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But a moment's consideration will show that this alleged misgovernment has nothing whatever to do with the distress, which even those who most com. plain of it attribute, when they are called upon to account for it, not to any measure of the internal Government of the colonies, but to the change in the commercial policy of this country, by which the produce of the British Colonies has been ex- posed to the competition of foreign countries. My opinion as to the soundness of our commercial policy, and as to its being that which will prove the best for the ultimate and permanent interest even of the colonies, is not in the slightest degree affected by anything that has taken place, and I am as con- fident as ever that it was the right policy for this country to adopt; but be this as it may, it is obvi- ously a subject with which departmentally the 'Colonial Office has nothing to do. The question is, whether the difficulties and distress to which the Tropical Colonies have been exposed, have in any way been aggravated by measures emanating from that Office, and having relation to their internal government?
Upon this question I have to observe, in the first place, that with regard to the Chartered Colonies, the Assemblies elected by the planters exercise the whole power, both of making laws and of determin- ing upon all their financial arrangements, subject only to the veto of the Crown, which has been very rarely used, and never in the last three years, except upon the clearest grounds of necessity. The power of the Crown in these colonies is purely adminis- trative and executive, and as such its duties are in a great measure confined to preserving the public peace and security. It is certain that these have been most effectually maintained, and when any alarm or disturbance has taken place the measures adopted to meet the danger have been prompt and energetic. In Guiana, for instance, during the last year, there was at one time serious discontent amongst the labourers owing to the reduction of wages, and some incendiary fires took place; but the Governor, though far from being well sup- ported by the planters and Legislature, soon suc- In Jamaica also, during ceeded in restoring order. the summer, there were very alarming rumours us
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