Many of these Scotch Settlers are, | ; but theirdisplay on W ed-|

pay the piper.” - a suffering severe! y vesday will scarcely serve as a reliable proof of the very) eat distress to which this [sland is now unhappily duced. Scarcity is more or less felt every year by the! scupants of new farms, who begin the world with very | oa or without any capital, in the shape of money or, yock. Abundant evidence, however, of the existing| tress is to be found in many of the old settlements of: ye fsland—amongst farmers who have been born on the! wil-who have cleared extensive tracts of land—raised rge and valuable crops in prosperous seasons, and who mye by Jong toil, and unflagging industry, been en. pled to purchase the freehold of their farms from the’ eiginal nomiaal Proprietors. |

Many—very many of sach settlers are suffering from) the most pressing want. The fact is too well esta-| plished to admityof any doubt or uncertainty ; and what | we their prospects of relief before the Harvest ?

Mr. Speaker Pope told the “assembled wisdom” in is opposition to the Embargo Bill, towards the close of the last Session--that “ there were none but a set of idle, indolent vagabonds, who were in want of food and seed, and were always so.” If Mr. Pope believed what he sid to be true, his assertion proved, at least, his ignor- ance of the state of the country; and the complaints subsequently heard from all sections of the Island demonstrated the necessity for an Embargo.

But what, we again ask, are the prospects of relief till the new crops shall have been gathered in? What measure does the Government propose? No measure —no scheme of any kind has been promuigated by the Government, simply because, we presuine, it is powerless for good.

An Address has been, or is to be, presented to the individual Members of the Assembly, by the public at! large, requesting them to indemnify the [xecutive Gavernment, at their next meeting, in the appropriation of a sum of money not to exceed £1,500, to be expended inthe purchase of meal, and to be given on credit to! those who are most in need. To this request the mem-

bers of Assembly will, no doubt, accede; and, breathing} W

‘regret to have to express an opinion on this subject.

THE EXAMINER.

oo) to say + that the cries

rhe breadth parading x of hungry men--the wailing of supperless orphans, clinging r ‘to their gaunt and famine-stricken mothers, are to be

put in competition to the high behests of twelve or| ‘thirteen men “ dressed in a little brief authority !”

A FEW WORDS TO THE E LEC TORS OF THE FIRST DISTRICT OF PRINCE COUNTY.—THE HON. JAMES WARBURTON vs. JAMES YEO, Esq.

On this day week the Hon. James Warpurton wil! again offer himself to the Electors of the First District of Prince County. The patrons of misrule and corrup- tion are not content to Jet Mr. Warburton resume his seat in the Assembly, without putting him tothe annoy- ance and expense of an opposition. Report says that James Yeo, Esq., has been prevailed upon to enter the lists against the Executive Councillor. Yes—tell it not in Gath! publish it not in the streets of Ascalon! the late friend and political ally of Mr. Warburton is ad- vised to confront him as an enemy! We heard of this scheme more than 2 month ago—regarding it as a very silly and preposterous device of the common enemy, we refused to give it any consideration; but letters which we have received from well-informed correspondents, have now given this report the stamp and earnestness of truth.

Now, bearing in mind the circumstances under which Mr. Warburton was elected in I846—the extreme anxiety displayed by Mr. Yeo to effect his return—the sacrifice which that gentleman made on behalf of his friend—the integrity and ability with which he (Mr. Warburton) discharged the important trust confided to him during his short sitting, battling with heart and head on the side of Popular Opinion—remembering, too, his shamefully illegal expulsion by the supporters of Com- pact ascendancy,—who that remembers all these circum- stances, and is not dependent on the little great men in office, can hesitate to stamp with the most unqualified disapprobation the opposition which is about to be offered to Mr. Warburton. We do most unfeignedly

We did hope

= ETS oo

freely on its escape from the stupendons responsibility that his conduct in reference to Mr. Warburton would of appropriating the public money, the Executive Go-|not only be pre-eminently above suspicion-—but that it vernment will probably act with becoming promptitude would be influenced by the most honourable, independ- in procuring a supply of meal, and thus avert a famine. ent and manly sentiments. What motive governs his This is truly a significant and lamentable commentary conduct i in coming forward to oppose his friend? Not on the weakness and inefficiency of the Government. parece! ambition—that he has already foregone. Nota It cannot appropriate the public money, on the most) desire to serve his country—that Mr. Warburton is fully urgent necessity; for, it would appear, it has no ‘capable of doing—such a motive has been the proud confidence i in the House of Assembiy. Does not this | characteristic of his brief political life. In what light, fact prove, better thar all the editorials we could write, ‘then, are we forced to regard the opposition? Certainly, |. the necessity of a change, from the peeaibitt irreaptinaibie! ad factious. We are accustomed to speak in plain system, to that form of Administration which would be | terms—we shall do so now, though we run the risk of a fair reflex of the popular mind, and which might act offending Mr. Yeo, which, knowing something more of in every important crisis during the recess of Parliament, that 2 gentleman than we did in former years, we would with energy and dignity, and without putting the com-'not willingly do. We must say, then, that at the coming munity to the trouble of asking the individual members| ‘election Mr. Yeo appears not for himself, but for the of the Assembly for a pledge to confirm any extraordi-| Charlottetown Clique of Officials—not as the advocate of

nary proceeding of the Cabinet ?

It cannot fail, however, to be a source of comfort to, the Government, that its conduct, in not providing, relief, is less censurable than that of the “ majority” of © the House of Assembly, who, having gained a “loose, fish” to their side, and excluded one of the Liberal Party, boasted prodigiously of their influence and ability

io accomplish measures of inestimable benefit to the

the country. Let us now turn to the Appropriations and

see what some of those measures are :—- The Census Bill, at least, £500 The Addition to the Governor's Salary, 500 Provision for the appointment of an Assistant Judge, 500 Provisions for the poor, 000!!! £1,500 To say nothing of many small grants, which might, Without any detriment to the public service, remain un- made, for this year at least. However expedient, under ordinary circumstances, it may be, to ascertain the population of the Island—to increase our Judicial Esta- blishment, and to augment the Salary of our Lieutenant Governor, no candid man can now hesitate to affirm that the Fifteen Hundred Pounds set apart for these purposes would have been much better applied in purchasing food for the relief of the necessitous. But the wise, and

powerful, and patriotic “majority” of the House of Assembly seemed to think otherwise; and who will

| Reform and good government, but as the champion of official monopoly—irresponsible rule, and all the train of evils and corruptions which sucha rule invariably | engenders. Good God! how Jong is this Island to be ‘enslaved by such a system !—how long are we to grope ‘and blunder along under the guidance of a set of men —whose only consideration is pelf—whose only recom- mendation, wealth, and the stinted knowledge, and ‘paltry experience, which un uninterrupted enjoyment of official honours and emoluments have given them! Doubtless, the number of Mr. Yeo’s voters will loom largely on the poll-book; but the same names would, no doubt, be found to darken the pages of his ledger.

Contrast, for a moment, the claims of the two men. Mr. Yeo is an extensive dealer in merchandise and ships— he gives employment to very many families—credit to very many more: he profits, to be sure, by those who jabour for him, and those who buy from him; and it is likely he would trust none but those who have some prox- imate or remote means of paying him. Most of these people possess the franchise--but their daily bread is at stake. Superficially considered, giving a vote is a sinall matter; and rather than arouse the indignation of Mr.

Yeo, and thus endanger their private interests, many poor fellows may be urged to vote for him,though in their very souls they believe him to be an unsafe depository of the trust. Mr. Yeo, then, gains the unenvitble noto-

}

riety of triumphing over the poverty and weakness of

309

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his electors,

Mr. Warburton has no ships to build—no tea for the worthy housewives to be given credit—no tobacco for the old men—no cottons or flashy ribbons for the blooming girls, His political character—his un- wavering integrity of principle—his burning desire to exalt his fellow Colonists to the dignity of freemen— are his chief recommendations to’ the favour of the Electors. Let those who are independent enough to proclaim their respect for, and admiration of, these qua- lites, maturely consider the great principle involved in the Election now about to take place. They are about to declare either for or against Responsible Government —voting for Mr. Yeo, will be voting to sustain the pre- sent irresponsible system—voting for Mr. Warburton will be manifesting their desire for that happy change, which must place the People of this Colony on a level, in the enjoyment of political liberty, with the best governed of the neighbouring Provinces,

THE ADVANTAGE OF LOSING

RENCY BILL. Norntxe eould be more fortunate, or providential, (if we may use the term) than the fact that the Currency Bill, so called, did not become the law of the land at the close of the last Session of the Legislature; for, under the existing circumstance of nearly all the cash Jeaving our Island, as it is in the proces3 of doing, for the pur- chase of necessary food—it is obvious that every note which would have been issued, had the Bill béen adopt- ed, would have been carried to the ‘Treasury or Currency Office, and cash demanded for its amount—to be given in exchange for that which the notes could not purchase, namely, our daily food; and thus, notwithstanding al! the caution used by the Legislative Council, in reference to the Bill, their honours would most indabitably have witnessed a provincial bankruptcy.

This is a dispassionate view of the case—unin fluenced by any party considerations; but had the leaders of ex- travagance, and sticklers for inconvertible paper, been listened to and uncontrolled—had their darling scheme of issuing £15,000 of notes, not payable on demand, been allowed to go into operation, even two years ago, what now wou!d be the condition of the colony? Why, it is plain, we should have had no cash in the Treasury with which to purchase food, or, at the least, an amount of cash wholly inadequate to meet the present demand for it; and the consequences would have been the most fearful to contemplate. The country has for the moment we sincerely hope, escaped this crisis; and with the blessing of Providence, in the prospect of an abundant crop, it may safely weather the storm of adversity which is now sorely trying its feeble energies. Meanwhile, the people of this Island should bear in mind the risk they have run by confiding their interests to incompetent, and, withal, obstinate and extravagant counsellors. No arguments would restrain the “ majority” of the House of Assembly from making extraordinary appropriations in the prospect, too, of a greatly diminished Revenue. The warning voices of those who exhorted the Legis- lature to the most economical expenditure are already recognized as having been raised with prophetic accu- racy. Where and how is the revenue to arise without the importation of those things on which it is imposed? Comparatively, no cash can this year be expected to flow into the Island in return for eithet ships or produce ; and knowing something of the mercantile condition of Charlottetown, we may add, how are men engayed in trade to take up the large amount of bonds in the Trea- sury, or should they do so by loans to be obtained from the Jews on extravagant terms, what will they have left to pay for new importations, on which the country is to build a revenue? Oh, what a blessed Government we possess! what inestimable legislation supports it! In England, under circumstances such as this Colony is now placed in, a Chancellor of the Exchequer would be bound to retire from his post; for though he cannot control the seasons, he can limit the public expenditure. Surely he could not be pardoned, in times when com- merce languished and agriculture failed, were he to

originate additional and extraordinary charges; but what avails it to notice what is done in England—what is done any where, under a good, efficient, and vigorous administration of affairs. ‘I'he time is yet to come,

when Prince Edward Island may rejoice in the posses- sion of something which will deserve the name of Government, and which may save the country from financial difficulties, such as it has now escaped throug b the loss of the Currency Bill.

THE CUR,

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