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The next stage that the Native Bill has to pass is the Governor's. On Sir William Cameron, who is now administering the Government, rests a heavy responsibility in regard to such a Bill. The Governor has the power to assent to Bills as the Queen's representative; and, usually, he exercises that power on the advice of his Ministers. The way the Native Bill has been passed through the legislature may not be sufficient reason for the Queen's representative to refuse assent to a measure; but it should be borne in mind that under Letters Patent constituting the Office of Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony, there are Bills that the Governor is enjoined to reserve for Her majesty pleasure the other day, found on enquiry that the Bill providing for the Annexation of Pondoland had been sent to the mother country for her Majesty's assent. The same course has to be followed in regard to the Bill dealing with the lands of the Natives. The Governor is expressly instructed not to assent to Bills "inconsistent with treaty obligations", and it is a notorious fact that the Natives' lands with which Mr. Rhodes would deal as he likes, and against the wishes of the people under the Native Bill, are all secured to them by Treaties and Proclamations. In view of this fact, therefore, the following Petition, to be followed, no doubt, by others, has been forwarded from the Natives here to his Excellency the General for transmission to her Majesty the Queen in Council: The Petition of the undersigned, loyal subjects of Her Majesty, and Natives of South Africa, residing at, ___________ Cape Colony.
HUMBLY SHEWETH.
1. That a Bill has been passed by the Cape Parliament, entitled a "Bill to provide for the disposal of lands, and for the administration of local affairs within the District of Glen Grey and other Proclaimed Districts".
2. That the said Bill was introduced to Parliament by the Prime Minister who stated that if the measure was read a second time it should stand over for a year to allow of discussion.
3. That subsequently, and by a forced all night sitting the measure was carried, and is now about to become an Act and submitted for Your Majesty's approval.
4. That in the opinion of your petitioners this measure prejudices the rights and property of Your Majesty's subjects; and is inconsistent with Your Majesty's treaty obligations with large numbers of Natives who are now forced to surrender their rights to lands occupied by their fathers and themselves, under Your Majesty's Treaties and Proclamations, and to pay a labour tax such as is best a qualified slavery
Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that Your Majesty will refuse your assent to this Bill, or grant such relief as may seem just to Your Majesty.
And your petitioners will ever pray.