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In the introduction of responsible government Thomson’s task was threefold. He was required to define the principle of responsible government in its application to a colonial dependency. It next became necessary to create the machinery for the operation of responsible government—a process which involved the destruction of the existing system and the removal of the débris. And finally it became his duty to undertake the operation of the new machinery until such time as it could carry itself forward of its own accord.

In defining the character and limits of responsible government, Thomson was fortunate in being able to derive inspiration from the genius of Lord John Russell. Two of Russell’s letters, dated October 14 and 16, 1839, contained a clear statement of the issue as applied to the possibility of conflicting authority.

It may happen, therefore, that the governor receives at one and the same time instructions from the queen and advice from his executive council, totally at variance with each other. If he is to obey his instructions from England, the parallel of constitutional responsibility entirely fails; if, on the other hand, he is to follow the advice of his council, he is no longer a subordinate officer, but an independent sovereign.... Every political constitution in which different bodies share the supreme power is only able to exist by the forbearance of those among whom this power is distributed. In this respect the example of England may well be imitated. The sovereign using the prerogative of the crown to the utmost extent, and the House of Commons exerting its power of the purse to carry all its resolutions into immediate effect, would produce confusion in the country in a twelvemonth. So in a colony; the governor thwarting every legitimate proposition of the Assembly, and the Assembly continually recurring to its power of refusing supplies, can but disturb all political relations, embarrass trade and retard the prosperity of the people. Each must exercise a wise moderation. The governor must only oppose the wishes of the Assembly where the honour of the Crown or the interests of the empire are deeply concerned; and the Assembly must be ready to modify some of its measures for the sake of harmony, and from a reverent attachment to the authority of Great Britain.

The success of responsible government was made to depend on a non-constitutional element—the spirit of mutual confidence in which it should be administered.

Lord John Russell’s first dispatch defined the relation between the governor and the assembly in a system of responsible government. Directions were now to be given on the relation between the executive council and the popular assembly on the one hand, and the governor on the other. Lord John Russell’s second dispatch was concerned with the tenure of executive office.

You will understand and will cause it to be made generally known, that hereafter the tenure of colonial offices held during Her Majesty’s pleasure will not be regarded as equivalent to a tenure during good behaviour; but that only such officers will be called upon to retire from the public service as often as any sufficient motives of public policy may suggest the expediency of that measure, but that a change in the person of the governor will be considered as a sufficient reason for any alterations which his successor may deem it expedient to make in the list of public functionaries, subject, of course, to the future confirmation of the sovereign.

Through the instrumentality of a governor acting in sympathy with the popular will, the responsibility of the executive officers to the crown was converted into a responsibility to the people.