APPENDIX.
xi.
move partial and objectionable. M u c h of this evil tendency of the constitution might undoubtedly be counteracted by the powerful control of the H o m e Government ; but unhappily that control has rarely been exercised honestly and firmly. The change, in recent years, in our Colonial system has been forced by a generous peopie upon an unwilling Government ; which, while adopting in profession a humane and liberal policy, continues to retain in its service a host of functionaries w h o aid in obstructing all measures | of reform. This grand defect runs through the whole series of Colonial appointments ; but is most conspicuous in the selection \ of Governors ; to whose want of capacity, indifference or virtual coalition w i t h the Planters, the difficulties w h i c h the Colonial Office experiences in carrying out its policj', are chiefly to be j attributed. An old resident in Antigua thus expresses himself on this ' subject,— ! " It has been the unhappy lot of this island to be ruled, for the i last thirty six years, by such representatives of the King as were ] imbued w i t h high tory notions of Government, and at the same \ this time, addicted to company and pleasure. The only exceptions to ; remark throughout that period, have been Mr. HUGH ELLIOT and | Sir EVAN MAC GEEGOR. The consequences of these appointments ^ have been at all times oppressively felt by the inhabitants of the \ island ; and, ever since measures began to be in progress for the • " Abolition of Slavery, they have occasioned not a little embarrass- j ment to the Government itself." \ The same general remark, with similar exceptions, applies to all ] the Colonies. j
SECTION V.
\
LAWS OF ANTIGUA.—The Act for the Abolition of Slavery swept ! into oblivion an entire series of those disgraceful laws which dis- ; figure the Statute Book of every slave community. The framing \ of new enactments, adapted to the changed circumstances of the colony, w a s commenced with great industry by the Colonial Parliament. N e w laws were fast multiplied ; of w h i c h some appear to have been intended to obviate evils and inconveniences, the remedy for w h i c h is in the province of time, and not of legislation, i B u t let it be observed that this legislative activity w a s exercised j in a particular direction ; and, consequently, several necessary j reforms remain yet in abeyance. A m o n g these are, the legal re- ' cognition of marriages, performed by Dissenting Ministers ; an entire change of the judicial system ; and a revision of the l a w s 1 affecting property. These several and most necessary changes have j been pressed upon the attention of the Colonial Legislature by i Lord GLENELG ; and it is probable, that Acts will ere long be passed in conformity with his views. W e would only n o w emphatically observe, that all interested in the welfare of the N e g r o population \