WHY THE WHITAKER MINISTRY RESIGNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 322, 23 November 1864, Page 5

WHY THE WHITAKER MINISTRY RESIGNED.

Now that the correspondence between his Excellency and his Kesponsible Advisers, which has taken place since the last meeting of the General Assembly, has been laid before the publie, wo have not far to go to iind sufficient reason for tho resignation of Minister;!. The limo has indeed arrived when tho actions of hi - Excellency were such as no honorable men could have counlenanc-ed by any longer remaining in oilice. He had reached a point when compromise on tlieir part would hnvo been criminal, would have been a direct breach oi faith towards the Assembly to carry out wliom policy tliey had expressly taken ollice. Tint was no matter on which they could, as on othe; occasions, have strain od a point, led on by fchu

liupe tliat tlic difference between liis Excellency and themselves would be cleared away by the concessions on their part.

It will be remembered that on llio resignation of the Ministry on the 30th Sept., we stated that one of the chief causes of that resignation was the refusal of the Government to become a p.irtv to the issue of a proclamation to the terms of which they could not conscientiously agree. 1 lie proclamation was as follows :—

The Governor, desiring to prove-t the evils il' continued war being inflicted on %Uo inhnbitauta ->f New Zea'aud, and having been authorised to ex'e . i upon eeitiiin conditions, Her Majesty's clemency o those misguided persons who have "engaged in iebellion, thinks the present a fitting opporiU' itv to give effect to Her Majesty's most gracious wishes ; he tilt refore notifies and proc'aims, that he w ill, in tier Majesty'a mime, and on Her b half grant a fri e and absolute par.lonto all (petsnus) implicated ill the rebellion who may come in on or hel- re tho 22nd d-.y of October next, take the Oath of allegiance, and ma\'e the Cess,on of such territory as may iu each instance bo fixed by tho Governor and .Lieutenant Ciencrat. The pardon promised in the Proclamation will not be extended to those poisons engaged in the murder of at and at To this draft forwarded to them by His Ex- j cellency on tho 7th September last, Ministers on the Stli replied that, iu deference to Jlis Excellency's wishes, they would not withhold their concurrence in His Kxcelleney's proposition to issue the proclamation, subject to the following observations :—Tluit the condition in reference to arms should be embodied in the proclamation iu tho following form : —" And give up their arms and ammunition, except iu such special cases and localities as the Governor may deem it necessary that tliey should retain them lor their defence against rebels still in arms; that the proposed cession of territory ahull be to the e.ctait contort pluled lit/ the Hen-clary <;/' State, and includu lands to be disposed of by sale, to aid in defraying the expenses of the war, us iccll as lands devoted to the purposes of military .velt/ctiicnl ; that. His Excellency will be pleased to give the Ministry an assurance that the cessions taken shall be to the required extent, and also that if the terms of t lie proclamation are not complied with by the date fixed, that the alternative of forfeiture authorised by the Secretary of State shall be acted on without further delay.''

The reply then pointed out that the proposed proclamation was not in compliance with the instructions from Her IVlajesly's Government, as contained in the Secretary of State's despatch of the 20th of April la.-t. lliat the position ol the as defeated rebels, excepting those of the Tauranga district, had not been unequivocally exhibited, and certainly was not admitted by themselves, and that the general amnesty suggested by the Secretary of State was contemplated only as a final measure, when all the power had been taken, and the cessions received, as stated iu the despatch referred to. The rcpl\- also stated that the .Ministry were of opinion that the proclamation would cause delay, when time is of extreme value, and would not be productive of any commensurate beuelicial results.

That very day the Governor desired "his responsible advisers" at once to promulgate the proclamation in its original form, admitting in the same memorandum that lie did so, that it was possible that this proclamation might not

immediately produce very beneticial results, and refusing to adopt the modilications proposed, or give the assurances asked by his Ministers in their memorandum ol the Stli. On the subject of cession of territory, he declared that his views ditl'ered with those of his .Ministry—that they looked only to the acquisition of territory, as a means, of aiding by its sale, in defraying the expenses of the war, or for the purpose of being devoted to military settlements, asking the Governor to give an assurance that the cessions taken shall be to the extent required for those purposes but that he viewed the cession of territory as a punishment indicted to deter other Is atives from engaging in rebellion and not one to be carried beyond the limits of justice for the purpose of obtaining laud to plant settlements on. On the thirteenth Ministers v again replied, combatting his J-.xcelleucy s arguments, and denying that " if the JN'atives came in under the proclamation, and made a cession of territory, that this could be deemed a sutlicient submission on tlieii* part, and as complete a recognition ol J defeat as could bo expected" —showing i that such submission would be in many cases hollow and delusive —made only I with a view to take advantage of the tirst favor- | able opportunity to renew the war. '1 hey declared. too, as their opinion that the surrender of arms was the ** best and only conclusive proof ' of a satisfactory submission, their tenacious retention of them clearly indicating au intention |to resort to them on a future occasion. The doctrine laid down by his Excellency, respecting cession of terutory, they very naturally demurred to as a * serious change of policy" on his part. 'J hey declared that they could not consent to regard confiscation only in the one point of view stated by his lixcellencv : namely, that of punishment. They reminded liim that ** the plans proposed by his Kxcellency in June. IStij. concurred in by his Ministers, legalized by the General Assembly, and sanctioned by the Imperial Government, embraced measures J'oundvd on cuijixra/wii, designed to ensure the permanent peace of the Colony and essential to the safety ot' the lives and property of the well disposed settlers of both races. Tliey show cd how contracts and promises had been made with a view to cany out such measures, and insisted upon it that those who had relied upon the honor of the Government had a right to expect the engagements made with them should be 1 honestly tuililled."

With respect to the taunt " that lie could not carry the cession beyond tho limits of justice, ' the reply referred linn to his own words ol July. that "• those who wage war against her .Majesty, must take the consequences of their acts, and they must uudei'stand that they will forfeit the right to the possession ol their lands guaranteed to them by the treaty ot W aitangi. l'he reply concludes wilk the following regret: — A move unfortunate moment for the exhibition ol any vacillaiion 011 the part of the Governor could not be selected than tlie pr sent, while there is every reason to believe that r. liinuiess upou the basis of the policy adopted by the .As=embly in 15133. wouft result m'the perniauent pacification of the country, without the risk ot any future leuewul ol similar disturbances. On the following day, the 14tli,_ liis Excellency iigain addresses -Ministers, lhe charge of vacillation draws from him the key ot his whole course of action ill iSew Zealand, the private reasons which have led him | so to act as to sarritice to his own personal ambition the interests of the European race, which he has all along seemed to forget were consigned lo his charge as well as those ot the j_'ho opinion of Kxeter Hall, not the love ol justice, lias actuated the policy of Sir George urcy. it is thus that in a moment of weakness liis Excellency writes -. — Tho Governor, under great difficulties, has done and will do his bett Lo do justice to all the interests which it is his duty to consider, lie this under a iud sense of the great 10.-ponfibiliU" which le-ii? upon him, and with the kiiowl,<"ti:o that hia o>u: try, md posterity "i New Zealand wil sit in judymeui uu .lis act-, It is with this and under thi--,•1 sjM.nsibi ity that lie lias on scleral occasions de ,nieit to act ■ n the. advice of his Responsible Ad - vi>crs, under the belief that had ho done so he ,;.ve been hcreatier adjudged to have done that . Inch was wio g, said which must tend to drive a ..alion to des[i.iir. In tho present he u:iappeals to his coantry and 11 po>teri'.\ .0 judge between his views and tho.-e of his Lit'r-pjii--ible A'vi ers, and to pronounce whether, when a uiiui hod tw ournu jto a deianion amidst no nnuiy iuid

great diltieniti-s, his responsible advisers ought not t<> retrain ticm clouding hi* and trying to fjreo him to u decision he does not approve, by using such langn jgo as thoir memorandum contains.

Wo cannot refrain from anticipating th© Teply of Ministers, and giving in this place tho just rebuke which tliey administered on the 22nd of the same month, wheu tendering their resignation to fiis Excellency. Tlio italics are our own:—

MimVers regret (hat the careful consideration which his Kxcellency s'atea he has g-vt-u to any \ie»> that 'ht\> Uavr brought before lum has resulted in 60 many ili ereuces «f opi< iou. 'lhcse, hiWerrr, run be sai is aesori y accouutid for b\ the difference of the principles upon which his Kxceliency aud his Kesponsiblc AdvUers leuuUto their conduct- His Excellency npp-ais to take ft-r his gnide hia own opini-n as to what ** his eounry and posterity in JNew Zealand will think and fray if him when they si: in ju lament «>n his a.;ts." Ministers believe th.«t a bitter gui.se m> y be fj» nd in a careful eensi-Ura-tion of whut is right, anil at the same time of what is most co 'tlu.-ivc to the welfare of iJuse of both ra es in thi- count nr whose interests ore affected, reg'«rdle?- of applause, an 1 feat less of b aim* from either eon emporaries in Eng'and or posterity in New Zea« land Aimistcrs resj.eelfu.ly bep that they raay LeperI init;ed to add, thai the desire of obtaining applause is but ut b<'St not a high-nun lea but « seit-inU-rested n.otivf for our actions, ani that it is qui e possible, wJiilo commiiti g a great w.ong aud doing serious mischief, to acquire popular which, however \ leasing, is by no means e-atislaoory prvof that the applauded action was just or even excusable* His £.<XelUnctj may succeed in patching up a hollow pititYy ami //. us obtain temporary credit from those icho are intpan'ent of the continuance of the war, but he can on lif ojtuin a solid reputation by a comprehaisirt and permanent settlement of the prtseiit unhappy difficulty g

Heretofore, when the diftcreuces of opinion to which hi> Excellency refers nros-» belwieu himself ana his Kespot.siblc Advise a, they gave way ; aud they tuist ihey nr.iv be permitted to appeal to this fact a?. pivot of their anxiety to meet his i*xceUency*B wish a. d to smooth any Uiilicu.ties he may have felt in his way. .Ministers have bctii equally anxious to dcler to his Excellence's judgment on this occasion* but their convictions are so clear aud strong, that by doing so they wilt be led into a course which they feel aetured will st.ouer or lan r lead to d.sappointuient Mid disu&ter, that they are satisfied that duty leaves th m no alien a iw but, to act on the dictates of their ju igmeut rather than in accoidance with their feelings. are fully impressed with the belief that no more unfortunate mi-take can be made than that the colonists should at the »lote of the present war smart under the t elicf thai th<'\ have been sttcnfuttl to his hxectleucy s drtad of th* jwiyment of his country and posterity, and that lujusuee has been done to th. tu m o hi r to stenre to him a character for clemency at their expense lo leave the two race-, when her

Alaje~t\ s 1 :ilJH'l'iul troi-ps tiro withtlntwn, ejt.'UJiog upi oaite to cunt other will) urins n their hamU, one pm_v embittered \v11! 1 a eenee ol wrongs, aud the oth r < ongi atuiatiiig it>elf on the easy eseape from the expected aiut well-mei itod penalties of misconduct ami cft-lciir, would be witkcd if intentional, anil I'rijiii/nil Hctjhct if unfritentiotial. disastrous to tho hurupean and fatal to the Mauri."

The memorandum of liis Excellency of the lltli of September concludes with a request tliafc lie may be iuturuicd what course his ministers intend to pursue, in the event of tlieir being unable to acquiesce in the proclamation submitted to them, lor lie initials tu issue it.

Such beiug tlj<3 position assumed by liis Excellency, the Wliitaker Ministry liad but one constitutional stand to take, and that was to tender their resignation, lliey did so oa the ££ud September, accompanying their request to be relieved of their olliees as his Excellency s responsible advisers with a calm and deliberate recapitulation of their reasons i'or doing so. litis tender of tlieir resignation appears to have been unattended to by Sir George Grey for some days, atnl perhaps the .Ministry may liavo noped nay by day that the Governor would have yielded thepoint 1 especting the proclamation, and allowed matters to run oil. it was uot until the lJUth of September that their absolute and unconditional resignation was made. Their first tender of resignation had beeu passed over without notice. It now became necessary lor them not only to tender a lornial resignation, but to refuse any longer to advise with his .Excellency eoudueting only, as they didforthesake of the Colony, the ordinary duties ol their several departments, 'lhe cause of the resignation is thoroughly characteristic of his Excellency. The slander upon the motives of his lii sponsible Advisers is such only as Sir George Grey would have condescended to have resorted to. It is not only wicked, but it is foolish, and but too truly carries with it the retribution which ever follows baseness, it recoils upon the head of its author, 'lhe papers now published, showing why the Governor broke laitn with the rebels, ill rei using to goto garua« ahia, will for ever brand Sir George Grey as the man who unnecessarily prolonged the war, and closed the avenues to peace." 6>ir George Grey, in a conversation with the Colonial Treasurer, .Mr. Header Wood, ou the lifcith Sept., said " that the conduct of Ministers in standmg iu the way of his publishing the I'roclaniation given at the commencement of the article) was prolonging tile war and closing the avenues ol peace." is it to be wondered at, if alter such an imputation up 'a their conduct as this, the following liiamorandum was transmitted to his Excellency on the 30th Sept.: — Ministers enclose a memorandum from the hon. till,' Col •nial Treasurer on the subject of an interview which he had the honor to hold yesterday with the U'lveinor. .Ministers are unanimously of tho same opinion as that es pi eased by .Mr. Wood in this memorandum, and beg must reajjeetiully to transmit herewith their resignations of tlie olliees tuey hold. " I'IIEDK. WHITAKEB.. 30th September, 18G1. The Colonial Treasurer, on his return from England, waited otlieialiv ou liis Excell ney to-day, at °nis interview the Governor was pie .sell tc enter ially into the present state of ati'aiis, and in tho euur.-e of conversation the Colonial 'treasurer understood his Excellency to say that the conduct of .Ministers in standing in tne way ot his publishing the pioelamatioii transmitted with his Excellency's memutatidum oi the titli instant was prolonging the war, -.nd closing tiie avenues ol'peace. Under these circumstances, consideriug the gravity of the accusation made by Her Majesty's Kepreaentative, the Colonial 1 reasurer thinks there is no other ~,ur-, open to the Ministers than lo place their rc--i.'imtions 111 tlie huu is of the uovernor, an,l at the s.nne lime to place u];on re. ord lhe laet that ihcir views have never changed since first, they were stated in thtf House of hep eseniatives in last, and that thev have had no other object, in the courn, iliev have pursued than that of securing a permanent peace upon a sound and just basis. Reader Wood. September 29th, ISC-i. Sib,—We to place in the hands of your Excellency the resignation ol our offices in the Government of Mew Zealand, together with our seats iu tho Kxeeutire Council. 30tli September, 1864. Fkedeuick Whitakeb, William Fox, Ukaduk Wood, Tiiomas Is. Gillies, '111 Oil Ad IiBSSELL. "Wo regret extremely that the great length, of tho papers now published-precludo .tho possibility of our republishing theiu at .present entire in the columns of this journal. Two ot them eoutaiu over one hundred foolscap pages each ot closely priuted type. Wo understand that.& very large number of copies have beeu priuted, ami that they may bo obtained on applications tho Government Oflices. Wo oaruest y roeam. mend those who wish to study the inquisitorial tortures to whu-ji Ministry have been subjected, and the iimuuer in ul.i li the time of the country hasjje^ wastud by supliisut-auons o* Ins to pi'atfliro & oopy- 1