The Colony of Surinam. 
OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF HER 
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND HER LEGISLATION. 
By B. E. Colaco Belmonte, LL.D., Graduate of the University of Ley den, 
Advocate at the Bar of British Guiana. 
(Continued.) 
N the introduction of the law before the Cham- 
bers, the Ministry expressly and positively 
declared that it was the intention and the 
desire of the Government, by restoring to the colony her 
ancient political rights and privileges, "to lead her to 
,f self-government and to financial independence from 
" the Mother Country." 
But the colony was unfortunately at that time, politi- 
cally and financially, in a state of transition and inert- 
ness ; and it was this exceptional position which necessi- 
tated some deviations, and prevented the introdudtion of 
the system in its entirety. The principle was, however, 
unalterably written in the law, and the door has been 
left open for the future introduction of the system in the 
form originally intended. 
It was feared by some of the most sanguine and sin- 
cere defenders of a liberal system of government for the 
colony, that a franchise, in its fulness, might prove detri- 
mental to the colony, sapping the foundations of its 
dependence, weakening the authority of the local Gov- 
ernment, and ultimately estranging the colony from the 
Mother Country. Of a general suffrage as in 1682, 
there was never any question. It was neither advo- 
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