( 42 )
Article 4 says quite clearly that all persons in power, and all officials and all individuals, whether clerical or lay, and in fact all the inhabitants, shall be maintained in their official positions, rights, trades, privileges, political constitution, as also that all families and households should remain undisturbed, and in fact all property respected and protected.
The memorandum of the Bürger Committee of Heligoland shows only too clearly the former and the present systems of Government, and proves in a glaring manner the advantages and privileges of the Guaranteed Constitution of 1807, and points out with distinct appendixes the present wretched and comfortless state of the formerly so happy island.
On the occasion of the examination of the Bürger petition on board Her Majesty's ship at anchor in the roads on the 11th of June 1867, his Grace stated that—
"We had the right at any moment to make such proposals as we considered tended towards the good of the island."
The representatives, therefore, agreed to examine again the Treasury book in the presence of various officials in order that the result might be communicated to the Colonial Office.
In truth an examination of the book. did take place by the 12 elected representatives and one member of the Council of the Governor.
In truth some members of the former representatives assembly were also present on invitation, they having also declared their opinion that the Treasury book was in disorder, and from all of which thoroughly sufficient proofs were discovered that the Treasury book had been kept in a most wretched manner, that many accounts did not agree, that the island money had been directed in a most unexampled bad manner, showing wherefrom therefore that the complaints contained in the Bürger memorandum on the subject of the Treasury book were greatly strengthened and ratified; however, a perfectly satisfactory and final result as regards this question could not be obtained in order to place this question aside for ever, as all such matters ought to be most decidedly laid before lawyers and impartial judges who would decide to the satisfaction of everyone.
We then also required that the four quartermasters who had been deposed from their offices by the Governor should be replaced, and that eight quartermasters chosen by the people should be appointed.
The Governor did indeed grant our request for eight quartermasters, but under such conditions that after the installation of the quartermasters all eight had been named by the Governor, because, firstly, the three existing ones remained in office, secondly, the Governor reappointed two who had formerly lost their offices as a punishment for their behaviour on the occasion of the imprisonment of innocent Burgers, and, lastly, the officials were required to give in the names of six other Bürgers for the Governor's selection of the remaining two.
The answer of the representatives was, that if the Governor felt himself justified in appointing five quartermasters, it was, of course, comprehensible that he should appoint the remaining three.
In this manner the representatives obtained their desire for eight quartermasters but in a most illegal manner, viz., through the arbitrariness of the Governor.
Notwithstanding that the Burgers are anxious for peace and order, and have sent their complaints again and again to the British Government without up to the present moment having met with justice, the Governor proceeds on the new path with renewed force to the great discontent of the Bürgers.
Instead of giving to the Burgers the required satisfaction as regards the island Treasury book and its direction he insists, in concert with his "self-named Rathsmen," on taxes, without however, giving the Burgers any proofs of the necessity of such measures, wherefrom the Burgers instead of becoming quiet and peaceful are getting more and more excited
With reference to the taxes the Representatives have answered again and again that before they can consider the question of taxation the most full satisfaction must be given on the subject of the Treasury book and as perfectly ordered and legal form of Government established; under such circumstances and should they deem the course necessary, they would have nothing against it.
The Representatives must also remark with sorrow that the so-called Combined Court," the Vorstcherschaft of Heligoland, must always remain in a minority as the Governors Rathemanner have 13 votes in case of equal division of the two houses, whilst the Representatives, and then all must be present, have only 12 votes, and the consequence must be the constant defeat of the Bürgers whilst only the complete divi-ion of the two houses can remedy the evil.
The question of taxation then was again was brought, forward by the Governor and was refused by the Representatives. The Governor answered to this that he could not collect taxes without their being voted, but that the "pleasure play-tables" of the, bathing visitors by which the island solely and alone can exist, should be closed at the end of the present season.
Moreover, the Governor has despotically ordered the lessee of the play-rooms not to pay the lease for the present year, by which the island will be entirely ruined.
We are therefore obliged in our duty to the people to ask our Government the following question:- Is the Governor justified to interfere so arbitrarily in the island direction of affairs, whoreby incalculable disorders will arise ?
We are of the firm opinion that Heligoland can impossibly be governed under the present almost oligarchial system of government if the total ruin of the island is not to ensue.
We therefore beg your Grace that the former Bürger memorandum and the present petition may be laid before the members of the British Parliament in order that this sort of conduct may at last be put
an end to.
Most obediently, the Representatives of Heligoland.
(Signed)
H. RICKMERS,
P. P. HANSEN,
PAUL LASSEN,
H. R. FRIEDRICHS,
M. RÖHRS,
H. FRIEDRICHS,
H. LORENZEN,
R. STOLDT,
H. R. OHLSEN,
O. PAYENS,
HEINR FRANZ.
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Enclosure 2 in No. 9.
(Translation.)
MEETING OF THE COMBINED COURT of 12th September 1867.
REFERRING to the last meeting the chairman requested the House, in consideration of all that had gone before, and the promises made to, as well as the conditions made by his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, to declare finally and positively whether they would keep up taxation in the island or
not.
In answer to this the elected members stated that their opinion respecting the question of taxation was contained in their last letter to his Grace, and that they could not any further enter into this question.
The Legislative Counsellors thereupon insisted upon keeping up taxation, and referred to the Protocol of a former meeting according to which the elected members engaged to raise a voluntary contribution of 2,000 marks.
K. M. MICHELS.
SIM
(Signed in fidem)
Enclosure 3 in No. 9.
(Translation.)
Heligoland, 18th September 1867.
In answer to your communication of the 16th of this month we have to inform your Excellency that the "non-reply
19
to your "petition" for a second copy of the memorial was a proceeding on our part most carefully considered and purposely entered into, because we are positively certain that we have fulfilled everything required by the Colonial Office rules in sending the memorial to your Excellency.
Should, however, necessity require several copies of such document, so are we of the opinion that such should be made by your Excellency's Secretary, Mr. Gatkey.
We lived in the hope that our written complaint had at once been given to the Colonial Office, which appears, however, not to be the case, as firstly, your Excellency's "petition" for copies and secondly, the reading of our memorial "im Amtshause" proves fully that the petition has not yet left Holigoland; we must also place on record our regret that your Excellency addressed the Representatives of the Bürgers as: "Mr. H. Rickmers and others" as such proceedings are certainly no more the custom amongst the civilized world.
"My gentlemen Representatives" would have sounded much finer. The representatives of the people.
His Excellency, Governor of Heligoland.
(Signed)
H. RICKMERS.
PET PAY HANSEN.
M. RÖHRS.
W. R. FRIEDRICHS. ÖHL PAYENS.
No. 10.
HINR R. OHLSEN. R. STOLDT.
P. K. LASSEN. H. LORENZEN. HEINR FRANZ.
GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MAXSE, C.M.G., to His GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS.
MY LORD DUKE,
(Received November 18, 1867.) 49, Upper Grosvenor Street, London,
16th November 1867.
I HAVE the honour to inform your Grace, in answer to a complaint from certain members of the Combined Court in Heligoland, dated the 4th of November 1867, that the same is only a continuance of the series of papers which have been sent to the Secretary of State by the so-called Bürger Committee, and the substance of which
was fully gone into by your Grace on board H.M.S. "Enchantress" this
year. 2. I would remark, however, with regard to the complaint as to the heading of the local Ordinances, that the same are not so headed in the manner advanced by the petitioners, but in the proper legal form as they are forwarded to the Secretary of State. 3. The petitioners are probably alluding to the usual form attached to a public proclamation.
4. I would further observe to your Grace, that no proclamation was made on the subject of taxes, but an address read by myself to the Combined Court.
5. I have the honour to inclose a copy of the address, which the petitioners have omitted to do, though they were furnished with a copy.
F 2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
4 4 1 1 CO. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
LONDON