.\~

IIASZA§D'S GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 22.

bomtheliouse ct Amembl . boss peculiar‘ and exclusive it is ts all mat- terscf this , aadwith whl we hnveno this; whatever to do, ‘unless sent up for our IOVIIIQA ' 7 ’

The &. Ir. syimr.-4 ieell cannot think “|°l|°|I-lelabsrisserionflortberecanheno doubt there are when it isset only our right, but our duty’ to state our opinions 9|?-Qters of policy. nnnot v “Q “lIas_lon of the theother House: His Excellency himse f has not consi- d"'9d_|‘ I0.-his Executive Council did not con- sider it so : and although I am not one of his Excellency's political advisers. et I cannot consent so to narrow the privi eges of this House that we cannot sxpressour opinions.

His Honor the Psxsmxw'r.—I believe thatlt is the Speech of the Executive Government. and list this clause has been introduced into t part of the S for the ver purpose of test- in_ what the opinions of this ouse are; and I wi I, therefore, support the Address in answer to it just as it is before us in the draft. Any one, and all of us, have a perfect right to ex- press our opinions. And in reference to that part of his Excellcncy’s S h, wherein he re- views the financial state o the country, now and for some cars back, every one must admit that the Islnn is in a very prosperous state, and should be very thankful for it. This prosperity, however, arises not merely from the introduc- tion of Responsible Government, but should also beettributed to Divine Providence. If we were to look abroad, end were to find that the rest of the world was not so highly favored as we ve been. then there might be some good rounds for supposing that a particular form of overn- mom and unusually wise legislation were in no small down the cause of such unwonted pres- perity. lien, on the other hand, we see that this prosperity is confined to no rticular countr or spot of earth, but that it extends throng out the world, in cons uence of the discovery and develo ment of t e Australian and Californian gold lields,—-the additional out- lets for commerce and menufacturss,—snd the great increase of shipping thereby called into requisition, necessarily also raisin the price both oflumber and of vessels to s egree alto- gothor unprecedented;-—all these, I say, and not it more form of Government, are the reel causes of the improved condition of the country. I do not, however, bv any means wish to convey the idea that our xecutive Government have taken to themselves, or wish to take, the full credit of our prosperity. But I will admit this, that from the guarded manner in which the Public Accounts are now kept, and the system of auditing them new practised, there is less chance of the revenue being squandered than there was formerly; and that since the intro- duction of Responsible Government not a single oflicer under it has been charged with dcfalca- tion, is also to the credit of the Government. But if, unfortunately, an attempt be made to excuse those accepting salaried ollices from being sent back again to their constituencies,we shal be going in the wron direction, and returning

to our former state at injudicious irresponsibi- Iity. These being the views I entertain, I will su ort the Address as laid before our Honors. ‘lie Ilou. Mr. lIr.vsi.xi'.-I shal only make one or two observations is this sta of th roceedings for it is necessary we s ould un- crstand one another. I must say Sir, that I am enough of an Englishman to prefer the form of Government that obtains in England, to that which prevails either in America or elsewhere. The Res nsible form of Government lately as- tihlishe in this Colony, willl think,afters ittle more experience, answerall our purposes, but the fact is, we have not yet had sullicient expe- rience to justif our making an o a ' should however ike to see the wor " sufic ent substituted in the lace of “good _” cause, an then that part 0 the clause will read thus “ believing that there exists no_su_ficient cause to seek for any change in the existing system of Government.”

The hon. Mr. Rica-—I advocated Responsible Government when it was iirst tallred_ of, I a - prove of it still, and from itsjntroduction to t c

esent moment nothing has ever fallen _from my lips in an we 0 osed to, or subversive of it, nor shall see to chan it now. _

The hon. Mr. Hsxsi.xv.— t is the roper time new to give our opinions, and it won d be wrong to neglect the opportunity we now have 0 chitin t cm. Tlioghon. Mr. lloi.i..—Am I to understand that we have arrived at perfection, and that it is the only form of Government that shall ever exist in this Island! I reiterate, when 9 Bill comes before us wherein a change in the form is contemplated, then will be the proper time to come forward to deliver our opinions, and considering as I do that this Branch has not the power of originating any such Bill, I maintain that it is an improper interference with the other branch of the Legislature and it was this conviction, that induced the to_ ro-

se the rest of the paragraph as entirely irre-

evant.

His Honor the Paminxivi-.—As the Executive Govennient has brought it here, and brou ht it too, for the very purpose of calling fort an expression 0 our opinions with regard to Responsible Government, we should give them. It is not a question of privilege at al .

The amendment was not agreed to. '

The Hon. Mr. Hi:irsi.xr.—I think we should also change the words in the address “ we are thoroughly persuaded” to “ we'_are of opinion " that the Statute which obli s members of the Assembly on accepting Sa eried oflices to pre- sent thomselves before their constituents for re-election amply provides for and protects the interests of the people under such circumstan-

ces.

This amendment was agreed to.

8d Clause —Legisletive Councillors accepting crises of emolument was agree to.

The hon. Mr. Hxasi.xr.-There is another verbal amendment, which I would su t—-in the address it is stated we would v ew an pro sition to prevent our holding or partic - pa in in such oilccs as an invasion 0 our .. mg n," I think the word " claims‘.' would be a more suitable one.

This amendment was also agreed to.

4th Clauae.—Responsible or Departmental Government.

The Hon. Mr. Swasxr.-—A great many people in the Country tell us they are all for Respon- sible Government but not departmental Go- vernment-Tbers appears to be a dilsrencs of opinion in the definition of Responsible Go- vernment-ons party maintaining that it was intended and required that the Attoriie General should be a ltember of the lower _ouss and another tint he should not, and that if he was a member of In slnture and sdvoutsd the policy efths Ilxscn vs, that that was quite suf- ticient-—rly eydnios re should be no

5

O

I pus

I)

B-

is. that the

indistinstnessor confusion of ideas as to wine . possible Gov implied.

uufloaer the Psuossr.- s have em mil 0 Oenstltasdct

iew that this ward of

The Hon. Ir. Hmrsixr moved the word “ Departmenml” he struck out. The Hon. Mr. Hoi.i..-—An inference may be

drawn from the wording of the paragaph t the hlsasingswe s y and the iinprovsm i’ the Oountry may referred to the Inn of Government we are under, I as I he

ted in the reins nded

II) tsanyseohsassshct

of the Gold from Australia and other parts- mr greater amount of Shipping now re- quired. necessilnting more remunerntive prices to all in any we engaged in that business. and a variety of ot r causes, not necessary mo rticnlarly to allude to, but to attribute the ap y chaos the public accounts exhibit to the orm of overnment is perfectly ridiculous and I think that all that part of the address should be struck out—But while I have a great pleasure in recording my opinion that the oplc are well entitled to all the besclts of self-Government, why need we in our answer to the S ch of his Excellency go beyond the words 0 thatS h! I therefore propose the followin amen merit.

“ During the three rs alluded to by your Excellency, in which w at is termed Responsible Government has been in practice in this Colony, ample evidence has been afiirded by the res- perity, tranquillity and coiitenteduess, c the peop e, that they are well entitled to the con- cession then made.”

His Honor the Paminnrr.—I have already stated in opinion that our prosperity is not the result 0 an particular form of Government, but from various other causes.

_ on._ Mr. 1lI‘Doiui.n.—It is certainly quite amusing to me to see the Government take credit to themselves for such a state of things. conclusion. 11 His llonéor the }I’IlSIl>lN1'.—SI.Ill Excellency as not sai so in is openin peech

_The Hon. Mr. uixv.—i\For is

either in the Address or the S ech to onk. Mr. clxiisiixr.—lt gas blpen our c_us into eepas oseytotie aspec- sible, and if you had taken u theP.S°p.bech sim- l as it stands there woud have been no i cult in comin man a cement. _ e on. r. ou..-—I insist that the Com- mittoe who prepared the address have travelled out of the Record, for it is not only unnecessary but wron to introduce, as within a parenthesis that whic has nothing to do with it. Ishall press my amendment The Hon. Mr. Swssrv.—-My opinion is, that that if you were to seek from the Imper'ialGovern- mom, a form of Government (llIIl'l'IIll from what you now enjoy, the Colonial Minister would not sanction it, at least I do not think it could be done without an act of the Imperial Parliament. e Hon. Mr. Hoi.i..—The Executive Govern- ment, for His Excc|Iency’s Speech, I consider the Speech of the Executive, have said “ If. however, they now seek for changes in the Constitution, I hope they will be such as may contribute to the welfare of -the communitry at large." You may asli for it, it is said by his Honor, but you will not get it. If I am to take his Honor's words as a general opinion, I think a more arbitrary system could not exist under the sun. “ You are not likely to get it," is a most extraordinary reply, and that a Government should come for- ward and say, you shall not have it.

His Honor the PllIlDlll'r.—Tho hon. gentle- man (Mr. Svvabsy) is not a member of the Government.

'l‘hs Hon. Mr. Swssxv.—What I said was this, that I did not see an necessity for it

The Hon. Mr. l-Ioi.i..- oea the hon. gentleman (Mr. Swaliey). mean to say that no change is ever to be made in the system of Government which now prevails! Does he think that any Colonial Minister would rcaista change which may be deemed necessary, when sought for by air expression of public opinion, in s becoming an constitutional manner! I cannot believe it-—ihe system of Res nsible Government, which now prevails in this Colony having been granted, the public voice must be heard in all cases, wlisrein the public welfare is involved and the remedy suggested is not inconsistent with constitutional rights. I entertain no fear as to the result, when reasonable grounds are given by a constitutional expression of public opinion forchsngee which may considered necessary in order to carry out more effectually, the principles of the constitution under which we live.

The Hon. Mr. SwAsi:v.—It must occur to your Honors that the words "unless for very cogent reasons would deem it expedient," &.c., are inserted--now, I think, the words ofihe answer are entirely the same. All that is in the answer, is neither more nor less than that it would he scarcely possible to get the Colonial Minister to consent. to narrow the principles of Self Go- vcruuieul.

On ii Division on the Hon. Mr. Hell's amend- merit the contents were--The Hons. M‘Donal lloll and Ilcnsley.

The question on the Hon. Mr. Hell's amend- ment having been at it was lost, that Hon.

ntleman and the one. M'Donald and Hens-

ey onlg voting for it.

5th leuse—Education.

The Hon. Mr. assi.sr.—-The only alteration in this clause that I think necessary is, the words “ celebra school"instead of “ best sr-hool”—the passage would then read “ we are happy to find that the Government has secured the services of an efloient Inspector trained in a celebrated school for obtaining the necessary qualifications for the task."

The amendment was agreed to.

6th Clause-—I-‘ishery Reserves.

The address having stated “ questions of long standing which divided

nblic mind none remain to a tale the Co-

No sans man can come to any such

it. assumed

that of ins y

the Crown and the public over the sbcry Reserves” it was re sed but not adopted, to insert the word " a owners" instead of pub- lic--on this clause.

The Hon. Mr. M‘Dolal.D said I would rather see “ tenants and small preprietors"niention . It is well known that all the front lands have been either sold or let i_a grpetdltyomssy years ago tothe present occupts , and s will be more a ted and disturbed than the

roprietors, even should the tenants by any enactment that may be thereby ena- bled to avoid the payment of their rents--The small freeboldsss and the telmatr will, there can be no manner of doubt, the par w he the principal suhrers not the landlords. The 7 or 10 acres of which they may be depri- ved will In all probability. after the lapse of a very lbw years, he of command a bi her price than the who

sealim

their farms w new . The lIoa.Hr. Swat.--In opening of m opinion. that the no I0

S.

van our opinion as to this here are to go to their when gay sesspt clear of smolsnent.

the mm. 1 N 1..' i'..'' am‘, as I have little i...’».. they villi be ‘.3’ g. .5. Jgdflqn of lefl wlbslals.

is. our Iimncial improveme_Iit has been the elects 5

II the!’

ony except the precise nature 0 the rl hts of P00 '0

so lsteresb .

for more value and "' lc of

In lafifl t wk“ ublia-"Ibo words "tbsp tgames ofpthe psblio"e'erc substlts --and the clause agreed to-sfu-r fee slight and nnirnporhnt verbal alterations ' e snbseq of the Address were made. it was reported, to. with certain

ngrossed

been amendments. and then ordered to be 'e

as amended.

HOUSE 0! AIIIIILY,

itp Dlzilfl Prpdviden i we present GOVOfllllIl0lllt uoxmy, hum", 13, so pen came Ii power atn on her y H - can", u“ A» ' fortnnna time: and the real fact of matter ,0 u?:':,:.:,_,.."-. :43‘ “ flu o;,:?,,:°r,??}l,':

anion : Mr. lViouriiii: in the Chair.

(Debate continued fross Hasanrd's Gas:-tte, No. I18.)

lion. Mr. Wnsias ridiculed what he styled the

re hon. member's Mnllaoeaobcnlhsi) narrative of his

coiiversatlen wtli the Hon. r. Beaten and Mr. Campiori and his electioneerin tour : and. with relbrsnee to his (Mr. Mel's) rect denial of the truth ofwbat had been user by him, Hon. Mr. .) I-espeetln what had passed in conversation between tIiein (Hon. 8 r. W. and Mr. Mei.) be observed the hon. member was, perhaps. entitled to his forbearance when it was remembered that he had not yet been initiated in the courtesies of rliamcnt, or, it mi ht be, even of those of polished society. on. Mr. Psixxii rose for the purpose of preventing unseeml and unparliamentary al- tercation. Each of t e hon. members had made his statements; and the statement of each would go forth to the nblic, with whom it rested to decide—accor ing to their knowledge of the fact and estimation in which they held t e word and character of each,—wlioso statement was most entitled to credit. on. Mr. Wnxi.ni.—As to the estimation in which the hon. member, Mr. McEaehen's charac- ter was now hcld by his constituents, a refe- rence to the Address lately presented, by them, to himself and his colleague would nlford very full and conclusive evidence. It was,certainly, a most nnuiishkeable certificate of character. f it did not set forth the opinions of the majority o the lion. member's, constituents, why he not a counter Address been got up? [ The Ilon. Mr. Wnaiaiv then sat down amidst loud cries of “ Order! Order!" Hon. Mr. Psurxx. —'l'he accusations. preferred against two hon. members of the House, had been patiently listened to: and, to the reply made, by one of those lion. members, to the charge brought against himself, had also been con ed a tientan attentive bearing, to which, in truth, it was well entitled, for it had been made in a clear; succinct, calm, and cutle- manly manner. he statements of bot hon. members would, as he had before said, go forth to tho ublic ; and it was for the country, as'woll as tie House. to decide which was the best entitled to credence. The course ' pursued b the lion. member who had reported the Address was an unusual, and, he might so , a rather irregular one. The pro r as wel as usual course would have been to have moved that the Address be read, and, thcn,hth3t it be conside- red, are re h b are re. ii the contrur , the hlbn. l§I6llEl)el"{ Iiodeg oip opening the debatz, more resembled the course usually pursued by a new party on coming into wer, wlio,at such is time, sncrnlly gave a detail of the measures whic they pur sed to brin for- ward—stating what chan e, if any, they inten- ded toeifect, and how tiey meant to accom- plish them. If the hon. member (Mr. Wlielan) and his colleagues should follow u the course which he had commenced, it woul certaily be very trying to the majority of the House and the pee le. and even more so, he should think, to the Ifcporter. What had drawn forth the hon. member to so great a length, at the very out- set, must be more imagination, set at work by his dread of the accusations which he thought wouldbe made against the Government and their sup rters in the Legislature. He (lion. Mr. W.) ad said that it was the determination of the ma’ rity to negative every thin which the minority might propose. [IIon. Mr. IIELAN. ! 1 said I ew they would negative every paragra h of the Address now before the House in the ommittee.] Hon. r Psixxa resu- ui Well, that was likely enough. The hon. member had certniniy good right to en pose that such would be the fate of the Ad ress, prepared by himself and his party; but it would have looked much better—it would, at least, have locked something like modesty, had it been left for any other, than one of-the vern- ment party themselves, to eulogize the peech. But, perhaps. after all it was only natural for the hon. member to consider the S ecli one of the most statesman-like that he ever been delivered ; for it was not at all improbable that e a a and in it. Still however he (the Hon.Mr. Palmer) thou ht the hon. member, -—wbatcver share he inig t have had in the prsparingof the Speech, or how great soever his admiration of it,—ought to have waited to hear what objections could be made to it, be- fore pronouncing an eulogy upon it, or even undertaking to defend it. He, however,

4 seemed to have thought that it would be beat to

forestall objections x and that what he had to advance in its favor, would. by anticipatory expression, have more weight than if called forth in reply. The Speech, however, notwith- standing the high eulogiums which had been ii it, ap red,to him, to be the 9:” reverse of a statesinanvlilis production. In statesmen-like views and characteristics, it was certainl very much inferior to similar roductions in other British Colonies. It was. Ii fact,‘ ill-framed, and would have been no credit bony Administration, although, per- haps,quite as good as could possibly, under existing circumstances have on ax to from such advisersas is Excellency had the misfortunetoflbesurrcundedb . Upon thcm,in reality. and not upon His aooll ’ ' scredit: for the were its real authors. In t s first place, with res- t the uisition, addressed to is Ex- cellency by fourteen of the gentleman who had been duly chosen by -the people to represent them in the Aasemhl , the hon. mcui téblr. Whslan) ohnraoterlaed It as dictatorial, in ecc- rous, and unconstitutional, use the gentle- man who a’ ed it had not been sworn in mem- bers of the ssembl . He (Ilon. Mr. P.) con not. however, perce ve what great ofience those fourteen gentlsineqhad been ullty ofin putting upon roco their sentiinsn touching a pro- ceeding, t e adoption of which, by His Excel- lene , won (I, in their opinion, have had a de- sira Is an satisfactory issue. Those ntle- melt wsrsver farfreai arngatln to themselves

9-

- $-

a right to istnb to Ills llxos lousy. mere presumed that they were—-as e (lion. Mr. .) fully believed the wcre—-privile d to

ofirh ea stion to Es‘ celleriey, as most

to la bills him their own aplnlon

poytazs guest on, an what

Iii warren n be! evin were the es

ire ftbe' 'it th , t '' ""°°' i.."...r°ri.7. on

n szlwtbudlilalig fhotltsqussition he could see ncthia'g that was In an way die: tstorlal, Isdooorose. or ssseesiltneiimsi, no:

so cernin an 1 they were o alone an