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

Native Affairs in trust for
Natives will remain in force, an officer of the South African Republic
taking the place of such Secretary for Native Affairs.
ARTICLE XIX.
The Government of the South African Republic will engage faithfully
to fulfil the assurances given, in accordance with the laws of the South
African Republic, to the natives at the Pretoria Pitso by the Royal
Commission in the presence of the Triumvirate and with their entire
assent, (1) as to the freedom of the natives to buy or otherwise acquire
land under certain conditions, (2) as to the appointment of a
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