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Publications & Reports

Bleek reflects on whether the superordinate Imperial Parliament has the legitimate right to legislate on matters involving colonies with a local parliament and chosen representatives and which matters materially concern the constitutional rights of these subordinate parliaments to the exclusion of the Home Government. He seeks clarity on the purview of local parliaments and the circumstances under which the metropole's interference is constitutionally valid. Bleek hastens to say that his line of questioning only seeks legislative clarity and to what extent the Cape may self-govern. He cautiously disclaims that his op-ed does not mean to dispute the British Government's authority despite how Canada or the Australian settlements may reply. The Cape Colony is too loyal and weak to oppose its parent state benefactor. Where does the intention of the Imperial Parliament lead with the Constitution given to the Cape Colony and its aim to have it self-govern? Bleek thinks that this non-commital decoupling stems from the belief that the metropole's influence negates a deluge of violence by settlers against native tribes, climaxing in their extermination and the theft of their land, which Bleek calls an exaggeration.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

04/05/1865

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. No title was subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing.

An original cutting of a Victorian article (no printed thematic title included in the cut out) by WHI Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, May 4th, 1865. Bleek adds that this popular English fear concerning a deluge of violence against the native formed out of some confounding sense of duty to uphold decency, and maintain some humane equilibrium. These "exaggerated" claims cannot postpone the transfer of control over colonial affairs to the Cape's Colonial Legislature who have the necessary local knowledge. He states that rule belongs to those with "higher moral and intellectual qualities", and believes all races should be represented. The constitution spoken of is the the 1852 Constitution of the Cape Colony, officially called the Cape of Good Hope Constitution Ordinance.