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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 279, 4 July 1855, Page 5

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —-I observed in your paper of last Saturday a letter signed" Connell Counsellor "which signature by the way I would parenthetically observe sounds very Irish. Probably the writer of that letter was not in London at 'that particular time whea the public had the opportunity of observing the contrast between the American Giant and Tom Thumb, nevertheless, undoubtedly the fable of the Bull and the Frog is fresh in his mind. But I will forbear being cy uical, I will even deny myself the pleasure of being jocose, for I consider the composition of "Connell Counsellor" wheu it is fairly unmasked and carefully considered, apart from its verbosity and many contradictions, shews for how subtle an object it is written ; and not only so, but as it is generally supposed to be what is usually termed "a feeler," I say it behoves us unscrupulously, firmly, though temperately to record our opinions upon it. The author of " Connell Counsellor " after making a^high sounding rhetorical flourish,, introduces two gentlemen to your notioe, the one is the Governor: of this Colon)', the other the Superintendent of this Province. He then proceeds to shew the le^al and political position of each. And first, as touching the Governor, he says the Governor stands in the place of the Crown—that he is absolutely irresponsible to the Colony—that he can do no wrong so far as the Colony is concerned—that he is not subject to its courts of law—that he is not removeable— that he never dies—and that the irresponsibility of the Governor arises from the fact that the position and prerogatives of the Governor are protected and enforced by a power wholly extraneous to the colony, that is, by the mothercountry, and are*preserved, whether the colony assent thereto or not. Thai the Governor therefore has two distinct duties to perform, one to the colony which he is appointed to govern, the other to the mother country whose interests he is bound to preserve. Such are the immunities of the Governor. "Connell Counsellor " then proceeds to give a little advice and to suggest a few alterations. Upon this part of his letter it is needless to animadvert. I will how proceed to what he sajs about the Superintendent. He states that the Superindent is elected, and derives his authority from the same source as the Provincial Council— that he is removable for various causes and upon certain events, and that he is in a measure legally responsible, eri/o politically and legally responsible, to his electors. I have faithfully analysed "Connell Counsellor's" letter thus far, and have shewn you the peculiar structure of the pedestals upon which the Governor and the Superintendents respectively stand. I will now proceed to give you an epitome of the arguments he adduces therefrom to justify him in recommending to this Province an irresponsible Government. " Connell Counsellor " states that the main object of Responsible Government is to maintain the

control of the people over a chief executive officer, who derives his authority from an independent souvce, and is irresponsible ; but that when the chief executive officer derives his authority from the people directly, that then Responsible Government is clearly a farce. Now mark emphatically this last assertion because it will rise up in judgment against "Connell Counsellor" sooner or later. I am afraid I am rather too prolix ; but, were I to adopt a more laconic style, I could not so succinctly thread my way to that portion of " Connell Counsellor's" letter where he brings you to the Alpha and Omega of what he really means, viz., a permanent and irresponsible Superintendent. May Heaven avert such a catastrophe ! May God forbid that we should have a Louis Napoleon spriuging up here with the speedy growth of a mushroom! that this Province in its early infancy should be uuder the irresponsible control of any gentleman who may have immigrated here! I wish to speak disrespectfully of no one, but I wish to speak calmly and dispassionately; I wish to speak in such a manner as to attract the serious consideration of the public, and I deem it highly necessary so to do at this particular juncture, for lean discover that the ambitious look upon the present time as a happy opportunity to realize their romantic desires. - Now, how does "Connell Counsellor" argue that the Superintendent should be permanent and irresponsible? He states that you cannot have two working heads to the Executive Council; that the Superintendent should merely stand by and act through his ministers, as the crown in England ; but if he is to be responsible and elected, lie imagines that the people will always expect l& candidate for their suffrages to state his opinions and principles, and that the Superintendent should be elected upon a policy, and that his duty is to form a government agreeing with his own views to carry that policy into effect. But I will stop to inquire whether that principle has been acknowledged or adopted ? Has the Superintendent of this Province fathered any measures or heralded forth any policy ? It is very necessary to ask this question, because, if he is deserving of merit in one instance, of course he must take the blame in the other. I should like this question to be answei'ed, because I find since the Superintendent of this Province was elected, two governments, if I may use so exaggerated a word, have been dismissed upon questions of policy; but the Superintendent is still Superintendent. He acknowledges no defeats of policy,"neither does he act up to any of the arguments in "Connell Counsellor's" letter. The whole thing is a mockery,—a delu- . sion. The comparison of a Superintendent and a Governor is incongruous. A Provincial Council is a small wheel to assist the working of a large machinery ; its present working is unpalatable, impracticable, and unprofitable. The Superintendent of a Province is required to look and see what is really wanting for the good order, peace, and comfort of the Province; and, as chairman of the municipal body, to acquaint them of it; and to personally carry out a policy which he is not ashamed to acknowledge, and by which he will either stand or fall. Without trespassing further upon your columns, Believe me, Yourobedient servant, D. A. B.