, 1872-03-02

nlcatlOn, should have a sort of claim To he
the seat OF the General Government; for
we contend that the public Budget of St,
CFolX sheWs up a sum of income and ex-
pendlture equal to that of st. Thomas. and
the amount Of capital represented bv the
w towns and estates in st. Croix is equal
to, II not exceeding that represented bv
the stores and buildings of Charlotte Anna
la, and even the I'LL nay sometimes have
had their mlssiyings as to the boasted supe-
rlorIUy OF transit trade to sugar cul-
tlVatlon. But we do think that St.
Thomas IS by its central position, and
ny lts frequent and direct communication
with the world, especially now since the
completion OF the Geographic line with
america and Europe, more suited to be
Tue centre OF administration so that the
rouIihe OF more than a century standing,
ttlaC communications to and from tie
Home-Government, as well as almost all
other communications from abroad. had first
10 arrive at st. Thomas, then be despatch
ca TO St Cf0iX to the General Government
by uncertain and tardy conveyances, to be
returnedt to st. Thomas again, should be set
ASIDE But, now, when the Chief Govern
meDt be finally removed to st. Thomas, the
question arises how the local administration
OF st, Crolx is to be conducted and here we
mustexpressi it as our decided conviction, and
tllaCof a large portion OF respectable and
thinking Inhabitants, that we need not have
a special local Superior Magistrate, as we
believe that the administration of this Island
may properly and satisfactorily be conduct
ed by a Colonial Secretary, invested witt
an extended degree of administrative pc
to decide local matters in behalf an,
the responsibility of the Governor, with
certain definite instructions, with the assist
ance OF an Undersecretarv Charged also
with the public accounts) and the requisite
Staf OF subOrdlnateS. 1t has been argued
tllaC II Is necessary to have some sort of
Superior Official present in the Island, in
vested with authority above the other Off
Gals, and with the means of maintaining a
certain degree of dignity and Independence:
but we fail to see why a Colonial Secretary
acting IN behalf Of the Governor himself
and under his Instructions should not be
able to maintain the necessary authority,
ana to discharge with full independence CT
spirit the duties devolving on him, at the
same time as his official position as repre-
sentative OF the Governor will be quite
sufficient dignity we are rather inclined
to believe that the colony itself and the
General Administration will be better
served by an arrangement whereby. one
head and one spirit could conduct the
whole machinery. The chief. local Official,
when established separately as such, will
a always endeaVOur to set himself up as sole
Administrator of the colony, and will seek
to carry out his views, and even when act
ing in behalf of the Governor in chief ac-
cordlng to his Instructions, he will, in the
feeling OF a certain Independence of posi-
tlon' seek to give his own personal opin-
ION and conviction undue influence, and
may even, in case of difference of opinion,
operate c%overtly against the General Gov
ernment With one sole Governor and an
entirely subordinate Secretary residing
here and acting according to instructions,
a very desirable uniformity of view and
action will be secured.-And it has been
said, that the peculiar circumstances of
this Island require or necessitate the pre-
sence OF d Superior Authority resident
here, and that the Governor residing in
st. Thomas cannot be expected to have