ee

‘permitted to. man

78

ne ps RSTO ee aE mesems e

<n ~ . ear) aS —

evidences of the efficiency of their Government, and of its adaptation to their inclinations and opinions. Why are British Colonists in America so far behind their re- publican neighbours in the scale of social and politica] importance ? In their mental and physical organiza- tions they are not inferior—and the natural resources of the countries they inhabit are superior to those of some of the American States. ‘The reason of their social and

political inferiority js obvious. Had the Colonists been e their own affairs as wel) as the

t entirely severing the connexion untry-—had they been freed from the

blighting incul™™y of a Downing Street cabal, swayed by the eecret interference and influence of officials in the Colonies, who deem, from Jong possession of power, that they have, or shouid have, “a right divine to govern wrong,”—-the prosperity of the Colonies would be com- mensurate with that of the United States. But we have uo need to confine ourselves to the United States for praof of the fact, that the cause of public liberty is not dependent upon any favoured class in the community, or that its greatest triumphs have been co-existent with eras of mental enlightenment. The structure of British freedom is not the work of aristocratic hands; and al- though the “ bold barons” —many, if not most of whom were unable to write their names—have received from history the credit of winning the Great Charter on the field of Runnymede ; yet, it is well known that the tyrant John would never have been awed into submis- sion but for the co-operation of thecommons, In every subsequent period of England’s annals, where ever we trace the encroacliments of arbitrary and aristocratic power upon the rights and privileges of the people, there do we behold the humbler classes of society—the men of smati means and of limited education—battling for the right, and successfully establishing those principles which have been formed into a system of polity that has become the boast of Britons in every quarter of the world, and which free and civilized countries have rejoiced to copy. In this Island, however, ‘the glori- ous British Constitution” could never properly have been made the subject of panegyric—its inhabitants could not boast of the enjoyment of a right which has been practically denied to them ; for while every other dependency of the Crown on this side of the Atlantic, with the exception of Newfoundland, has successfully won its way to freedom, the loyal people of this Colony have been forced to, bend beneath the sway of a faction who seem to think they have an especial right from Heaven to monopolize to themselves all the honors and profits of Government—to howl into disgrace, as disaf- fected subjects of their Sovereign, and ignorayt and mercenary agitators, any class of men who might be found bold enough to scrutinize their acts, and render them accountable to the public for the faithful discharge of their duties.. Yes, here, indeed, may we find an ex- act copy of the picture in miniature, which the Puet has given of another oppressed land :— 6 in this humbled Isle,

Where honor mourns, and freedom fears to smile,

Where the bright light of England’s fame is known

But by the baleful shadow that is thrown

Gn all our fate—where, doomed to wrongs and slighta,

We hear men talk of Britain’a me rights,

As weeping slaves that under hatches lie,

Hear. those on deck extol the sun and sky!” ‘She Representatives of the people have determined that glia shall be the case no longer: Her Majesty’s Govern- meat in England doeg not insist that it shall; and if the House of Assembly be forced to adopt the alternative, which the Resolution now before the Committee con- templates, of withholding the Supplies, until the well understood wishes of the people be complied with, the

Americans, Wi with the m

Lieutenant Governor and his advisers wil],and ought to.

be, held responsible for that proceeding. We have been told, by a member of Government, that, if we pasa no Revenue Bill and grant no supply, we shall next year be required to raise @ two year’s Revenue, and zrant a two year’s Supply. This, [ trust, will prove to be a mistaken notion. I shouid be sorry to make the public pay for the folly of the Government; and if the officials receive their salaries for the present year, most certainly they will not be indebted to me for a vote. ‘The Revenue beirg lost through the obstinacy of Go- vernment, | with never consent to tax my constituents to wake up the deficiency.

Mr. Couss replied, particularly to Mr. Thornton, whose defence of himself and the Government he pro- nounced to be of the very feeblest character. He com- mented, with considerable severity, upon his (Hon. Mr. T’hornton’s) regard for hig seat at the Executive Coun- cil Board: as evidenced by his retgining it, not only after he had pledged himself to his constituents to op- pose the views of the Government with respect to Re- sponsible Government, and to advocate its adoption with ali his power,—but after the House had passed an alinosfupnanimous yote of want of confidenee in the Government. With respect to the communication made by him (Hon, Mar. T.) to the Lieutenant Governor, that ke had changed his opiniona with respect to the ques- tion of Responsible Government, or at least that his constituents had done gn, and to the liberty given to him to retain his seat im the Couaci!, and, at the same time, to vote as he pleased on that question in the Assembly, the hanorable member ironically observed, that His Ex-

Ai RR.

oer

THR EXAG honorable member from Murray Harbour. But, con- tinued the honorable member, if his (Hon. Mr. T.’s) opinions touching Responsible Government were changed indeed, and if he had not misled his consti- tuents by a deceitful declaration on that score, why, after the vote of no confidence in the Government, did he continue a member of the Government, and refuse to give his support to the only constitutional means by which the Legislature could hope to bring about its im- mediate concession by the Imperial Government? Why ? Oniy because, like the rest of the public func- tionaries, he was determined to hold on so long as the most distant hope remained of prolonging the days of their expiring power. He (Hon. Mr. 'I’.) was no doubt deliberating in his own mind as to the prudence of de- cidedly acting with the majority; but could not recon- cile himself to the immediate loss of power, (which would be consequent upoa his adhesion to the liberal] party,) and the very uncertain orospect of a distant equi- valent. That no change, however, had taken place in the honorable member’s opinions on the question of Responsible Government, was fairly to be inferred from the fact that His Excellency had, of late, held a daily Council ; and that, as no change had taken place in the. policy of the Government, and none of the members had. resigned their seats in the Council, the honorable gen- tleman (Mr. T.) and the other Executive Councillors must still support His Excellency in his refusal to com- ply with the wishea of the people on the subject of Re- sponsible Government. With respect to the unautho- rized appropriations of public moneys by the Govern- ment, the honorable gentleman (Mr. T.) had declared that he knew of none such having been made since he had been a member of the Executive. This he (Mr. Coles) thought very singular. Was that hon. gentleman prepared to tell the House that he knew nothing of the unauthorized appropriation of £100 a year for the night- watch placed upon the Colonial Building, when, at the sanie time, Her Majesty would have provided troops to perform the duty. He was aware that the reason as- signed for the withdrawal from the Colony of a portion of the troops stationed here, was the encouragement given by the people to deserters; but this he regarded asan unfounded calumny upon the iniabitants. He would presume His Excellency had not made this ap- propriation without the advice of his Council. How then came the honorable gentleman (Mr. T.) to. be igno- rant of it? Again, he(Mr. C.) would ask him (hon, Mr. T.) whether the money drawn from the public Treasury to pay the Delegates to Halifax, was not an unauthorized appropriation ; and whether he wag not cognizant of it? He (Hon. Mr. T.) had said that the adoption of the. mea- sure would be productive of very serious loss to the country. That it would cause considerable public, and even much private, inconvenience, he (Mr. C.) and his friends were very well aware; but they were aware also, and so were the people, that, in the course of pub- lic reformation, conjunctures frequently arose in which it became necessary to make sacrifice of some. minor good, for the attainment of a much greater.

At such a conjecture they had arrived in Prince Ed-| ward Island, and the majority of the Assembly, intent upon, the realization of the wishes of the People, were determined to have. recourse to the extreme measure in- dicated by the resolution submitted by his hon. friend (Mr. Warburton); well assered that the people, rightly appreciating their motives, would cheerfully submit to any inconvenience it might draw down upon them ; and that under the guidance of right judgment, they would know whom to censure, and would justly lay the entire blame upon His Excellency and his advisers. But, when endeavouring to anticipate the loss which would accrue to the people by the withholding of the Supplies, and un- sparingly denouncing the majorityof the Asseinbly for the determination to adopt such a measure, when the Colony was weighed down by a heavy public debt; the hon. gentleman (Mr. T.) appeared to have quite forgot- ten how materially he and his political party-friends in, the Legislature had contributed to the increase of the public debt, by their grant of £500 a year, as an addi- tion to the Lieut. Governor's Salary, and the appoint- ment ofan Assistant Judge, witha Salary of £500 a year: not to purchase or procure any mnmediate or prospective benefits to. the people; but to,buy over the bead of the Government. The public movement and desire tor Responsible Government, continued the hon. member, were not confined to any particular section of the Island or portion of the people. Fhe move- ment was felt, acknowledged, and encouraged through- out the entire length and breadth of the country; and the great inajority of almost every constituency had shown themselyesto bedecidedly in favour of it. Even in Charlottetown and Georgetown, in the event of another dissolution, it would, he beleivec, be found that the people were in favor of Responsible Government. All that we have to do to-day, concluded the hon. mem- ber, is to appoint an Agent in London, and to forward communications to him, fully explaining the condition, grievances, and desires of the people; and, before the expiration of three months, Sir Donald Campbell will again summon the Legislature, and communicate to them, that be has been commanded by Her Majesty to accede to the wishes of the People respecting @ change inthe mode of their Gevernment, and instructed to

facilitate, by every means in his power, the effecting and

cellency weil knew in whom he treated, and would bejthe establishing of that change-upon the principles of

>t > Int ‘2 of , a o ° Th a2 Ss a lh aoe ; . at . } . . e 1-e > , ‘ . exceedingly Joh to mise st the Council Board eo uc-; Responsibility, as now in operation in the neighbouring | of life, occurred on Friday evening. at the houve of Mr. wae Supp. bes British Provinces. Never before was there a period in:

c : ' eu Ss RENT 12 ne the Vy WM ake = a ‘leman me ile

é

CLE VEE,

ae

alias tae nee aT om bien

the history of the Colony, in which circumstunces, bot), here and in the Mother Country, worked 80 harmonjovps. ly for the general good of the people: never before were their prospects of efficient and substantial reform ao near, so bright, and 80 inviting. Al)! that is now necegs- ary to ensure complete success to the measures of the Legislature, in favour of the legitimate, the constitution- al authority of the people; is that they should steadily adhere to their present plan of operations, and prudent- ly avail themselves of every auxiliary aid that may be tendered them for the accomplishment of their views. [Mr. Coles coneluded his speech by directing the attep- tion of the Committee to the Society lately formed ix Lendon for the Reform of Colonial Government, the prospectus of which was copied into a late No. of Tue Examinen.]

ne

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1859.

ee

Examiner.

Latest Intelligence frem Europe. ™

The Courier arrived with the English, Colonial aad Foreign Mails at an early hour on Monday evening. - Latest dates from London and Liverpool are to the 24th March, We give below such items of British and foreign. intelligence as appear to possess the most interest.

Granp Banquet at tHe Mawnston Hovser, Lox- BON, IX HONOUR OF THE NatrowaL Inpusreiat Exuigition.-—The Lord Mayor of London gave a mag- nificent Banquet on the 21st March in honour of the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, which it is understood will take place in 1851. The European Times. makes the following remarks in reference to it —

One of our national characteristics is an adherence to the popular faith that no undertaking, great or sma!!, can Commence or terminate prosperously, without that essentia} concomitant—a good dinner. The Lo}d Mayor of London, in ebedience to.this belief, invited all the heads of the municipal bodies throughout the empire to meet him at the Kgyptian Hall, on the evening of Thursday, where he provided an entertainment of the most recherche kind, the object being to enlist all their sympathies in favour of the great Industrial Exhibition of next year. ‘The Crown was represented by Prince Albert, the Church in the person of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Government by the principal Ministers of State, while all the Foreign Ambassadors, and a sprinkling ofthe leading nobility, did honour to the forthcoming display of inventive genius of the age.

The oratory on these occasions is too limited to admit of display, but the Royal Consort, in the course of a short speech, contrived to throw much good sense and excellent feeling into his address. Coming from euch a source, there is something gratifying, if not noble in such sentiments as the following :—“ I confidently hops that the first impression which the view of the vast col- lection will produce upon the spectator will be that of deep thankfulness to the Almighty for the blessings which he.has bestowed upon us here below; and the second, the conviction that they can only be realised in proportion tothe help, we are prepared to render to each other; only by peace, love, and ready assistance, not not only between individuals, but between the nations ofthe earth.” ‘ime was when pacific and philanthropic strains like the sentence we have quoted would have been regarded as effeminate, perhaphs cowardly, drop ping from the lips of one so immediately connected with the ruling power in the state. Bur we live in au age when, as a popular author expresses it, the “ pen is mightier than the sword”—-when intellect, not the strong arm, rules, and greatness is achieved by the head, not the hands.

With regard to the exhibition itself, everything seems to. promise. a successful realisation. There will be ne lack of funds to carry out the scheme on the greatest scale, for the spirit of the country is being aroused, and the guests at the Lord Mayor’s tablé¢, who. represent the wealth and intelligence of the towns and cities, will be. found excellent aids in carrying eut the good work.

THREATENED Resignationor THE Ministry.—A meeting of members of Parliament, supportera of the present government, took plac2 on J'nesday at Downing street. About 100 were present. Lord John Russell addressed the meeting. He told them that if Mr. Hutt’ motion for that evening, relative to the slave trade, were carried, ie would certainly resign the office he held. Mr. Hume did did not see the necessity of Lord Jobe Russell giving up office, even if Mr. Hutt carried bis motion. Lord Palmerst:n repeated what Lord Joba Russell had stated as the course he shou!d bimseif fo!- low, Lord Harry Vane and Mr. Denison both spoke in favour of Mr. Hutt’s motion. The meeting then sepa- rated. ‘The Ministers had a majority in the evening on Mr. Hutt’s motion of 78.

Love anp atTTeEMPTED Murnper.—An extraordinary icireumstance, which had neariy been attended with 1088

p Py 3 2 . , . eno? ’ ® . 4 ° GrindsJi, the Bell, in Suffolk etreet. Birminghem, Fe