The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 26 August 1854, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, August 26, 1854. We are obliged to postpone the publication of Mr. Fitz Gerald's speech stating the reasons for the resignation of the responsible portion of the Executive. The effort we made to give the public the earliest English and Auckland intelligence we could afford has cramp d our means. We will endeavour to give it in an extra number on Wednesday. Since the arrival of the last m&il of Auckland, the question is asked on all sides—' cWhy did the Ministry resign, backed as they were by large majorities, and carrying through their measures triumphantly." The answer is—Because they are consistent and honourable men. They took office on the wish of the House, understanding clearly that the irresponsible Executive was to resign " as soon as the public service required it." When they found that they had been deceived, and that His Excellency preferred the advice of his Irresponsible advisers, to that of his Responsible Executive, they resigned, carrying with them still the confidence of the House, The " Southern Cross" well epitomises the origin of the crisis in the following words :— " The late responsible ministry have been taunted with being ' a young ministry.' They are ten years older, now ; they have been taught the bitterest lesson in life—mistrust. They were dealing with Grey officials, and thought that they were dealing wiili men as singlehearted as themselves. They have suffered themselves to be entrapped ; and the end of' all is—the loss, for the present —but only for the present —of responsible government to the colony." Mr. Fitz Gerald says he should not have fsl»- himself justified in bringing the Estimates before the House while the Executive was composed as at present. "Because I cuiild not do so as an honest man without putting mysejf in the position of opposing every principle which I have ever advocated. Was Ito come down to the House and fight the l>at<ie of Executive Government, and try to run the estimates through the House against opposition, when I knew thai in the present condition of public affairs those estimates ought not to be passed without additional guarantees for tbe responsibility of the Executive. If I bar! done so, I should have been in •a false position, I should have been disgraced as a juil.iic man,'l should never again have held up my head in ibis house or the 'counlvy. Sir, I have a re-, erenee for political consistency, Hiid I have now the consciousness of knowing that, should the time ever again arrive when I may be of u<c to the colony." I have not. foifeited its confidence or respect " The division on Mi. Se well's motion on Ministerial Explanations, which was the trial of strength, shows that the House of

Representatives approves of the step taken by Mr. Fitz Gerald and his colleagues. It is worth our readers' while to study it. Ayes: Messrs. Noes : Messrs. Kelharn E. G. Wakefield Featherston Maekay Fitz Gerald O'Neil King Forsaith Outten Macandrew Revans Cargill bud lam E. J. Wal<efield Travers Major Greenwood Bacot Picard Wortley Weld Merriman Croinptoii O'Brien Rhodes Porter Carleton Monro Hart Moorhouse Taylor Lee Gray Gledlnli Sewell— 26

Auckland approves of their conduct, as may be seen by the great majority which Mr. Brown obtained over Mr. Williamson in the election for that city. This election adds one more to their majority in the Hoiise. We understand on private authority that the Superintendents of Nelson and Taranaki, who are at Auckland, although not in the House, fully agree'with Dr. Featherston, the Wellington Superintendent, in his support of the ex-ministry.

That many in the position of Messrs. FUz Gerald, Weld, Sewell, and Bartley, would have sacrificed consistency to expediency—that Mr. Wakefield would have done so—there can be no doubt. It is very possible that it would have been more convenient to the country if they had done so. But they held that there was a higher principle than political Expediency at stake ; that the integrity of the honor of its public men was of more importance to the country than a temporary advantage ; that a principle so solemnly asserted by the Horse, as that of " Responsible Government," should be defended at all hazards; and the}-preferred to suffer present inconvenience rather than to endanger future good Government; and to leave the door open for others to carry through their measures, rather th an to hold power themselves to the detriment of their principles, and the encouragement of the slightest shadow of political dishonesty.

We can scarcely believe that a dissolution of the House will be attenrpted in the present st.ste of public feeling. There is no doubt but that if the colony were appealed to, Representatives would be sent from every province, more determined, if possible, than even the present house, to maintain the "principle for which the exministry have struggled in vain.

The remarks which we made a few weeks ago about the absence of the lion- member for Akriroa from the General Assembly, were written under the impression that he was in England. We are glad to see that Mr. Moorhouse has taken his seat at Auckland, although late in the session. His arrival now will strengthen the hands of the Southern members.