PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
།།།།།།
Reference—
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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being an elector, the amount to be paid for the ex- ercise of such right, without alluding to the abuses and dangerous consequences possibly attending the unchecked power attributed to such Association.
Under these circumstances I have the honour to
submit to your Excellency, as my opinion, that it is highly advisable to put a stop from the outset to the illegal course upon which the promoters of the proposed Association appear disposed to enter, and that it should be intimated either, to the Chairman of the above said meeting, or by a public notice, that the resolutions in question cannot have any force or validity, and the projected Association be legally constituted, but with the previous sanction of the Governor, agreeably to the colonial law, and that the carrying into execution of the same would be a direct violation of the law subjecting the offenders to the penalties imposed in such case,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
P. D'EPINAY. Procureur and Advocate-General.
The Governor, therefore, by public notice forbad all meetings of the Association, declaring at the same time that he did so with reluctance, and that he should be always ready to submit to the Home Government any proposition for the establishment of institutions not at present forming part of its political constitution, which might be presented to him by any parties. He also stated his willingness to continue to afford the utmost facility, consistent with public order, to all freedom of discussion bear- ing upon the concerns of the colony of whatever description; and he further invited the Committee to suggest any improvement which it was within the competency of the local Government to adopt.
The Committee denied that the Association con- templated any of the objects stated by the Governor, and alledged that they wished to discuss a petition to the Queen, setting forth the true state of the colony, which the Governor had much misrepre- sented to the Secretary of State. They further argued that the recognition by Lord Grey of the Mauritius Association in London, justified them in
thinking that his Lordship would approve of their present proceedings.
Jakom
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The Governor again stated his willingness to forward any representations to the Home Govern- ment which might be presented to him on the affairs of the colony, and pointed out how the Association might securely and constitutionally pursue the objects which they professed to have in view for promoting the welfare of the colony; but he appealed from their professions to their resolu- tions, and to the speeches and writings in the public journals which advocated their cause, to show that the objects of the Association were not generally regarded as merely political; and he announced that he should assert the supremacy of the law which was likely to be invaded by parties who might take advan- tage of the proceedings of the Association to create disturbance, such proceedings being wholly un- authorized.
Another public meeting was then held, but the police interfered and dispersed it. The Committee then asked permission to hold another public meeting for the purpose of advising upon such further mea- sures as the proceedings of the local Government had left open to them with the view of carrying out their already declared object. The Governor asked for a more explicit statement of the object they had
in view in holding such meeting, and the Committee referred him to the resolutions passed at the first public meeting, but stated that the forming of an association in the colony, composed of delegates from each district chosen by the resident inhabitants, having been forbidden, their present object was to devise means of faithfully representing to Her Ma- jesty the grievances of the colony. The Governor allowed them to hold the public meeting for these declared objects. Crossing the Governor's letter granting this permission, he received another letter from the Committee condemning strongly the general policy of the Governor, and stigmatizing his proceed- ings with respect to the Association as most arbitrary.
A public meeting took place on the 17th October,
at which the following Resolutions were passed:-
"1. That in consequence of the measures adopted by the local Government, as publicly made known, and as further reported on by our Committee, it is expedient that this Meeting should without delay devise the best means, however imperfect they must