EXECUTIVE INFLUENCE. 



41 



tire population, white and black, I understand, has never 

 exceeded three thousand — or, three quarters per cent. 

 The city of New York, with about the same population, 

 usually polls over fifty thousand votes, which is a smaller 

 proportion probably, than is polled in any other county in 

 any free state of the Union. 



But this is not all. When the legislature is chosen, it 

 has no control over the questions of fundamental interest. 

 The heart which gives it life, beats in London ; the islanders 

 have no more control over its action than the finger nails 

 have over the circulation of the blood. The Assembly, in 

 connexion with the Executive and Council, can levy taxes 

 for local purposes, it must raise money to pay the officers 

 sent out to rule over it ; it can keep the highways in condi- 

 tion, it must support the established church ; it may provide 

 public instruction, it may establish a police ; but even these 

 powers it exercises subject to the approval of the Queen or 

 of Parliament. The organization of their local govern- 

 ment, the appointments to fill the various executive offices, 

 and the taxes payable upon imports and exports, are all 

 matters with which the island legislature has nothing to 

 do. But even in its local legislature I have not exhibited 

 all its impotence. 



The Governor is vested with power " to adjourn, pro- 

 rogue, or dissolve " the Assembly at his pleasure, and is 

 invested with almost the entire patronage of the island ? 



