The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 30, 6 February 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1867.

It is a subject of general regret that so many of the early settlers are leaving the province ; some to seek for health aud pleasure, some to superintend the education of their children, and others, it is feared, to invest in other couutries the capital which their industry has enabled them to acquire iu this. It is true that the province, like the colony, has emerged from the weakness of infancy, and has shown signs of ability to act vigorously on its own account. Children are fast becoming young men, aud young men are springiug up to take the place of their fathers. Yet the country is not sufficiently strong, it is thought, to lose the presence of those who, by their knowledge and experience obtained by triumph over a thousand difficulties, are well fitted to act as guides to the rising and inexperienced generation on whom will fall the burden aud brunt of conducting the affairs of this comparatively youthful country. We express the feelings of a great number of persons in saying, that the departure of few old colonists will cause greater regret than that of Mr. Alfred Saunders, who, soon after these lines meet the public eye, will have sailed — -we trust not for ever — from these shores. Mr. Saunders has taken no insignificant part in the commercial, political, and social arrangements of the community, which has just shown the progress it has made on the occasiou of its twenty-fifth anniversary. He arrived here by the Fifeshire, and was the first man of the first ship to land in Nelsou. His first political act of importance was as an advocate, amongst many others, of the present Constitution. During the discussions on that interesting question, he distinguished himself by the advocacy of the right of men to the suffrage, in contradistinction to a property qualification, which was insisted on by others. When provincial institutions were granted, he took an active part in the first election for Superintendent, aud strongly supported Mr. Stafford, who was the first Superintendent of Nelson province. Wheu that gentleman brought forward any measure that savoured of extravagance, or suggested the borrowing system that has since been so extensively adopted, he found in Mr. Saunders an unflinching opponent. It is unnecessary to remark that Mr. Saunders was returned a member of the Provincial Council at its first sitting. For many years he continued to he one of its most active and •efficient members, and always distinguished himself by the expression of enlightened and comprehensive views in favor of constitutional freedom, as well as by a fearless denunciation of corruption and abuses, whether practised by a government or a political party. Ou the death of Mr. Robinson, he was elected to the office of Superintendent by a majority of 20 votes over Mr. Barnicoat, his competitor for the office. That he has wisely, economically, and vigorously managed the affairs of the province, a large majority of the electors aud not a few of his political opponents cheerfully allow ; and wish the exception of the vexed question of tho railway, on which there is a division of opinion, we know of no subject of importance for which his personal enemies consider him liable to reproach. Mr. Saunders also attended several sessions of the . General Assembly ns the representative of a constituency of this province. He there conducted himself in the same fearless manner, and showed the same appreciation of popular freedom, he

had displayed iu the Provincial Council. He raised his voice and recorded his vote against the borrowing system ; labored hard to keep the .colony from debt ; and warned both Provincial and Greneral Governments, that large amounts carelessly borrowed would be recklessly and lavishly expended; aud that taxation of an intolerable kiud would be the result of the system he unsparingly condemned. As President of the Temperance Society, Mr. Saunders has done some service to his fellow colonists. The cousistent conduct of an influential advocate of temperance principles, has acted as a beacon to warn many from the rocks of dissipation ; whilst the warm iuterest he has takeu in every educational and social improvement, has afforded encouragement to a large and iucreasiug class of colonists, who labor to regulate and purify the under current of social life, and who believe There is on earth a yet auguster thing, Veiled though it be than Parliament, or King. In paying this hasty, and we think, justly merited compliment to the late Superintendent, on his departure from our shores, we by no means wish to intimate that he was without defects, or that he has made no mistakes, in his political career. In the heat of political contest it is not always easy to speak in measured phraseology, nor to spare persons from the condemnation which is meant to apply to their principles. Mr. Sauuders has been charged with setting class against class, because he eschewed the mealymouthed oratory, which is afraid to call a spade a spade, and which refines away thought and language, till all distinction is lost between good and evil. Meu as the representatives of illiberal i _y,ch icanery, corruption, aud political knavery, have been lashed uusparingly aud mercilessly by his withering criticisms. Of course they hate the man who thus holds the mirror up to nature, just as social pickpockets hate the policeman, whose eye is upon them and threatens every moment to take them into custody. On the implacable hatred of a clique of office seekers, time servers, 3nd monopolisers of power and place, Mr. Saunders has no doubt calculated, but it has not induced him to swerve from the even tenor of his way. We can imagine him replying to the vulgar pack who are indulging in their last yelp at him, as a modern poet has replied to hi3 detractors : Lie still in kennel, still in stable, Good creatures of the stall or stye, Shove snouts for crumbs beneath the table, Lie still ; and rise not up to lie. Regretting that so consistent, clear headed and intrepid a. politician as Mr. Saunders is leaving us, and hoping that the cause of progress will sustain no loss from his absence, — we wish him and all who accompany him a safe and pleasant voyage, and great enjoyment iu the father land.