Victoria the only sensible choice

We have no intention whatever at the present of criticizing the memorial, but would simply remark that the basis of the memorial is the resolutions of the Legislative Council of the Colony. Those resolutions request that the Governor will take such steps as he may deem most fitting towards making Victoria the Seat of Government.

It is not asked that the Home Government or the Governor should be arbiters; but that the thing asked should be done. It is hoped that the Governor has taken this constitutional view of the case, and has listened to the voice of the Council, given not hurriedly, but after calm and dispassionate consideration.

Not having the Governor’s dispatches at command, it is impossible for us to say what course his Excellency may have taken, but, judging from his past conduct, there is reason to fear that his prejudice has led him to advise contrary to the opinions of the Council.

If so, and if her Majesty’s Government have been deceived and influenced by such representations, the Colony will be agitated from one end to the other, and instead of the question being settled, it will be more unsettled than ever; what little confidence remains will be lost, and the hoped-for progress of the Colony entirely destroyed.

At a time when all should endeavour with one accord to drag the Colony out of its present engulfed position, an increase of dissatisfaction can only terminate in ruin; but remove that dissatisfaction — place the seat of Government at Victoria, where the Legislature desired it to be placed — then, and not till then, will the depression and oppression under which the Colony labours be removed.

The Legislature has spoken plainly. If it did so under the at that time existing condition of affairs; how much more correct is that opinion now that the Americans have purchased the formerly Russian territory.

The conditions necessary for the Seat of Government are, that the place or spot should be convenient for the internal government of the country, and also convenient for holding communication with neighbouring powers. Such conveniences Victoria possesses, and also one half of the population of the country.

If it were even admitted — an admission we do not make — that the advantages of Victoria and New Westminster were equally well balanced for the former, the position of Victoria for the latter would give it an overwhelming advantage.

Victoria being the point to which all steamboats come and from which all communication radiates, renders it desirable that the Governor should reside there in order to be in communication with our foreign and British relations.

The political relations of the country, both internal and external, alike unite in selecting Victoria for the seat of Government. It is ridiculous, in the first place, for any one to say that New Westminster possesses as many advantages as Victoria, supposing even their natural qualifications to be evenly balanced — which we unhesitatingly deny — the acquired qualifications of Victoria would give her an immensely preponderating advantage; Victoria being a city possessing every convenience, both for the internal and external government of the country — Westminster, a city without merchants, without banks, save those of the river — without steamboat communication with foreign ports; in fact, without anything, save the Governor, whom it worships first and God last — a place famous for idolatry but for nothing else.

There may be hundreds of places and harbours where towns can be built, but the people have chosen Victoria and have built a city only second to San Francisco. Is it advisable that the Executive of this Colony should still attempt by Government patronage, to ruin a city already existing for the sake of building up another — an attempt that hitherto has so signally failed?

A continuation of such conduct can have but one result — the building of a town on American territory and forcing the commerce of the country into foreign hands. We feel persuaded that the people of this Colony will not allow British interests to be thus sacrificed; but at the same time we earnestly hope that his Excellency has recommended Victoria as being the best and most suitable place for the Seat of Government, and as the only way of putting an end to a question that has unsettled the public mind, prevented improvements, destroyed confidence and retarded the material progress of the Colony. The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle,

Nov. 16, 1867