History of the Emigrant Boers in South Africa

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...wholly unconnected with the Colony of the Cape. They are of opinion that it may be perfectly practicable to separate the Colony of Natal from that of the Cape, for all judicial, financial, and executive purposes, but, subject to certain important modifications which it will be my duty to state to you, they think that legislative powers must be for the present retained in the hands of the Governor and Council of the Cape, and that all communications from Natal to the Secretary of State should continue to be transmitted through you." The LieutenantGovernor of Natal was to be aided by an Executive Council of not more than five members, who should have power to recommend laws to the Governor to be by him brought before the Legislative Council of the Cape. On the 31st of May Letters Patent were issued under the Great Seal providing Natal made a Dependency of the Cape Colony. 189 1. That Natal was to be a part of the Cape Colony. 2. That nevertheless no Colonial law or magistrate should, by virtue of the annexation, have operation or jurisdiction in Natal. 3. That the Governor and Council of the Cape, acting in the regular manner, should have authority to provide such laws as should be required. The long delay in providing an effective Government was tending to inspire the Emigrants with hopes that perhaps after all Great Britain would leave them to themselves. In August 1844 a new Volksraad was elected, as the old one had then been in existence for a full year. When the members came together most of them refused to take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, and declared that they did not consider themselves bound by the deed of submission of their predecessors. Thereupon Major Smith dissolved the assembly and announced that the old Volksraad should continu...