THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Saturday, April 29, 1848.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 3, Issue 149, 29 April 1848, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Saturday, April 29, 1848.

LUCEO NON URO. "If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from the spark I bore." It is perhaps scarcely necessary to apologize for re-copying into our columns extracts from the Bluo Book, some of which having appeared already in the local papers, as our rcadors will at once perceive tho propriety of placing them iv juxtaposition with our own remarks, as well as the necessity of recording them where we can at all times refer to them with ease. Tho principal fcaturo of the extracts marked "confidential," is the uniform endeavour manifested by tho writer to convince Her Majesty's Government, not so much of tho uusuitablcncss of tho new constitution to the Colony generally, as of tho pre- eminent impolicy of an attempt to introduce it in the Province of New Ulster. It is impossible to rise from a careful perusal of these extracts, without having roceived the impression that the writer of .them had greator objections to tho introduction of the proposed form of government into tho northern district, than into the southern, and that although he might be supposed to prefer the postponement of its application to the colony generally, yet that its introduction at the South would not be viewed with any very great regret. This is speaking very softly of the animus that pervades the entire portions of the documents that have been permitted to appear, aud describes in very mild, and perhaps inadequate language, the studied effort to lower tho relativo character of the Northern Settlers in the estimation of the Home Government. If we were to speak of this invidious and undeserving attack in terms of anger, Aye should only bo degrading ourselves to the level of the mind that ceuceived it : such an unbecoming display of prejudice and hostility on the part of a Governor towards ono portion of the inhabitants of tho Colony, is only worthy of contempt and pity. It has been for a long time past a pretty generally received opinion here, that Governor Grey entertained a rooted dislike to the inhabitants of Auckland, and that he took but little pains to dissemble the preference he felt for the southern settlements, and therefore it is hardly surprising that this feeling should havo been thus palpably demonstrated. We aro not at all concerned or offended because of this preference. Govornor Grey has an undoubted right to bestow his peculiar regards wherever he pleases, and if we, as a community, arc so unfortunate as to he deprived of his affection, we can only say that tho misfortune is reciprocal, for there hno love lost between us. But if we are not beloved, that is no reason Avhy wo should bo degraded, by odious comparisons that cannot be defended by truth and reason. Perhaps His Excellency has acted upon the lex tallonis, and by this means sought to repay the open, and sometimes severe, but at the same" time, wo will say, honest censure that has been bestowed upon many of his proceedings : but he should remember that he himself first invited reproof by the bitterness which ho displayed towards tho large and influential portion of this community interested in the laud claims. If we capfc our eyes upon the jjublic journals of the Colony, and recal the tone of public opinion as represented by theni, about tho period of his Excellency's arrival, it will be seen that while on the one hand there was given a pretty clear indication of the peculiar position in which the inhabitants of this portion of the Colony were placed, and the necessity which existed for a kind and conciliatory, though firm and vigorous policy ; there was at the same timo a manifost disposition on the part of tho settlers to make _ all due allowances for the dimculties of his Excellency's position, and to cooperate cordially with him in the arduous task of restoring order and prosperity to the land. This state of feeling, however, could not have been reasonably expected to survive the unpro'voked'and acrimonious display of prejudice on tho part of his Excellency. When in

tho first session of this Legislative Council, ho branded the land claimants indiscriminately as miserable speculators, and accused them as a body, of having acted v. ith unparalleled injustice towards tho natives, by depriving them of their lands in a fraudu- ' lent manner, how was it possiblo for tho large majority who felt themselves thus unjustly maligned, to maintain their original feelings towards his Excellency unimpaired, it is pleasing, however, to find that tho weapon pointed against us by Governor Grey, has been parried by tho Secretary of State ; and that the homo government lias thrown around us tho shield of its own impartiality. Earl Grey has generously decided rather to suspend his favorite constitution altogether, than allow it to bo conferred upon ono portion of tho colonists, to tho exclusion of the other. By tho extracts from this despatch to the Governor, printed in our columns, it will be seen that bis Lordship has, with praiseworthy candour, admitted, indirectly at least, tho impracticability of his original scheme ; and has not scrupled to confess tho impossibility of legislating satisfactorily for a people dwelling at a distance of 13000 miles. He has therefore, relinquished tho reins entirely to tho Governor, not that his Excellency may drive us along at random, but that ho may be enabled so to direct tho affairs of tho colony, as will best accord with the wants and wishes of tho people. Perhaps there never was a Governor who had a better opportunity of making his administration popular and respected than Governor Grey. Earl Grey has done all that could be expected or wished for, to secure to the colonists such an amount of independence, as would enable tliem to exercise an influence in the management of their own local affairs without endangering the general interests of tho colouy ; and we only require a man of honest and upright intentions, to carry out his Lordship's views, to ensure completo success. Much as wo have suffered from Governor Grey, and deeply as we have been injured in our reputation by him, even he has now an opportunity of gradually repairing tho breach, and rekindling iv tho bosoms of the northern colonists the expiring crnbers of confidence and attachment, which have been all but completely extinguished by his agitating policj'. Let him but carry out the views of Earl Grey in a spirit of kindness and confidence towards us, and he will find that the northern colonists can both forgive and forget the injuries ho has inflicted upon them. Fi'om tho tenor of Earl Grey's despatch we gather that a bill will bo brought into Parliament to re-constitute, for a limited time, the old Legislative Council, as constituted by the charter of 1840, with extended powers. That these extendedpowers are to be directed towards the accomplishment of the following objects :—: — 1. To constituto, if deemed necessary, provincial Legislative Councils during tho suspension of his charter. 2. To determine and appoint, if deemed necessary, members of their own body to bo members of the provincial council. 3. To introduce, if deemed advisable, representative members into the provincial councils, and to determine their constituency and mode of election. Such are the principal objects contemplated by the extension of power granted to tho old Legislative Council ; and it is also intended that tho provincial councils, if constituted, should perform all the functions assigned to tho provincial assemblies under tho suspended charter, leaving tho re-constituted legislative council of 18-10 to excrciso tho functions of the general assembly. It is, however, left discretionary with the Governor, to retain the old council without any alteration whatever, until the new charter comes into unrestricted operation ; but, at the same- time, it is hinted, in a manner that cannot bo mistaken, that the labours of government "might be lightened by tho establishment of the town councils ; and that if the legislative council feels itself able to place at the disposal of theso bodies whatever portion of the general revenue may not be required for general purposes, they may effectually manage all matters of purely local concern." The people will now have an opportunity of asking, at least, for what they want, and i the governor will be required to furnish very good reasons for refusing their reasonable requests. His Excellency the Governor is now invested with great additional power, and, as an inevitable consequence, the responsibilities of his position are proportionately increased — probably they are heavier than ho would havo incurred from choice. Now that an almost I unlimited power for good or for evil is placed at his N hands, wo shall soon discover the calibre of his mind, and tbe bias of bis heart. If he employs his despotic influence lin carrying out his own views, regardless

of the wi.shcs of the people, he may cau^o them for a season to writhe under the yoke, but by so doing' lie "will cn-urc hi^ own speedy dovtiifall. J£, on the other hand, ho devote his acknowledged abilities to the fostering of the interests, and securing- the confidence ot the people, and make the absolute character of his power subservient to the promotion of the happiness and prosperity of the settlement, he mny yet efface the remembranco of his past misdeeds, and regain perhaps, the esteem of all classes of the community."