THE COLONIST.

NELSON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1861

Wonders will never cease! The great cry of the upholders and supporters ot the Stafford ministry at public meetings (taking their cue from the archmaster whom they so servilely follow) respecting the eligibility of candidates to serve aa members ia the

next General Assembly is the startling one enunciated by Mr Stafford, namely, that there is no suqh thing as an independent member! The next thing we expect to hear from the same authority is, that there ought not to be any independent electors! Our late members may let the base assertion pass Without notice, or if noticed at all it is only that they may echo the cry and hug their chains the closer, if it lead to place or power. We believe it.to. be a libel on the majority of the late members of the House of Representatives. That there were dependent ones we have not far to go for proof; and for the honor of the colony (which is being closely watched by the Home Government) we hope there will not be a tithe there were in the late assembly. The chains which the British nation partially threw off on the passing of the Reform Bill seem to have been sent to the antipodes by some old political curiosity dealer, to be sold or made use of as opportunity offered; but they are too old and misshapen to be put on this colony: freedom having been once given it will not, we hope, be again shackled. The men who made Great Britain what she is in intelligence and wealth were not needy and selfish adventurers in Parliament, trying to hold or get hold of; the reins of government. Quite the reverse; they were independent members, sent there by an independent constituency; men who scorned to receive either bribes or rewards, either places or pensions; but forced the ministry of the day, whether Whig or Tory, to do justice to the nation or resign their seats to honester men. Independence will send talented and honest men to the House of Representatives —men who will not (after supporting a ministry in passing a wise, just, and beneficial measure) stoop to eat dirt, whoever may be the purveyor, but would indigj nantly reject it with disdain, however it may be disguised by a political Soyer to make it palatable. Farewell to our boasted Constitution, if such a mean and dastardly idea should pass current among us that independence in the General Assembly is utterly impossible. Look at the means used, the speeches made, the unblushing statements of those who have misrepresented you, and will again if elected; they admit such and such things are wrong, and may with advantage be amended, but they voted for them in ; their present state, and now want to be sent back as representatives. Do they take the electors for fools or slaves clothed with the semblance of freedom, for the express purpose of carrying them into place and power? Look at the Tariff! Mr. Curtis admits that it is not quite as it should be. Look at the duties on silk, cotton, linen, and woollen, and all articles manufactured therefrom, drapery, haberdashery, millinery, furs, hats, boots, shoes, confectionery, bottled fruits, dried fruits, mustard, olive oils, pickles, preserves, sauces, spices, and oilman's stores of all kinds, measured outside/ the package, at 4s. per cubic foot—articles of necessity and luxury blended together; broadcloth and blue slop, linsey petticoat and silk dress, all at one duty. If this is not legislating for a class with a vengeance, we do not know what is; but this is not all. We are told by Mr. Curtis (in mockery we should think) as a set-off to this that we possess the privilege of getting agricultural implements and corn sacks free of duty. These are not peculiarly used by the laboring class, not as owners, at all events. While enumerating these great advantages to the working man he (like a cunning sophist) did not mention that woolpacks, spirits of tar and turpentine, and tobacco for sheepwash, and jewellery are a set-off to these doubtful advantages. There is hothing said by him respecting the enormous and extravagant expenditure of government, nor of the immense sum of £150,000, the borrowing of which he sanctioned. On whom will these burdens eventually fall? Not on the present race of colonial runholders we dare swear. Would the electors of Motueka, Moutere, and Waimea West become the laughingstock of the colony by returning such men ? Repudiate them, if you wish well to the colony ; elect them if you desire to see independence crushed, as will be the case if the idea expressed by Mr. Stafford be carried into effect. As specimens of political morality, which we trust is confined to New Zealand, we give the following axioms of two high authorities in the political and legal circles of this province. They are both taken from the Examiner, and therefore, can be implicitly depended upon :'■ — 11 Do not be deceived by the cry of indepen- " dent member. There can be no such thing "with a responsible government." (E. W. Stafford.)

" If any one supposed that the government " of New Zealand or any other government, "will be carried on without jobbery, he is very " much mistaken. (W. T. L. Travers.)

As an illustration of the above we extract from the same infallible authority the following in answer to an offer of a sop (by Mr. Stafford—not by Mr. Fox) for Mr. Travers's support :— " Before the Fox party were actually out of office and the new ministry formed, and whilst my vote might still be useful, they spoke of me for the office of SolicitorGeneral with its salary, I suppose, of £600 or i7OO a year. But I told them not to tempt me—not to make the offer, as I did not know whether it would suit me—to leave me unfettered."

The Bride.—This vessel has 900 bales on board, shipped by Askew, and is not expected to return to our port for another month at lea^t, as she has not half the wool stowed yet which she is expected to take to England,