hand, was most concerned with compensation for the loss of their slaves and in
plantation prosperity.

 After a period of conflicting opinions and debate, including the question of
whether the Danish West Indies were to be given direct representation in the Danish
Riasdaa. the Colonial Law of March 26, 1852 was passed. It provided the Islanders
with their first Colonial Council.

 The most important provisions of the Colonial Law of March 26, 1852 were
as follows:

 1. A single Colonial Council for the Danish West Indies was
 established.

 2. The Council had the power to deliberate and make
 recommendations to the king for laws to govern the colony.
 The king acting through the appropriate minister would
 approve or disapprove the recommended law.

 3. Existing Danish laws could be extended to the Islands. The
 Danish Riasdaa could pass special legislation for the
 Islands dealing with such matters as education, poor relief,
 the militia, public roads, hedges and enclosures, labor, trade,
 servitude, vagrancy, sanitation, fire and the police.

 4. The king and the Riasdaa together could make laws
 concerning all other matters. The recommendation of the
 Colonial Council, however, had to be obtained before any
 law could be approved for the Islands.

 5. Temporary regulations could in special cases be made by
 the governor, but they were to be discussed at the next
 meeting of the Council.

 6. The Colonial Council was made up of sixteen members
 elected by the people and four members nominated by the
 king. There were four electoral districts. Christiansted
 elected five members, Frederiksted three, St. Thomas six,
 and St. John two. All members, served four-year terms.
 Every two years, half would retire. They were eligible,
 however, to be re-elected or re-nominated.

 7. Voting rights were given to every man of unblemished
 character who was at least 25 years of age and had lived on
 the Islands for at least 5 years. He had to have either a
 yearly income of $500 Danish West Indian or pay at least $5