The Colony of Surinam. 247 
to him to ask or not for such advice, in important matters 
relating to his executive authority ; nor was he in any 
way bound by such advice. Their consent was neither 
asked for nor required. Even the liberty of discussion 
was crushed. In section 10 of this illiberal constitution of 
1832, it was provided that " the Koloniale Raad having 
" been solely constituted to advise the Governor-General 
11 if he chooses to ask for it, or consider it necessar)^ it 
" shall not be permitted to the members to introduce or 
" to submit at the meetings of the Raad any subject or 
" matter for discussion or deliberation whatsoever, but 
" such subjects and matter alone which shall be sub- 
" mitted to them for advice and consideration, by the 
■' Governor-General." Sect. 32 of the constitution of 
1828 was hereby not only revived, but largely amplified. 
The members of the Hooge Raad der Ned. W. I. Bezit- 
tingen had under that section a right to express their 
dissenting opinion, and to have it inserted in the 
minutes of this Council. The members of the Koloniale 
Raad of 1832 had no such right : and the form of pro- 
mulgation of laws and ordinances, enacted by the Gov- 
ernment and approved of by Crown, headed by the 
significant words : " De Koloniale Raad gehoord," i.e. 
4 ' Heard the Koloniale Raad" and nothing more, con- 
veyed to the population and the world at large the sad 
history of the powerlessness of its members and the real 
position of a legislative body, insignificant in itself and 
answering no purpose at all. 
The political and material position of the colony, 
under such circumstances can be better imagined than 
described. 
The powerlessness of the Koloniale Raad and the 
