• APPOINTMENT OF COLONI1L GOVERNORS.
Kingtreston, Somerton, 23d November 1858. 8m—Responsible government in the colonies seems to require that they should choose their own governors. I would suggest as the mode of choice that which has been adopted in Canada for the appointtnent of bishops, they are elected by the clergy and people, and the choice signified to the Queen who thereupon appoints. So the Colonial Parliament might pass an act, naming some one as go- vernor, and fixing his salary, and upon the Queen enacting it the new Vice- roy's powers would commence. By this method the free action of the people would be combined with the appointment by the Crown in accordance with the constitution.
No man also would be appointed as a job of the Colonial Office, and an obnoxious governor would be removed without inconvenience, or the slightest discourtesy to her Majesty. The duty of appointing the Ministry and the power of dissolving the Parliament of the colony require that the Governor should in general be in- different to local politics. I assume, therefore, that his position would eel- dam be affected by a change of .linistry, and propcse a mode of election dif- ferent front what snakes and unmakes them. It is not impossible that the Colonies might elect leading English statesmen, who could exercise powers which cannot be given to a president, and can hardly be exercised a governor as at present appointed. As an instauce, I may mention the refusal of a dis- solution of Parliament, by the Governor of Canada this year, when re- quested by his Cabinet, a refusal which may have been very proper, but Which coming from the Queen's nominee, does not seem to be consistent with responsible government, and I am told has caused agitation since. There are various degrees between a king and a president for four years, or a governor for one. It may he well that our colonies, as they grow up, should experiment in the interval, and I do not think we need feel any jea- lousy if sonic of the governors, in popularity, magnificence, and duration of Power, should approach somewhat near to the kingly extreme. At any rate when the colonies become independent it may be well that they should have, through their various experiences, some limits of choice set before them, along with the single type which now exists, where perhaps not the best man is chosen to be irremovable. for four years, however unfit he may be, and though he 'be a Washington to be put on the shelf like a bit
of old china when his term has expireo. It may
election he, remarked in conclusion, that under no conditions but that of yond thenmember of the Royal family be established as a Viceroy be-
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