to the tribunal of public opinion. 10. I do not therefore, by any means, consider that the introduction of two official Members — who were selected by a small body of Magistrates from their own number, is to be defended solely on the ground that their presence in the Legislative Council is not
• obstructive or prejudicial", and I should think the introduction of a third additional Member a mere idle and useless incumbrance, not to say utterly unworthy of the attention of the Government — if the reasons for the admission had been of more urgency than that his presence would do us harm. 11. As regards the exclusion of
No three in all
J
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foreigners from the Electoral body, I think such exclusion would be unpopular and unjust. Foreigners contribute their proportion to the expenses of the Colony, and are called on to serve as jurors, and in other public capacities. It would be a sufficient security in my judgment, that the elected members of the Legislature should be natural born British subjects or have obtained letters of naturalization in England — Moreover, as the total number of non-official members proposed is five — of whom I suggested that three should be chosen from the justices of the Peace, and as the Official members of the Council were intended to be right,