LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 56, 2 March 1842, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

LAND CLAIMS' BILL. *t Why, vthat need of this 1 (1 the pale intrusion of remorse In ijust deed 1 Although our rirst plaa failed, Doubt not, but he will soon be laid to rest. Bui light !;<e dark.'* There is, perhaps, nothing more true, and nothing iTiore seldom believed than the saying; that "a man's greatest enemy is hirm tare naturally averse to the belief of this, and anxious to avoid the remorse of their own conscience, by imputing the cause of all their failures and mistakes to any other person than the true one—themselves. We were forcibly reminded of the truth of this, the ly, when our unhappy Council consummation of their madness and folly, unanimously resolved to pass a vote of censure!! on the only man among them who preserved for them by his presence and talents, the small amount of respect which they had from the public. Instead of esteeming Mr. Earp as a person who could and would direct them aright,by his wisdom, superior judgment and intellect; like mean, narrow-minded, and petty spirits/ they envied his worth and integrity, and hated him for the very quality which will raise him day by day, more and more in the eyes of honest men and the public. The Council of seafaring men have, by their proceedings on Friday and Saturday, for ever sealed their own doom. They have- declared before the world, with the most shameless impuc

rable iWy til he Council, to place the ih of folly. mbers we never expected much, but we cannot conceal that we Irvve been grievously deceived in others. We felt for some cf them from the first time we heard that ihe office of legislator was thrust upon them. We j knew that even their private mid not be reserve them from the indignation count of the manner in i they must of necessity discharge their public is. We regret much that Mr, Clendon, in ! particular, should have putation on jolish attempt forming himself into jtor. His own good judgment and con might have convinced him, that ne nature. nor education had ever intended him fo: a councillor; as the captain of a whaling and the rr, a store ; espected, and would in either of those capacities be a valuable and us; but : tt on his and that of untry, we sincerely hope he may- soo er give up the unprofitable and thankless trade of a politician or whipper-in to the governI. Porter deserves to be much more severely dealt by than M -on, in so far as ting was expected of the latter, while the id some expectation of the former; how far they were justified in this, his unfortunate conduct on the Land Claims' Bill, too unequivocally tells—^We are sadly sorry for Mr. Porter's po\ .icy, he has fallen,, fallen, fallen ; i ■>. why we can torn. He has not received ousand, or even one thousand acres from the imbecile and tottering government, and y has most unaccountably forsaken all his former ; and the., abandoned , need, but he has-struck ague with i ■ • men, iwn a whole life w, uffice to wipe away from Mr. Porter the deep political stain of having refused'to d Mr. Eakp's motion, to allow Mr. Aber= he, Mr. Cormac'k, and the other Land claimants to be heard before Council, either by elves or by Counsel. Jed dart justice was nothing to this, for though in that case a man was hanged first, he was still tried, and his frienc the satisfaction of knowing whether he was guilty . But in our case we are condemned, our ties confiscated, and we have net been allowed to show to oar friends whether the deed ght or wrong. We have been condemned ..id, by men calling,themselves Englishmen. Mr. Porter's conduct to. Mr. Earp's is equally mysterious. We remember right well, that on the first reading of the last Bill, Mr.PoRTER, after leaving the Council, stated to Mr. Earp in the nee of, ourselves, Mr. Abbrcrombik and other gentlemen that this Bill was worse than the former, and that nothing but Mr. Earp' B plan of taxation,, in accordance with Lord John Russeil's instructions should be acl of the Government!!! And yet Mr, Porter was the man at the suggestion c Government to move a resolution, that the Council has, forsooth! no confidence in Mr Earp, and cannot act with him for the public good !i thought them guilty in any of their acts of wi to promote the welfare of the Country ? Th« people knew too well withqut this'shameful notice that Mr. Earp stoc in the Council, not only in point of talent, but in desire to advance the good of the Colony. The attempt on the part of Mr. Porter and the Council to fasten | Mr. Earp the charge of wi-- fame Mr, Ci,ev&on;s private character, waa to say

fhele ..,: i .:■■-..,... gentlemen. Even if Mr, denied the day before, the most remote wisl The character ol I mcfl, high and honorable character*' have prevented them frOr • temselves and to the Publ S'they ■ fell rksrnade on that di the abused'hospitality of &< which on account of New Zealand, we re! from speaking Mr. Attorney-General' /only'his own, he certainly sadly stands Mr, EAUPyif he thinks gp invitation to a dinner, would for*a nioi Wedo'thinl gentlenv. moat lamentable mistake. ~ we ever met. .His s the Government paper may ht true to .- Auckland Mr. Porter for th.< We would Mr. Ear? has abandoned principles; and for w! We beg to call attention to the communication of the .Governor and M t to the same., Oounoil Chamber, Sir—l have the honor, I Gpvernor, to-transmit tor inform , ■■, extract fi nicii of this da I nave the o be, Sir Your mo«r o ; jedien> (Signed) J. COATES, rk of Coun e Butlei 1.. ■■ :■...■' s EXTRACT FUOIV3 THE MINLTES ; s eouNc ■ Mr. Porter the motion or Which life Clerk. " Mr. Earp having a6knowled(s ' ■ /.cnf theautboi article published in the Nta, instant, headed " mbers." which im i ble in thft discharge of his ■./: 'ies. ** It ; s Resph ed, I hai •onfiderice in Mr. ct with him in a H'ay that will h Moved by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr, same be rgreed to; on the quest! »q being put nam the chair, Ates —His Excellency, The Coiornal Secretary, The Au.orney-Gensrai, The 'i>easurer, Clendon, . Port«r. (Tma Extrac-:,) J. COATES, Clerk of Council Monday, Feb, giR honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's communication of Saturday. In reply to this, I beg most he article headed *'lndef was not wholly mine, as appe< ; the Minutes of Coun< only, and was ready, with proof, as to the authorship, of the other part, had not your Exce strangelj declared that you w it me to'justify the part in ques In reply to the charge of imputing dishonour; motives to Mr. Clendon, I m hat in no interpretation of my expressions can that be made to appear, throw the blame of giving so valuable a tract of land to Mr, Clendon upon the Government, and not upon Mr. Clendon, who could scarcely be blamed for obtaining from them all that he < With regard to the vote of " dence*' in me, by the other membei cil, I can only say, that the feeling is reciprocal; the only difference between us being- . agh not possess their confidence, I have the honour to possess that of the Cc far greater honour iri my estimation, than any < dence which the present Government m%hl repose in I have the honor: &c, &e», &e. G. E, EARP. To His Excellency Cape. Hobson, Stc.| &c»