CO885(2-3) — Page 433

!. The fact that it is a popular feeling throughout our Colonies has to be proved, and is not very consistent with our present information.

2. If the desire to substitute Diplomatic relations for communication through the Governor arises not from a sense of inconvenience, but from au impatience of inequality, that impatience in a case when equality is impossible, is really inconsistent with the continuance of our present relations.

Such a substitution, while it would not relieve Great Britain from a certain responsi. bility for her Colonies, would substitute for a metropolitan relation a tie practically more faint, and probably more embarrassing than that which in the last reign connected England with Hanover.

F. R.

April 25, 1870.

APPENDIX.

MR. HIGINBOTHAM'S RESOLPT.ONS.

"THAT the care of the political rights and interests of a free people can be safely entrusted only to a body appointed by, and responsible to, that people; and that the Legislative Assembly declines to sanction or to recognize the proceedlings (so far as the same mas relate to Victoria) of the Conference proposed to be held in London, at the instance of a self-constituted and irresponsible body of absentee Colonists.

That the people of Victoria, possessing by law the right of self-government, desire that this Colony should remain an integral portion of the British Empire; and this House acknowledges, on behalf of its constituents, the obligation to provide for the defence of the shores of Victoria against foreign invasion, by means furnished at the sole cast, and retained within the exclusive control of, the peuple of Victoria."

That this House protests against any interference by legislation of the Imperial Parliament with the internal affairs of Victoria, except at the instance, or with the express consent of, the people of the Colony.

**That the official communication of advice, suggestions, or instructions by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Her Majesty's Representative in Victoria on any subject whatsoever connected with the administration of the Local Government, except the giving or withholding the Royal Assent to or the reservation of Bills passed by the two Houses of the Victoria Parliament is a practice not sanctioned by law, derogatory to the independence of the Queen's Representative, and a violation both of the principles of the system of resg 'nsible Government-and of the Constitutional rights of the people of this Colony: and that the Legislative Assembly will support Her Majesty's Ministers for Victoria in any measures that may be necessary for the purposes of securing the recognition of the exclusive right of Her Majesty and of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly to make laws in and for Victoria in all cases whatsoever,' and putting an early and final stop to the unlawful interference of the Imperial Government in the domestic affairs of this Colony,"

PRINTEO AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY L HAKKIPON.—95 4 70.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

1 TTC.O.885

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON

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