New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-26

Nv another ordinance, Demerara and Esse' <u,bo
were divided into parishes, and mo- -ey wos
.,,ron,;s,ed for the building Of churclep and tb,
nav Of clergymen. This was the cor .mepcemeut
Of The existing religious establisb,.ne Of British
cu;suo. The coonists consent". d the more readily
70 these appropriations in topes of getting rid of
the missionaries. The first at rmpts, however, at
subeciing the colonsts to feligious restraints en-
countered some DRAWBACKS Very few of the cler-
rmen first indicted tate the new parishes-a
part of which were Gpiscopalian and part Pres
hytelion--proyed sGeqIsse to the emergency. IN
stead of converting the colonists from the prevail
ing looseness If their ways they themselves 100
often ell into the loose habits of the colony. In
one respect The example Of the new Governor
went further than either the preaching or practice
of the new cIcryymen. He took his wilewith him,
and the Government House now gave an example
of social decencies and domestic prophecies hith-
erto unknown From this period may be dated
gradual change in the IDEAS and manners of the
whites not less remarkable than that which has
taken place in the condition of the negroes.
Experience soon showed that TO give the new
enactments in favor of the slaves their full opera
ton additional provisions were needed. AS the
Court of Policy proved intractable, these were
made in lS3O by an order in COuncl-the colonies
of Guiana being considered, in their character OF
conquered colonies subject to direct legislation by
the Crown. This order provided for the appoint
ment of assistant protectors of slaves 1t prohib-
| tied, in case Of sales, the separation OF rela-
tions. 1t required that slaves should be allowed
to testify and required specific allowance OF
| food and clothing. An attempt was made to re-
sist this legislation for the Colony by order III
| Council as being contrary to the terms granted to
the Colony at the time of the original captula-
ton. But this doctrine received 10 countenance
| from the British Government, which on the con-
| trary, by new order in Council of the next year,
with a view to facilitate their plans of ameliora-
ticn, annexed Berbice, where similar changes had
also been made in the legal position of the slaves,
to Dcmerara and EssequbO, giving to the united
colony the name of British Guiana.
The Constitution given to the new Colony, and
which il still retains, was in substance the same
with that which had prevailed in its constituent
parts. The Court of Policy consists of five Off
cial and five elected members, the Governor, who
acts as one of the official members having, in case
of tie, an additional casting vote. This Court
of Policy possesses general Legislative powers, and
also the right of framing annual estimate of the
amount of money needed for the current expendi-
lures of the Colony, and of the taxes required to
raise it. But before these appropriations or taxes
have the force Of law, they must first receive the
appreciation of the Combined Court, so called in
which six Financial Representatives, elected by
the colonists, sit and vote with the members of
the Court Of Policy.
This uniCu of the Colonies was followed by an
order in Council, TO which was given the title of
the consolidated Slave Ordinance In addition to
the provisions already mentioned it contained new
ones for the appointment of paid assistant pro-
tectOrs of slaves, reducing the hours of labor to
nine, and for pregnant women, and children under
fourteen, to six 1t also increased the allowances
hitherto prescribed, and reduced the extent of
punishment to fifteen lashes.
At this time sugar had fallen to very low price,
and the Colonial members of the Court of Policy,
in document addressed TO the Governor, in which
they besought him to delay the publication of the
order, declared themselves impressed with a firm
conviction that, if such a publication did take
place, the utter ruin and drsolation of the Colony
already suffering under the seyerest calamites
would be contaminated.