The Political Career Of Saul Solomon Member Of The Cape Legislative Assembly From 1854 To 1863

Abstract

Saul Solomon we.$ born 1n. 1817 and died in 1892. He was

never a member of' the Legislative Council; so that his

political career can be sti1d to have begun 1n 1854. when he

·.was returned to the first House of Assembly as one of the four

members rapt-eaenting Capetown. Iie held his seat w1 th a break

of only one year, 1n 18691 until 1883, whetl. illness compelled

h1m to ttat1re. To my mind, prior to 1854, he was put an

t.aniateu:r·' politician, using the word in no dep~eeiatory sensa,

and I therefore propase to concentrate most or my attention

on his parliamentary eareer.

Tl1e period f.rom 1854 to 1883 fallS naturally into two

sections, the dividing line being in 1872. :r·During the years

ot Representative Government. (1854-1872), Cape po11t1os were

rather narrowly localised. The three most importa:nt political

questions ware all aimed, fundamentally, at constitutional

amendment, in one direction or another. The Easterns demanded

Separation ... the Westerns (chiefly), Responsible Government,

and ur. Solomon campaigned for .a repeal ·Of Schedule C ot the

Reserved c i v1l List o:rdinanee or 1853( 1), pt>oviding f:or

religious grants out of the public revenue.. Of course, 1t is

not possible to draw a :coigid line of demarcation between the

periods prior end subsequent to the .intr-oduction of Responsible

Government. for the Eastern agitation flickered on for another

few years and the "Oluntary .Bill tvas only enacted in 1875 - yet

unmistakably 16?2 me.rks the end of one period and the beginning

of another.