THE NEW GOVERNOR.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 22, 16 September 1843, Page 2

THE NEW GOVERNOR.

"Now u»haten a death will you. die Willie? Now Willio tell to me" "You'll put me in an oarless boat, I And i'll gae sail the sea." ' j When tho New Governor arrives, what shall becomo of Mr. Shortland and his friends ? ' Shall the family compact be allowed to remain in existence ? Thcso and a hundred other questions suggest themselves at tho present moment to all tho inhabitants of

New Zealand. We hear various accounts of tho character and talents of the New Governor. We know nothing about him ourselves, and we shall therefore not speculate very much about what his future conduct is likely to be. "We are well aware that he has a very hard - task before him, and to do his work properly in New Zealand, he must bo possessed of no ordinary capacity. He has not only to erect new machinery, but he has also j to pull down the old building and to erect a new one from the very bad and old materials of which it consisted. We do not pretend to know whether ho is or is not a skillful builder, but this we do know that his task would have been infinitely more easy of performance if no attempt had been previously made to establish any form of Government, he could have moulded his own creature to his own fashion and liking, but it is rather difficult to act tho part of a good stepfather towards tho spoiled child of another. But it is not our wish or intention at the present moment to anticipate any good or evil that he may do, or to propose, any line of conduct for him, — there will be time enough for this when he arrives, which we trust may be soon. Whatever the Governor may be as a man, and however much we may dislike the system under which a person with uncontrolablc power (as far as wo can help ourselves) is thrust upon us hy the parent state, wo must still, even under tho cruel sufferance of many wrongs, grievances and insults, discharge our duty by him, both as a mail and as tho representative of the state or form of Government, which though we cannot improve, we are bound to obey. To sit under the' despotism of a Colonial Government without feeling and expressing our detestation of the same, would indicate a want of moral sensibility and moral fortitude unbecoming Englishmen and New Zealanders ; but while this is true, it would bo alike useless and unprofitable to blame or to feel angry with a Governor simply on this account, inasmuch as if ho would not undertake to become tho engine of inevitable oppression under our present system, some other person would, so long as the Home Government would pay him for so doing. — On tho score of despotism then we need not quarrel with him, it is neither his fault nor our crime that lie is so, it is altogether owing to the injustice of the Home Government, and to a general system of administering government, which has its foundation in ignorance, injustice and cruelty, .which can only be removed by the increasing strength of intellectual and moral improvement in tho people at home, this alono will break the iron bands asunder, and while the Millions of our countrymen groan at home, wo must expect at least to sigh in this country. How then are we to receive this new deputy of Colonial despotism ? shall we merely recoivo him coldly, coolly, and sullenly as such, or shall we make a merit of necessity and appear pleased, and request him to thank our masters for their kindness in sending us a new deputy master, nature having deprived us of the former Governor. Wisdom in this, as in every thing, directs tho middle course as being tho safest. If we rejoice, let it not be becauso we receive a new Governor, of whom we know nothing, but becauso we get rid of an old taskmaster, of whom we were heartily tired. This is the only rational cause of joy ; time alono can tell if there be any other ; and if there bo, it will bo valued when it comes. Seeing then, that we arc not to rejoice because a now Governor is given to us ; what else are wo to do ? Shall wo allow him to get on as best he may ; leave him to discover, and to remedy our grievances if he can, or will ? This would be indeed unchristian and unmanly. Although ho is acting under a tyrannical and despotic system, we must not on that account suppose that he himself is a tyrant. The Governor of even a jail, may, and often does make himself liked, and sometimes beloved by many of his prisoners. A despotic Governor may likewise happen to bo now and then a kind, a humane, a benevolent, a just, an intellectual, and even a moral and religious man ; let us in the first instance, and until we feel, and know the contrary, suppose that in the new Governor we aro blessod. with a person of this kind, and, then the course of duty will at once becomo apparent. We aro suffering wrong, let us instantly mako him acquainted with our grievances. We are aware that ho himself, has a difficult part to act, let us assist him to perform his duty properly. He is surroundod with enemies, let us guard him against them by making known to him their character. To enter upon particulars then wo do not think we should make any great work about tho new Governor on his arrival. Let him find his way ashore how ho will, the people havo nothing to do with that ; they have already had their bon-firo and rejoicing, becauso of their deliveranco from the present Anarchy — -they cannot rejoico for nothing — they do not know how tho new Governor is

to act. Joy is the expression of satisfaction with deeds done ; — hope is calm, and unexpressive, it is a silent, though a happy feeling — it regards the future, not the past, and is therefore uncertain — it may be disappointed, and should therefore bo silent. But, though we may not commit ourselves by any unnecessary rejoicing, it is our duty as men and as Englishmen to meet together and to agree upon a calm and impartial stato,ment of our present condition, and to submit the same to the new Governor. This address or statement should bo fourfold, it should be in the first place, a record of all the causes which have tended to impede the progress of this highly favoured colony, and to bring about the ruin of the settlers ; in the next place, it should embrace tho most approved plan for removing the same ; it should in the third place give an idea of the general character of tho country, and the best method of making its natural resources available ; and, fourthly and lastly, it should conclude with specific charges against the members of tho late Government, and an earnest prayer for their removal. — Every energy, every effort of. the settlers should bo made to get rid of the Caput Mortuum — the root of evil must be eradicated — Mr.Shortland must be turned out. His land speculations, his jobbing, his loans, and his blunders must be prominently brought forward in this address. Tho Manganui war, the Tauranga and Wairou massacres, — the changing of streets, — and the attempt upon upsetting the Bank, must be 1 brought against him. The New Governor must be made either to give up Mr. Shortland, or tho peoplo must give up tho New Governor. lie must be made to feel that he has his choico of two evils, he must quaurel with Mr. Shortland, or he must displease, tho people — let him choose