The Graham's Town Parliament

The Graham's Town Parliament

Publications & Reports

Bleek reflects on the newness of parliamentary institutions in British colonies and how their unclear legislative powers make them liable to encroach upon other jurisdictions. The Cape electorate overestimates the fidelity and powers of their representatives selected from a small pool of unideal candidates. These representatives are not given power of attorney over the public, who retain their agency and (public) sovereignty along with means of redress should legislators craft legislation that is unconstitutional or repugnant to them. In that vein, Bleek cites the Customs Blunders Act, the Deeds Registry Bill, the Judicial Bill, and George Wood's partially-ratified bill as divisive incompatibilities symptomatic of the rivalry between Cape Town and Grahamstown threatening to split the colony in two as Eastern members grow bolder and embittered. He mentions a quote that controversially suggests relocating parliament to Grahamstown before discussing Frederick Watermeyer's suitability for the vacant Law lecturership at the South African College.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

16/06/1864

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. "The Graham's Town Parlaiment" is subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing.

An original cutting of a Victorian article (no thematic title included in the cut out) by WHI Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, June 16th, 1864. The controversial opening of the Parliament of the Cape of Good at Grahamstown on April 24th, 1864 was the only parliamentary session to be held away from Cape Town. Governor Wodehouse delivered a speech at that opening of parliament.