, 1874-12-05
No. ~.

force in Ste Croix with Money Bills CON
nected Herewith. 7e3
list discussion page,
The Governor had after the last meeting
when he introduced this Draft heard that some
Members of the Council were under the impress
sion that he had said it would not be courteous
or proper in the Council to forward to the
Government an address of the nature alluded to,
He had not said SO, nor HAD he intended
TO. say anything that could be unpleasant to
the feelings Of Members; but he believed he
had said, or at all events his intention was
to say, that after the calculations given by
him as regards the desired remodelling etc.
of administrative offices and Of taxation, 1t
would not be fair to bring In such an address,
and he hoped that the difference in this re-
mark will be noticed. ...
Ist Member for Frederiksted (SaraaW)
would express bis thanks for the explanation
given by His Excellency, as there were really
some Members who had taken His Excel
lency's remark In the first sense.--He
would then, with the Chairlnan's per-
mission, beg to make some few remarks
which are more Of q general nature.
He would beg to call to mind that His }Ex-
c"ellency 10 the course of his Introductory re-
marks last meeting had expressed himself
to this effect, that he did not consider himself
bound by the promises of FORMER Governors
in reference to our administrative reforms and
reduction of taxation. Now, if that was His
Excellency's meaning, he, the Speaker, could
not agree in il. It is q matter of course that
when promises given cannot be fulfilled. no.
thing further can be done. But His ExoellencY'
goes further he ignores the promises given
BY foregoing Governors to this Community.
This view the Speaker could'not at all adopt.
When the Governor in q private conversation
engages or promises TO do something, his sue
cessor can of course not be considered bound
by any such promise but when the Governor
from his official seat in this Council promises
that something will be effected or undertaken,
it is something more, here the Governor speaks
as the Representative of His Majesty and Of the
Home Government, And he believed that
the inhabitants, the whole community are then
bound to place confidence In the Governors
words as Representative of the Home Govern
ment. Moreover, in the cases we have in
view, it was expressly stated, that the promises
were given according to instructions of the
Home Government and Chamberlain .Blle's
words were still more weighfy, he being, as
he was, an Extraordinary Commissioner, Of
His Majesty, This point Of keeping the pro-,
misses thus made does not involve merely. q
matter Of individual feeling or sense of duty,
but ii is a matter of law; for it follows, of
itself that no Governor would give such pro-
misses without knowing that the Home Govern
ment agree in them, so as not afterwards to- be
disavowed and when a promise is given under
such circumstances by one Governor itt must
be binding on his successor, and can not be
ignored, just because it is the Governor who
gave itin behalf of the Home Government,
and not the different Governors personally.
In this opinion he is borne out by 5 S of the
Colonial Law, which ordains thatp"they Gov
ernment of the Danish Westihdiaf Islands rests,
under the superior direction ofthe responsible
Minister concerned. with the Governor i'm ac-
cordanoe with the Instructions given by ithe
King" When the Governor in the Colonial
Council gives a declaration, this act must GER
tainly come In under that provision, and it, be-
comes all the more binding because lit Gould
not be given without the knowledge and CON-
sent of the Home Government. 4a5e, 4sy.
The Governor hoped that no oneiherel would
ever find him less than his word ; bbqtt no could
not come up to any other mans dwoFd, even, il
it were q Goyernor's; be could not say that
he would undertake 70 carry Out. all what pre-
yiouss, Governors had promised..an Such promises
may be Of two, classes the one where they are
given by the Governor, when speaking in the
Council in behalf Of. The Home Government or
agreeable to their, Instructions it is 9 matter
of course, that the Governor is bound by ouch
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