, 1876-07-12

A0bO IuO O0uoCp piOAAn1dGO anu IcLlO60 vi LU6
recent disturbances. There is an impression
that it is not unlikely the Government will
consent to an inquiry, which indeed ought, so
far as the disturbances are concerned, to have
been Instituted some weeks ago. A Royal
Commission may be said to be looming 10 the
immediate future. The colony has nothing to
fear and everything to hope for from the most
rigorous examination. It will give a trium-
phant reply to all the accusations which have
been leveIled against it, and such critics as
Mr.. Jenkins will be easily disposed of. 1t is
believed that a Royal Commission impartially
constituted will be welcomed by everyone
interested In the colony, and that it will be
readily accepted by the representatives Of the
West India body in Parliament if the Score.
tary of State announces the issue of one. But
there is One essential condition which will be
insisted upon. During the progress of an
inquiry it will be necessary to place the Gov
eminent of the colony into the hands of a mao
entirely independent of those local political
questions which are closely connected with the
recent events. The Government Of the colony
will, however, probably be entrusted to the
chief commissioner, as was the case I'M Jamaie
ca. Unless this is done, it is absolutely GER
tain that the Commission will inspire no con-
fdeuce, and however real its Importantly might
be it might create greater evils than it would
cure. Her Maiesty's Government are bound, in
Justice to the colony, to issue Royal Commits
sion so constituted as to attract general conf
denco. No youthful radical philosophers or
brief8ss barristers will be accepted for such a
duty, upon the faithful discharge Of which it is
not too much to say the future of the colony
for many years to com VII depend. If the
colony is dissatisfied with the Royal Commits
sion, supposing one is issued, or if there is any
Ja1ov in Drouilioy fn1. tho cpfilaOonOt Of
the controversy which is doing 50 much harm
to the Colony, and causing public business
and a good deal of private business too, to
come to a Standstill, the local Legislature Will
probably appoint representatives to plead its
cause at the bar of the House. 1t is some
time since that curious constitutional procedure
has been gone through, and it mast be con-
fessed that the assertion Of the indhPatable
right Of appeal to the Imperial Parliament
possessed by every British community would
be a most interesting occasion. Almost every
West Indian library contains copies Of speeches
which have been delivered at the bar of the
House, by representatives of the Colonies,
and it must be confessed thas the exercise
of such a right affords one Of she best
means of laying before the country at large
the grievances Of a Colony. 1t wUald be
worth while to examine the constitutional
principles upon which the right is founded, but
this must be left for another opportunity. It
would be an instructive spectacle to see, for
instance, Mr.. Reeves, the ex-Solioi5OT General,
pleading the cause of Barbados before Parlia-
ment. But, ~ofoOurse, a Royal Commission, or inn
mediate action on the part Of the Government,
would obYiato the necessity for such a proceed
ing, as we'll as the adoption of other means
which have also been discussed, and which
would consist of a petition to be laid ct the
foot of the throne. The constitutional rights
of the colonies, as involved in the relations
between them and the Home Government, are
being at the present time discussed with so
much interest by leading politicians that any
practical exertion Of those rights by the oldest
planted colony of Great Britain would, apart
from the particular circumstances which may
have induced such action, be subject of gen
eral Interest.
An important branch of this Barbados ques,
ton lies in the treatment of the Council by the
Government. First, the Council was deprived
OF Its executive funotions-then as a Legislative
body a preponderating number of official men,
bers we're introduced, and the result is that all
the old independent members of the Council
have resigned. Such an incident as this
would be calculated to bring matters to a crisis
and a memorial has been addressed to the
Secretary of State upon this subject by 100
Barbados proprietors resident in England.
The memorial explains the point at issue,
and as it is one of the most important docu-
ments which the present question has prSduc-
al oud ia cura tn ba raad with oraat intprask.