REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR UPON THE RECEPTION OF THIS CONSENT BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY1

March 24, 1854

WITH reference to my despatch, No. 90, of the 23d instant, enclosing a copy of my message transmitting to the House of Assembly your Grace's despatch No. 49, of the 21st ultimo, on the subject of responsible government, I have the honor to inform your Grace that I received from that body on the evening of yesterday, the 23d, the enclosed address, requesting me to cause the mail steamer to be delayed for a period of 24 hours, to enable them to forward by this mail what they termed "a reply to such despatch." This request I complied with.

2. I have just received an address from the Assembly to your Grace, which I enclose herewith.

3. This address states that the concession of responsible government, on the conditions attached by your Grace, instead of being received with approval by the people, would be rejected without hesitation; but the accompanying "Public Ledger" of this day-the ablest and most influential journal of this Colony, which represents the sentiments of the Protestants, that is, of the majority of the people-in addition to saying that the terms of your Grace's despatch exactly meet the prayer of their recent petition to the Queen, has the following statement: "And we have no doubt that the Protestant population generally will be gratified at the opportunity of evincing how much they concur 1 Commons Papers, 1854-55, vol. 36, No. 273, p. 42.

in the justice of the principles contained in the despatch of the noble Duke, who has so much entitled himself to their best and warmest thanks."

4. The enclosed minutes of this day's proceedings show the opinion of the minority of the House in the shape of an amendment which confirms the statement above referred to.

5. As to the stereotyped observations respecting the Council I need not occupy your Grace's time by remarks upon them.

6. The principles of a subdivision of the more populous districts, and an increase of the representation on a fair basis, adopted in your Grace's despatch, and so earnestly insisted on by the Protestants of the country, ought not, I think, on any account, to be abandoned, as the result of such a course would be that which I have so frequently pointed out.1

1 Bills for altering the basis of representation in the Legislative Assembly and for protecting office holders against loss in the sense indicated by the despatches from the Colonial Office were finally adopted in November, 1854, and assented to in January, 1855, not without much debate, conference and diplomacy, to mention only the mildest forms of manoeuvering observable among the various parties and persons interested. The new elections were held and responsible government set up in the spring of 1855 as the following items show. For much illuminating material in the case and texts of the Representation and Pension bills see, ibid., pp, 102, 112, 118, 119, 121-123, and, in general, 1-123. For a valuable index to the papers relating to the events in Newfoundland, as well as to the other dominions, see: Guide to the Principal Parliamentary Papers Relating to the Dominions, 1812-1911 by M. I. Adams, J. Ewing, and J. Munro, published by Oliver and Boyd, 33 Paternoster Row, E. C., London, 1913.

REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR ON THE FINAL STEPS OF THE PROCESS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND1

December 29, 1854

REFERRING to my despatch No. 127, of the 14th November last, I have now the honor to acquaint you that having, with the advice and consent of the Council, fixed the elections to take place on the 7th and 12th May, I have issued the necessary proclamation for that purpose in the form heretofore followed, with such modifications only as were requisite to make it accord with the terms of the recent Act for increasing the number of representatives.

3. I have now to solicit your directions with reference to the separation of the Councils, for which purpose, I presume, a Royal Instruction will be forwarded to me.

5. Considering the relative number of the members of the Assembly, I am of opinion that the number of the Council need not, for the present, exceed 12. The Executive Council may, for the present, with convenience, consist of the remaining members of the existing Council, excepting the officer commanding the troops; seven in all. Of course, on the meeting of the Legislature, a reconstruction of the Executive Council will necessarily take place; and it will then embrace such a number (seven would be ample) of the members of the Legislative Council and Assembly as might be selected by the party having the majority in the Assembly under the new system of government.

1 Commons Papers, 1854-55, vol. 36, No. 273, p. 121.

REPLY OF THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO THIS REPORT1

January 25, 1855

I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 142, of the 29th of December last, reporting that you had fixed the elections to take place, under the provisions of the new Representation Act, on the 7th and 12th of May, and requesting instructions with reference to the separation of the Legislative and Executive Councils.

On the latter point I have to acquaint you that the necessary instrument, under the royal sign manual, for the reconstruction of the Councils, will be transmitted to you by an early opportunity.

1 Ibid., p. 123.