Selected Official Documents of the South African Republic and Great Britain | Page 4

commission to mark out native locations, (3) as to the access of the natives to the courts of law, and (4) as to their being allowed to move freely within the country, or to leave it for any legal purpose, under a pass system.
ARTICLE XX.
This Convention will be ratified by a Volksraad of the South African Republic within the period of six months after its execution, and in default of such ratification this Convention shall be null and void.
Signed in duplicate in London this 27th day of February 1884.
[Signed] HERCULES ROBINSON, [Signed] S.J.P. KRUGER, [Signed] S.J. DU TOIT, [Signed] N.J. SMIT.
RATIFICATION BY VOLKSRAAD.
_August 8, 1884._
The Convention was ratified on August 8, 1884 by the Volksraad in a resolution as follows: "The Volksraad having considered the new Convention concluded between its deputation and the British Government at London on 27th February 1884, as likewise the negotiations between the contracting parties, which resulted in the said Convention, approves of the standpoint taken by its deputation that a settlement based upon the principle of the Sand River Convention can alone fully satisfy the burghers of the Republic. It also shares the objections set forth by the deputation against the Convention of Pretoria, as likewise their objections against the Convention of London on the following points:--
"1st. The settlement of the boundary, especially on the western border of the Republic, in which the deputation eventually acquiesced only under the express conditions with which the Raad agree.
"2nd. The right of veto reserved to the British Crown upon treaties to be concluded by the Republic with foreign powers; and
"3rd. The settlement of the debt. Seeing, however, that in the said Convention of London considerable advantages are secured to the Republic, especially in the restoration of the country's independence,
"Resolves, With acknowledgment of the generosity of Her Britannic Majesty, to ratify, as it hereby does, the said Convention of London."
CHAPTER II.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
ARTICLE 1.--This State shall bear the name of the South African Republic.
ARTICLE 2.--The form of government of this State shall be that of a republic.
ARTICLE 3.--It desires to be recognized and respected by the civilized world as an independent and free people.
ARTICLE 4.--The people seek for no extension of territory, and desire it only in accordance with just principles, when the interest of the Republic makes such extension desirable.
ARTICLE 5.--The people desire to retain and maintain their territory in South Africa unimpaired. The boundaries thereof are fixed by proclamation.
ARTICLE 6.--Its territory is open for every foreigner who obeys the laws of this Republic. All who are within the territory of this Republic have equal claims to protection of person and property.
ARTICLE 7.--The land or farms situate in this territory which have not yet been given out, are declared to be the property of the State.
ARTICLE 8.--The people claim the utmost social freedom, and expect the result from the maintenance of their religious belief, from the observance of their obligations, from submission to law, order and right, and the maintenance of the same.
The people permit the spread of the Gospel among the heathen under fixed precautions against deceit or misleading.
ARTICLE 9.--The people will not allow any equalization of the coloured inhabitants with the white.
ARTICLE 10.--The people will not suffer any slave trade or slavery in this Republic.
ARTICLE 11.--The people reserve to themselves the protection and defence of the independence and inviolability of the State, subject to the laws.
ARTICLE 12.--The people entrust the legislation to a Volksraad--the highest authority in the land--consisting of representatives or deputies of the people, chosen by the enfranchised burghers; but with the reservation that a period of three months shall be left to the people to enable them if they so wish to communicate to the Volksraad their verdict on a proposed law; except those laws which can suffer no delay.
ARTICLE 13.--The people charge the President with the task of proposing and executing the laws; he also brings before the Volksraad the appointments of all civil servants for ratification.
ARTICLE 14.--The people entrust the maintenance of order to the military force, the police, and other persons appointed by the law for that purpose.
ARTICLE 15.--The people place the judicial power in the hands of a Supreme Court, Circuit Court, Landrosts, Juries, and such other persons as shall be entrusted with judicial powers, and leave all these free to discharge their function according to their judgment and consciences, according to the laws of the land.
ARTICLE 16.--The people shall receive annually from the Volksraad an estimate of the general income and expenses of the State, and learn therefrom how much every man's taxes shall amount to.
ARTICLE 17.--Potchefstrom, situated on the Mooi River, shall be the capital of the Republic, and Pretoria the seat of Government.
ARTICLE 18.--All services rendered on behalf of the public are remunerated by the public.
ARTICLE 19.--Freedom of the press is granted provided