Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Godley, John Robert to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 29 July 1858, CO 6:26, no. 7451, 102.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Marginalia (13).
Godley offers his advice on the formation of a new colony in British North America. He advises
that a self-government is necessary and that Douglas should not rely on any support from England, financial or military. He considers
it “a serious misfortune” that British Columbia is England’s responsibility and his final conclusion is that English officials should
“mix [themselves] up with [BC’s] concerns as little as possible.”
Godley to Lytton
War Office
29th July 1858
Sir,
In compliance with your request I submit for your consideration the following hasty
observations on the establishment of a British Colony in North Western America.
There are two points of the most fundamental & vital importance, to be especially
kept in mind.
1. That the Government should be carried on, from the very beginning, in harmony
with & by means of, the people of the Country, and
2. that the Local Government should be made perfectly aware that it must rely upon
itself alone; and that
that this country is not going to supply it with money (except to an extent strictly
limited) or with Military Force.
that this country is not going to supply it with money (except to an extent strictly
limited) or with Military Force.It is obvious that these two positions are intimately connected, & depend upon each
other. If the Government is not virtually self Government it must directly or indirectly depend on the armed support of this country;
& on the other hand, if we attempt to supply it with the means of acting independently
of the people, we shall fail in the end, but in the meantime we shall secure antagonism
between the Government & the people.
So far, excellent & according to my own minute drft despatch & prepare and despatch
[EBL].
The Governor must therefore immediately, for the purpose of
of securing the consent & concurrence of the people in his measures convene a legislative
council. He should have power at once to do this. His council should be elected
if possible, & he should have power to cause elections to take place. Some sort of
representation, however rude, may be at once established. If however he cannot (for
any unforeseen reason, get an elective council at once) he should nominate a legislative
council of the leading men among the settlers
, the best stump speakers perhaps, in short the men whom the people would send up
if they had the power of electing.
of securing the consent & concurrence of the people in his measures convene a legislative
council. He should have power at once to do this. His council should be elected
if possible, & he should have power to cause elections to take place. Some sort of
representation, however rude, may be at once established. If however he cannot (for
any unforeseen reason, get an elective council at once) he should nominate a legislative
council of the leading men among the settlers
Advise the Govr to do this, if settlers be real[l]y there. [EBL].
Good. Write this. [EBL].
While he is getting his council together, he must organize a police force,
& proclaim
proclaim a tariff of customs. To guide him in this, he should be supplied with a
suitable tariff, taken say from New Zealand or Australia, to be in force until the
legislature changed it.
He must also at once fix on a site for a seaport town, survey it, & sell town lots
by auction, at a fixed minimum price. From these two sources he will get more money
that he will know what to do with, in six months.
Yes [EBL].
proclaim a tariff of customs. To guide him in this, he should be supplied with a
suitable tariff, taken say from New Zealand or Australia, to be in force until the
legislature changed it.
Can this be supplied to him or a tariff from California but more moderate than that.
[EBL].
Everything should be prepared for him that can be prepared, e.g. A draft of a very simple political constitution, (with franchise
&c defined) for submission to his legislature.
Draft proclamations for forming electoral districts, for offering land for sale,
at a price to be fixed here provisionally.
In short, you should leave as little of the technical work as possible to be done
when he
he enters upon his functions. He will have plenty to do besides considering the wording
of proclamations, & yet they ought to be well considered. All arrangements made here,
including the tariff & land regulations to be of course only provisional, until modified
by the local legislature.
For future despatch to be considered [EBL].
This is good. [EBL].
he enters upon his functions. He will have plenty to do besides considering the wording
of proclamations, & yet they ought to be well considered. All arrangements made here,
including the tariff & land regulations to be of course only provisional, until modified
Lytton has here inserted words to read: adopted or modified.
The Governor should take with him only a surveying staff, a legal adviser, perhaps
a Secretary, & a Judge. The salaries of these officers should be guaranteed for a limited period, say three years. But of all things the most important is to give the Governor no military force.
I foresee clearly that if we do, we shall be led from one step to another, into
a futile attempt to garrison the country permanently, & govern it in spite of the
people. [Editor's note: transcription not yet available for the following pages: 109v
and 110r. Transcription resumes on page 110v; see image-scan link in right margin.]
It would be better to send out a Governor from home, thoroughly imbued with the sense
of the true position he is to occupy & having this impressed on him personally as
well as in written instructions.
This is impracticable [EBL].
Impracticable [EBL].
It would be better to send out a Governor from home, thoroughly imbued with the sense
of the true position he is to occupy & having this impressed on him personally as
well as in written instructions.Above all, I repeat, send no soldiers. Let one company of Sappers (it is quite enough)
go without arms, simply as surveyors & road-makers under a well selected officer as
Chief Surveyor, & let it be distinctly understood that the whole expense of employing
them must be defrayed by the colony, or they will be ordered home at the expiration
of six months.
Another matter worth mentioning is that the Governor should avoid most carefully everything
tending to draw a distinction between British subjects & aliens.
The former will be in a minority of one to twenty at least
least; and any attempt to invest them with exceptional privileges will necessarily
fail, besides producing jealousies & quarrels which could hardly fail to involve ourselves.
Good. Enforce this in despatch [EBL].
least; and any attempt to invest them with exceptional privileges will necessarily
fail, besides producing jealousies & quarrels which could hardly fail to involve ourselves.
Good [EBL].
It cannot be too often repeated that this colony will not be worth making or keeping
if we are to spend money or use force in keeping it. If the people are allowed the
entire management of their own affairs, it will remain British; if they find themselves
hampered or controlled, they will make it impossible for us to hold.
Good [EBL].
As regards finance, I would give the Governor credit for a limited sum say £20,000.
This & the guarantee of sufficient salaries to the officers I have mentioned should
be the entire amount of our pecuniary contribution. I think it will be better to
treat the £20,000 (or
(or whatever sum be fixed upon) as a grant & not a loan. A loan might be repudiated
which would involve us in attempts to enforce payment in other words hostile collision,
& to send one Regiment there for 6 months would cost more independently of ulterior
consequences than twice the amount of the loan.
(or whatever sum be fixed upon) as a grant & not a loan. A loan might be repudiated
which would involve us in attempts to enforce payment in other words hostile collision,
& to send one Regiment there for 6 months would cost more independently of ulterior
consequences than twice the amount of the loan.I foresee in the whole matter great difficulty & danger & if false steps be made at
the outset indefinite expense & trouble to this country.
I consider it a serious misfortune that the country is ours at all, but as this cannot
be helped, the only thing we have to do is to mix ourselves up with it's concerns
as little as possible.
I must entreat your pardon for the rough & hasty manner
manner in which this Letter is written. I have indeed hardly had time to read it
over.
manner in which this Letter is written. I have indeed hardly had time to read it
over.
[P.S.] The officer commanding the Sappers should be instructed that his men are to
be employed solely as surveyors & engineers; & not as police; & that they are to take
no part in the affairs of the country, beyond their own special province. [JRG]