The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-12


as British country A resident agent wa7
then placed at Bloemfontein. This state
of sovereignty continued until 1854. In
that year the continued troubles with The
Basutos and GriQuas caused the English
government to relinqvish the country
north of the Orange river. BY the con-
vention of BlOemfonteiu, signed Feb. q
1854, the country north of the Orange
river territory was recognized as an in
dependent state. This convention freed
the farmers from allegiance TO the Biz
ish crown; the English government was
to have no alliances with any of The
tribal chiefs north of the Orange river
with the exception of Adam Kok, the
chief of the Griqua tribe. The new gov
eminent guaranteed the rights of the per-
sons and property of British subjects
resident in that territory at that time.
Extradition was also provided for; courts
of law were to be es ablshed. and slavery
was not to be allowed. The Orange river
territory was to have the right to pur-
chase arms and munitions in British
South Africa.
The volksraad adopted the Orange Free
State constitution on April 10, 1854. 1t
was based upon the constitution of the
United States. This constitution gave any
one living in the territory six months
before April 10 the Tight to vote for presi-
dent and for members of the legislature
The president is elected every five years
by all of the enfranChised burghers. The
presidents advisory council consists of
the landdrost (magistrate) of the Bloem-
fontein district the government secretary
or president and three unofficial members
who are elected to that service by the
velksraad. The Roman Dutch law was
made the common law of the land. The
courts follow this in the absence of spe-
cifc statutory provisions Liberty of the
press and freedom of speech are guaran-
teed by the fundamental law. The con-
stitution cannot be amended or repealed
except by a three-fourths vote at each
of two annual sessions of the legislature
The constitution of the country was re-
vised and re-enacted on March g. 1866, and
agar on May s, 1879 The changes were
minor. From 1854 until now the Orange
Free State has been q republic. 1t has had
eight presidents in that time.
During these fOrty-five years of indie
pendence the Orange Free State has ex-
perienced the following events: There was
string of Basuto wars with spasms of
peace from 1883 to 1858. After these ten
years of tribal wars the republic tri-
umphed The Basutos had been so com
pletely whipped that the British govern
ment at the earnest entreaty of Chief
Moshesh, the paramount of the tribe
proclaimed the unanneXed part of Basuto-
errment of Queen Victoria annexed
Griqualand West or the diamond fields
which was then nominally under the rule
OF Waterboer, chief of the Grioua tribe.
The Free State demanded this country.
having acquired 1t by cession and pur-
chase from the predecessor of this chief
To settle this dispute Great Britain agreed
to pay to the Free State $780, 900 for a clear
title to this land. In 1889 the Orange Free
State formed its customs union with
Cape Colony.
In the railway union the Cape govern
ment agreed TO build a railway through
the Free State at Its own expense and
risk at a certain sum per mile. The tariff
of passengers and goods over this line
was to be mutually agreed upon. The
Orange Free State had the option of TAX
ing over this railroad If 1t liked after its
completion at a stated sum per mile The
Cape government in the meantime work
ed the line and equally divided the profits
on 1T with the republic for seven years.
This road was opened In July, 1892 Since
then 1t has produced an estimated annual
profit of $SOO,000 This Is due largely to
the development of the gold mines In the
South Africa republic. This line and Its
feeders connect all the harhors of Cane
Colony with Pretoria and the rich gold
mines of Johannesburg which glsten so
much in the British eye, and which are
the incentive for the present war in