Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Labouchere, Henry 22 May 1856, CO 305:7, no. 7190, 45.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Douglas writes to Labouchere asking his preference between extending voting rights to those with less than 20
acres of land or maintaining the 20-acre minimum.
CO staff confirm the secretary of state’s support of extending voting rights.
No. 12
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No 5 of the 28th of February last with its enclosures.
It is I confess not without a feeling of dismay that I contemplate
the nature and amount of labour and responsibility, which will be
imposed upon me, in the process of carrying
carrying out the instructions,
conveyed in your despatch. Possessing a very slender knowledge of
legislation, without legal advice, or intelligent assistance of any
kind, I approach the subject with diffidence; feeling however all the
encouragement which the kindly promised assistance and support of Her
Majesty's Government, is calculated to inspire.
carrying out the instructions,
conveyed in your despatch. Possessing a very slender knowledge of
legislation, without legal advice, or intelligent assistance of any
kind, I approach the subject with diffidence; feeling however all the
encouragement which the kindly promised assistance and support of Her
Majesty's Government, is calculated to inspire.
Under those circumstances I beg to assure you that every exertion,
on my part, shall be made, to give effect to your said instructions, at
as early a period as possible.
I do not apprehend any restiveness on the part of the Free holders,
as we have to legislate only for the best interests of the Colony, and
have no party questions nor purposes to serve; but should they, contrary
to my expectations, exhibit an untractable spirit, hazardous to the
peace of the Colony, I shall not fail to exercise the special authority
to prorogue the Assembly, and to conduct the executive business
business of the
Colony as heretofore given to me, in that case by Her Majesty's
Government, in your Despatch marked "Confidential," also of the 28th
of February last, and received at the same time with Despatch No 5.
business of the
Colony as heretofore given to me, in that case by Her Majesty's
Government, in your Despatch marked "Confidential," also of the 28th
of February last, and received at the same time with Despatch No 5.
I have not had time since the arrival of your Despatch, to consider
the subjects treated therein as thoroughly as their importance requires,
and therefore have not arrived at any definite conclusion, as to the
precise plan for carrying your instructions into effect. I will however
take the liberty of addressing you again on the subject. I observe that
the terms of my commission only empower me
to summon and call general assemblies of the inhabitants owning
20 or more acres of free hold land within the said Island,
apparently restricting the elective franchise, to the holders of 20
acres of land and upwards, to the exclusion of holders of
of houses and
other descriptions of town property, a class more numerous than the
former. I am utterly averse to universal suffrage, or making population
the basis of representation; but I think it expedient to extend the
franchise to all persons holding a fixed property stake, whether houses
or lands in the Colony; the whole of that class having interests to
serve, and a distinct motive for seeking to improve the moral and
material condition of the Colony.
of houses and
other descriptions of town property, a class more numerous than the
former. I am utterly averse to universal suffrage, or making population
the basis of representation; but I think it expedient to extend the
franchise to all persons holding a fixed property stake, whether houses
or lands in the Colony; the whole of that class having interests to
serve, and a distinct motive for seeking to improve the moral and
material condition of the Colony.
With those remarks I would here take the liberty of enquiring, if
it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government to restrict the elective
franchise, to the holders of 20 acres of land or upwards or to give the
representation a more extended basis.
The mail is on the point of leaving and I am therefore compelled
to bring my remarks thus abruptly
abruptly to a close.
abruptly to a close.
The Right Honble Henry Labouchere Esqre
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Minutes by CO staff
I think, instead of ourselves extending the franchise by a
supplementary Commission, the best course would be to tell the Governor that he must act under his Commission in the first instance, but that the Secy of State fully concurs in his views as to the proposed extension, & would recommend a measure for that purpose being brought before the Assembly when convoked?
supplementary Commission, the best course would be to tell the Governor that he must act under his Commission in the first instance, but that the Secy of State fully concurs in his views as to the proposed extension, & would recommend a measure for that purpose being brought before the Assembly when convoked?
HM
Augt 13
Certainly.
HL
14
Other documents included in the file
