Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/122

 I02 History of the Cape Colony. [1878 act as military taking part in military operations in the field. " 4. That the only legal and constitutional way for government to avail itself of the services of the comman- dant-general is to continue the system followed when Commandant-General Griffith was commandant of police, viz., that he should act in the field under the general control of the general commanding the forces, and that all colonial forces ready to take the field should from time to time as they go to the field be formally placed by the colonial government under the general's command for this purpose." On the 2nd of February Mr. Molteno drew up a minute, which was read at a meeting of the executive council, and of which the following paragraphs are extracts : "Ministers are prepared to undertake the responsibility of putting down rebellion in the speediest and most effectual manner, and they have expressed to his Excellency their opinion that this may best be carried out by colonial forces, led by colonists, and not encum- bered by military impediments. " They consider that to place such a force under the control of the military authorities would seriously impair its usefulness, and would tend to prolong the operations for an indefinite period. " By the constitution the responsibility of ministers was established, and their duties are to carry out the laws of the colony and to administer the business of the country according to the wishes of the parliament. The governor acts solely by and with their advice. Should an emergency fraught with danger to the country arise, for which the law makes no provision, ministers act on their own responsibility, and will be prepared to answer for their acts to that body whose representatives they are. " His Excellency the governor has, most properly, drawn attention to the evils of a dual system of adminis-