a Constable for the Maintenance
of the Public peace.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
I think before Govr Seymour begins popularizing the Legislative Council of B. Columbia he had better get the Colony in a sound Financial
state, and pay his Debts.
I think before Govr Seymour begins popularizing the Legislative Council of B. Columbia he had better get the Colony in a sound Financial
state, and pay his Debts.
Until that is done it appears to me that there is quite as much
popular element in the Council as is consistent with the
working of a Crown Colony. As however he says he shall
carefully consider and report on the matter this despatch may
not call for notice unless it is thought well to caution him
about stirring the question openly or in any way committing himself.
It was questionable the Colonial Secretary giving his casting
vote in favor of the Resolution, siding with the 4 Elective,
so to say, Members agt the Govt Members.
vote in favor of the Resolution, siding with the 4 Elective,
so to say, Members agt the Govt Members.
CC
7 July
This is merely for information and the Govr promises a report
so "Put by."
I have no doubt that the representative system promotes [one word
cut off microfilm]. But the contrary system has not prevented
ruinous Extravagance in B. Columbia. And whichever system is
abstractedly the best, a Governor who has no British money to
dispense no British troops to command cannot control a
population of English and U.S. origin, unless they are satisfied
with the institutions under which they live. Therefore if they
want more representation, it is, I conceive hopeless to keep it
from them. At the same time the longer a constitution is deferred, the
promis[e], I conceive, will be the ground on wh we can build
it. Population will have more fixed itself.
Therefore I think the temporizing measure proposed by Mr
Seymour is probably a right one.
FR
8/7
I agree to the temporizing measure, & think, so near the US,
the constitution will have to be popularized [remainder cut off
microfilm].
B&C
9/7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, to Seymour, 29 April 1868,
forwarding a resolution of the Legislative Council requesting
the governor to make "at least two thirds of the Council elective."
