While The Mass Of
The People Held Tory, Or, I Should Rather Call Them, CONSERVATIVE
Principles, Our Government Seemed To Work As Well As Any
Representative Government May Be Supposed To Work Without The
Necessary Check Of A Constitutional Opposition.
Favouritism was, of
course, the order of the day; and the governor, for the time being,
filled up all
Offices according to his will and pleasure, without
many objections being made by the people as to the qualifications
of the favourite parties, provided the selections for office were
made from the powerful party. Large grants of land were given to
favoured individuals in the colony, or to immigrants who came with
commendations from the home government. In such a state of matters
the people certainly possessed the external form of a free
government, but as an opposition party gradually acquired an
ascendancy in the lower House of Parliament, they were unable to
carry the measures adopted by their majority into operation, in
consequence of the systematic opposition of the legislative and
executive councils, which were generally formed exclusively from
the old conservative party. Whenever the conservatives obtained the
majority in the House of Assembly, the reformers, in retaliation, as
systematically opposed every measure. Thus a constant bickering was
kept up between the parties in Parliament; while the people, amidst
these attentions, lost sight of the true interests of the country,
and improvements of all kinds came nearly to a stand-still. As
matters were then conducted, it would have been much better had
the colony been ruled by a governor and council; for, in that case,
beneficial measures might have been carried into effect.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 605 of 670
Words from 163917 to 164190
of 181664
