THE "PROGRESS" MAGISTRATE.

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 991, 13 October 1855, Page 3

THE "PROGRESS" MAGISTRATE.

To the Editor of the New-Zkalandeb. Sib, — Vour contemporary evidently keeps n lawyer Bs a necessary article in stock to do tha veriest cratchetty qmbblings congenial to the sinister, perpetually dishonest, purpose of tbe proprietor. Ibe article in to-day’s paper would lain place Mr. Beckham an a judge (wbo does not lose by the comparison) in our little narrow community with the Lord Chancellor, Master of tho Rolls, and Law Peers of Copland, These learned personages exercise their judicial functions among a population of two millions and a half; and Mr. Beckham does daily duty in a community ot some lew thousands only, whose Ruffrages he now canvasses. Ibo writer of the article in the Cross does not tell us that the Lord Chancellor sits for London, or that he represents any couati'usi.cy : and as to this vote, is it not in the affairs of an old populous nation, not of a raw colony, as yor not settled in its constitution i As a general rule, 100, do not all Peers but thus.- known as Liw Peers abstain from taking part in proceedings of appeal ? if the writer in the Cross had the disposition to tell the truth, the whole truth, and no' Ling but the truth, he might Hate that it is tin- exception and not the rule for the blaster of the Rolls to sii in the Commons; the present Master of the Rolls did so, but such was the sense of tbe impropriety oi bis being a judge and a r preaenlatire of any constituency that tbe suhjec’ was roundly discussed in the House of Commons, —and now be has B °t, ( and for some time past this high judicial tunctiouary has not had a seat in the House. But there is an entire disparity in the premises ul Ibe article of the Cross, in England a Jury intervene between the people and the Judge. Really, if the defenders of Mr. Beckham would only take a fair and hot a party or partial view of LL position, they would ■** that it is a most unconstitutional proceeding of Mr. Beckham pending his own election or rejection by the people, still to be daily aciing as an absolute Judge. It is **pecting too much ot the people to ask them to ■oppose that he is not by nature capab.e of bias to his °*« interests ; that he is immaculate beyond suspicion. R is not said that Mr. Beckham is not us lair a ■ample of humanity as any of us, for his place as Magistrate of uCouit of Equity and good conscience. Lie other fry of Government oflicnds now obtruding themselves upon public notice do not occupy such important po-nion* among us as does our unexceptional** Kt si den l Magistrate, but as far as their influence extend* their position is every way as uncouslitutionul as that of the “ Progress Magistrate.” 1 am, Sir, Yours &c., An Elector.