6 
coasts of Newfoundland, in opposition to express treaty provisions, 
and to carry on an industry to which the British law officers them- 
selves have officially declared they have no legal right. 
LEGISLATIVE AND POPULAR ACTION. 
Surprise was rapidly followed by indignation, which found 
expression in resolutions unanimously adopted by the Legislature,* 
and by public mass meetings, strongly condemning the modus 
vivendi itself, but more strongly condemning its conclusion 
without the consent of the people and Legislature. A great 
public mass meeting, held in St. John’s, the capital of the colony, - 
adopted resolutions (1) condemning the manner in which the 
modus vivendi had been concluded, and (2) the terms and con- 
ditions of the arrangement itself.f The first resolution was as 
follows :— 
“ Whereas the negotiations leading to the adoption of the 
“ modus vivendi between Her Majesty’s Government and the 
“Government of France were commenced, and carried on, and 
“the arrangement itself concluded, without the consent, and 
* even without the knowledge, of the community or Legislature 
“ of this colony ; 
- “ And whereas it is a fundamental principle of responsible 
* government that the people shall directly, or through their 
“ representatives in Parliament assembled, be consulted concern- 
“ing all matters appertaining to their government, and more 
* especially to their territorial and maritime rights ; 
“ And whereas the application of this constitutional principle 
“to this colony has been especially guaranteed by Her Majesty’s 
** Government in a despatch bearing date the 26th day of March, 
“ 4.D. 1857, stating ‘that the rights enjoyed by the community 
“of Newfoundland are not to be ceded or exchanged without 
“« “their consent, and that the constitutional mode of submitting 
“ «measures for that consent is by laying them before the Colonial 
“ ¢ Legislature,’ and ‘ that the consent of the community of New- 
**¢foundland is regarded by Her Majesty’s Government as the 
_ © essential preliminary to any modification of their territorial or 
“ ¢maritime rights ’: 
* See page 48. t See page 48. 
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