The Globe. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 615, 8 June 1876, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1876.

We published on Monday evening several telegrams passing between his Honor the Superintendent and the General Government, relative to the appointment of a Treasurer in room of Mr. Maskell, resigned. A careful perusal of these documents shows, we think, that his Honor's position in this matter was an one. The General Government very plainly tell him that he is bound to act in accordance with the advice of his Executive and his and their Jegal adviser. Now what was the opinion of the latter ? Most unmistakably that his Honor would be acting illegally by appointing Mr. Jameson, and the Executive, as in duty bound, con.

curred with the Provincial SolicitorBat even then his Honor declined to give way, and persisted in issuing cheques signed by himself and Mr. Jameson. The General Government, however, are not entirely free from blame, inasmuch as the SolicitorGeneral is stated by their own telegram to have given " a vague" opinion on a matter of considerable importance submitted to him, but respecting which he should have been quite able to give an opinion which should not have been vague. This seems to us to be very peculiar conduct on the part of the highest legal authority when consulted by an official There should be no vagueness, no evasion, but a clear and plain statement of the law of the case upon which the Superintendent could have acted. As it was there is no doubt that his Honor was misled by the opinion with which the Grown Solicitor had furnished him, and therefore there is some excuse for him. But we hope that in future the Government will see that the opinions given by the Solici-tor-General on legal points are precise and clear, as it may happen that a case involving grave consequences may be submitted to him when an ambiguous answer would perhaps result in serious loss to the colony.