, 1876-07-12

1850 acknowledging the sovereignty of the
King, the said constitution was in 1862 &C.
knowledged and confirmed to the ~colOnists by
the representatives of the Parliament, and it
has continued to the present time, securing to
the inhabitants good laws, light taxation,
cheap and ready means of obtaining justice,
and all those benefits which grow out of or are
consistent with the principles of English free
dom. 3. That the said constitution has always
been regarded with reverence and affection by
the col0nists, not only for its intrinsic excel.
lence and its beneficial working, but because
of its similarity to the constitution of England,
a standing proof being thereby given of the
British origin of the colony, as we'll as of the
tie which has happily connected it uninterrupt-
edly with the mother country. 4. That bear
ing in mind these things, we and all others
interested in the colony observed with great
satisfaction the declaration of your lordship,
that the spontaneous action Of the Legislature
should not be in any way interfered with.
5. That the Council, besides being an Upper
Legislative Chamber, has always, in accord
ance with a we'll recognised principle of Eng;
fish Colonial Administration which declares
that at least a part of the Executive Council
shall be members drawn from the Legislative
Codnoil-aoted as an Executive or Privy
COupCil until a very recent period. 6. That
the Council has always been composed of those
members Of the community who were of long
standing in the island, and ofmuch experience,
consideration and worth, who had consistently,
for many years perhaps, devoted themselves
TO the public service in the hope OF being APP
pointed, as a distinguished mark Of Her Males
tvs appreciation Of their conduct, TO q seat in
the Council, and whose appointment thereto
from their extensive Influence and high ~charac-
ter, has promoted wise legislation aud given
stability to Government. 4. That a majority
OF independent members of this class 10 the
Council has not interfered with or impeded
the constitutional action of the Governor, as
the representative of Her Majesty in carrying
on the Government, and controlling legislation.
s. That the introduction, now being effected
by the Governor of a greater number of officials
(whose votes would be necessarily regulated
by their position as Government ~ofioers) into
the Legislative Council than has hitherto been
the case, Is q change in the constitution which
Is not consistent with your lordShip's instruc-
tlOns regarding the spontaneous action Of the
Legislature in reference to such changes, nor
with the ordinary principle which governs the
composition OF such a body. 9. That this
action on the part of the Governor is c~alculat-
ed to entirely neutraliSe the influence Of the
nom official members Of the Legislative Oouu
oil, and your memOrialiSts have heard with
the deepest regret that, probably, for this in
connection with other considerations, the old
members Of the Council have sent in their
designations. 10. We would therefore humbly
pray that your lordship would be pleased to
give these statements your serious considera-
ton, and take such immediate steps as In
your wisdom may seem meet to preserve to
the inhabitants of the island the rights and
privileges they have so long enjoyed under
their own free constitution.
-=swaSG~~-