ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 574, 1 February 1851, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the "New Zealand Spectator.'' Te Aro Flat, January 30, 1851. Sir, — The insertion of the following in your Journal of Saturday next will much oblige, Yours, &c., R. W.

TO THE WORKING MEN OF WELLINGTON. Working Men I I call upon you to come forward on Monday next and give your votes in favour of having, at the earliest period, a constitution for New Zealand. There are two offered to you for your consideration; the one you may have, the other you are not likely to I have so long as we are under the protection of Britain. Universal suffrage is one of the most conspicuous features in both; for even the Committee of the Constitutional Association say that the qualification requited for an elector by Sir George Grey virtually amounts to this; but justice, oneof the highest and most glorious of all the virtues, is embodied in the Constitution of Sir George Grey, which it is impossible to say of that proposed for the adoption of the settlers by the Constitutional Association. And though not in words it is more liberal in spirit, and would prove in the end more likely to sustain that power in the hands of the people, which a Representative Government, based on a broad foundation, would be sure for a time to bestow. That which at first sight appears the most objectionable—the clause which gives him the power to nominate one third of the Council —is made necessary in consequence of there being two races (who are not allowed, even by the Constitutional Association, to be entitled to equal privileges), and, if we are to preserve our connection with England, is of the greatest importance. The people of France recently elected the whole of their Representatives, with Louis Napoleon at their bead, but this did not preserve them from a more tyrannical and cruel Government than any other existing in Europe, not excepting that of Russia itself. It is not that which appears more liberal on its face, but that which would establish and stts'am the liberty, foster the interests, and promote the happiness of all classes, that the industrious colonist should support; and this, I maintain, the Constitution of Sir George Grey would be more likely to do than the other. But the question is, not which Constitution we shall have, but whether we shall have one at all, if we demand that which it would be totally impossible for the British Government to grant. But, independent of these considerations, and considering that only one Chamber would be established, I would, for my part, pieier that a man of the character, education, intellect, and standing ofour Governor, orofanyGovernor-in-Chief, should have the power to nominate a small portion of the Council. It would have a tendency to weaken the strength of the noisy demagogue and popularity hunter; and, also, to introduce into the Council many true gentlemen, and honest patriots, who otherwise -would not be there, because they would scorn to resort to the dirty tricks that the trading politician and mere man of wealth would resort to in order to secure his election. I have no desire, and 1 am sure yon have none, to be governed by men without knowledge or intellect, simply because they have risen from the dunghill to riches. The old English proverb, certainly more true than elegant, which says, “ Set a beggar on horseback, and he will ride to the devil,” holds here as well as in the borne of our Fathers. And as it is well known tliat a slave in power is the hardest of task-masters, so a man of mere wealth, or one who has obtained influence by flattering the multitude, when he has got the opportunity, proves himself the most contemptible of sycophants, as veil as the most unscrupulous of tyrants. But this you well know. You have heard, and some of you I fear not in the generous manner you should, that Sir George Grey takes care to see the native population are not injured; but the man who would in spite of all opposition maintain the interests and protect the weakest and most ignorant of the population of these islands, is a man more likely to endeavour to promote the welfare of the working classes than the men who live out of their labour, and, therefore, he it is the working man should support at this critical period. Come then, Working Men! on Monday next to the meeting, and give your votes in favour of the following, or some similar resolution, — “That in the opinion of this meeting (having at last had an opportunity of seeing both) the Constitution offered for New Zealand by Sir George Grey, is more in accordance with the wishes, and more likely to meet the wants of this Colony than that of the Constitutional Reform Association. Yours, &c., A Working Man.

To the liditor of the “ Neic Zealand Spectator." ■Wellington, 31st January, 1851. Mr. Editor.—Having just arrived in the colony from the Mother-country, and finding a meeting was advertised for last Wednesday evening by a society called the “ Set. tlers'Association” to hear a report oftheir committee which had been appointed to draw up a draft of a Constitution for New Zealand, I thought I would attend it, as said I, I shall have an opportunity of seeing the leading men of the place, and also the manner in which meetings were conducted here. Accordingly at the appointed time I went, and soon afterwards the proceedings commenced by the report being read by some one in so low a voice that few in the meeting heard it. Some little opposition was then manifested. After which the first resolution was proposed by a wide awake looking man, who, finding the majority of the meeting were opposed to him, coolly said that his opponents were all hired emissaries of Sir George Grey, and other observations to the same effect. Then a lot of walking sticks, which I presume had been provided for the occasion, rattled most, unmercifully on the boards, while a burst of disapprobation greeted him from al partsl of the hall. After a short time the resolution without being read, was then put and carried as a matter of course. A tall red faced man spoke afterwards, but so disinclined was the meeting to listen to him, seeing how unfair things were conducted, that he held up his hand high over the audience, like Canute of old or the courtiers of Canute, and appeared to say I will calm the troubled sea belowEntail to no purpose, the Settlers' Association had had its day, and Mr. Impertinence, seeing the meeting was against him, moved its adjournment. It was certainly the most strangely conducted meeting I ever saw, and I thought by the unseemly conduct and personal abuse vented by these Reformers, that as they could not exhibit any “ Self-Government'' themselves, they were charitable enough to wish it to be conferred upon others. This is a newly arrived Settler's opinion of the meeting of last Wednesday, but I have been told policy tells them at their next meeting they will give a little more fair play and then give up the ghost. Tour’s most respectfully, A Stranger.