Correspondence.d

Colonist, Issue 43, 19 March 1858, Page 2

Correspondence.d

';'■ ' 'To the Editor of iki'^Colbitist. g^—Dr. Moriro in his peroration on the subject of the Ballot quoted largely, and I think in some instances against himself, a work of Toulmin 'Smithy on the subject of Local Self-Government, iri support of his.opinion regarding vote by. ballot. That author, in p. 245, says, " The characteristics of the freeman are, that he is conscious of duties and responsibilities ;■ that no matter which those duties and responsibilities teaches him to . handle, is ?to be determined on without full, free, • arid 6pen discussion, the result of which, unless it be a solemn farce and mockery, can only be declared alike openly, and before his fellow-free-meny bound'by'like duties and responsibilities as himself." Here we have a striking instance of the wide difference between theory and -practice. What arena will the Doctor or his author point. out, where such a full, free, and open declaration, of public opinion would be met by a similar open, frank, and manly reception by those to whom' it was addressed, unaccompanied by any mental reservations? Nevertheless, the principle laM dqwn by tho author is a correct one, and one almost amounting in its character to a cardinal virtue; but,alas, like many more,,-when called, into practice, falls wofully short of its, boasted qualifications, . Human nature, as at present/.' developed, in the- conduct even of tfie Highest) state of our so-called civilised society,_ exhibits but few "specimens' of the author's beaafkleftt'of a . freeman; they are, I fear,-like -that- rare plant •which, we are told, blossoms, but once in anandrei years. Ho however, goes o.n : to^observerrrJ'-iiP6 who would' support; the ballot,'must be prepared to maintain that opinions are bostformed;l>y;oatefally* shutting'the door., on that knowledge, and tivit discussion, whence only truth can spring. , Whatever might be the effect of such a course,Jf -

i-J_----L~ ===^^^|^ :-..—■ •- will not stop here "to discuss; but of this I am ! certain; that not one man in one hundred, who give utterance in public to what they are pleased to call tho avowal of their opinions upon either politics or religion, ever give them unreserved, but lust so much, and no more, at anytime, than shall answer their own particular view and object. Notwithstanding, the author contends that it would be incumbent upon the discussion of any question, for every one present openly to declare his assent to, or dissent from, the subject matter under discussion. Admitting that his premises; are correct, I fear he. will have to,wait a very long time before the force of moral independence will, in the present highly artificial state of society, bo able to overcome the feeling of the worldly dependence of the many upon the individual selfishness of the predominant and influential political oligarchy, which practically operates so powerfully through the several- gradations of dependent classes of the community. And for one who can speak from experience through a pretty long course of years spent in public life, I never would urge others, more especially fathers of families, dependent'upon public opinion for their children's bread, to express their open, free, and undisguised opinions upon either religion or politics. If they deliberately choose to follow such a course, well and good, if not, we may excuse their silence. Neither ought a man to be accused of insincerity, self-interest, or hypocrisy, who simply remains silent, where a public expression of opinion would deprive his family of bread. It will be time enough for-the world to insist upon all men saying and doing .'at all risks, as the author before alluded to requires they should, do, when that world learns to honor honesty, and approves of, instead of persecuting, heterodox virtue; and it otight to be more than satisfied, in the mean time, that any arc found willing to incur its ill-humour, for the sake of rendering it a service.

Yours, &c, ■■■••- ---.-i':-t SENEXALBUB.

To the Editor ofjhc Colonist. . ■ Sir, —In reviewing the editorial wisdom displayed in the Examiners late'feues, I find the editor, in treating of the management of the Nelson College Trust Fund, would have everybody to believe that all the knowledge, tact, application, and ability for its disposal is consummated in one individual, and that personage himself. However, having the great privilege of a very distant acquaintance with that illustrious individual, I wish to give expression to a few thoughts through the columns of the Colonist. "We know that when the brains are t>ut the man will die," and we also know that a perverted use or sanction of an unfair and blundering law, will cause ft select few to hang tight to the funds, or the benefits to be derived from the use of them, for their own mutual benefit, to the great inconvenience and seclusion of their fellowsettlers, and the rising generation. ' 1' hope now that the question of the Trust Funds has been mooted in the Provincial Council, we may soon dissect this Bill, and see if it has any brains at all. After some doses of vituperation administered to Mr. Saunders for mooting the subject in the Council, the acidity of which appears to be urinierited —and for which I apprehend the editor is likely to receive a castigation from Mr. Saunders— the editor then falls back behind the screen of his incog. How, he asks, can they know anything about it? Say we, shew your works in the face of open day, to disprove the allegations; come forth from your secret hiding place. You are like the good boy who blamed Ms companions for robbing the hen roost, and then shared in the eggs. "You protested against, but afterwards joined in the measure; you plundered in haste, and pitied at leisure," with this difference, you laugh in the sleeve at the cackling.Nelson Provinco. It is well we have here a second newspaper; had we not the Colonist staring the Examiner in-the face, the discussion this subject would give, rise to, would have been stifled in its infancy. Concerning the Examiner's ungentlemanly remarks on those gentlemen who supported Mr. Saunders' motion, let them speak for themselves; it certainly will, hot require any great logical attainments, either of the pen 6'r otherwise, to refute such allegations. That there is a. strong belief some great wrong has been done, is manifest by the present discussionj and in the very unpopular manner the judgments of the trustees have been received by the public at large ; the unconstitutional manner in which the College Trustees have been elected by themselves,, is offensive; for, as a matter of course, they only hold themselves responsible to themselves ; the public, in reality, is nothing to. them. We fancy in some of their private a loose member will propose a resolution to submit the election of Governors for College Trust Funds to the public, at large, as this part of the funds ought to be applied for the universal good, and not for a select few. What! says the grandiloquent doctor, let it come before the bar of public opinion? What have the public to do with it? We made the law to manage the funds; we will elect the college trustees. First do the business, then is time enough to consult public opinion in the matter. The foundation on which Dr. Monro takes his stand, I think will not be found so solid as readers may at first imagine. I will go a little further than the doctor, and remind him all laws are illegal (bad laws especially) wherein the public mind has not been consulted. The doctor must not forget that he is residing in a country inhabited by free men; that a bad law will not be tolerated, when once it is known as such; however formally legal it may be. To have a remnant of ancient feudal usages with our present liberal constitution, is unsuitable for our age of progress. Some of the readers of the Examiner appear to think the Nelsonians do not want a college. They never made a greater mistake—we want a college that all may be able to partake of its benefits. But what you say is, v wt1, the trustees, want a college that we may be able to partake of its benefits," including, of course, the original land-purchasers, and other wealthy people. Now, you may be able to attain the consummation of your ends, and legally too, if the public remain in a 3tate of lethargy; but. it is to bo hoped they will now begin to bestir themselves, and thus save the trustees a part of their onerous task, by electing the.Trustees for the College Fund themselves. The present high" school, or college, is not such as to warrant any particular amount of approbation to the originators, either as.regards cheapness or efficiency, or as to its aristocratical tendency. Why cannot we have a college free of all charge, that any heads of families, however humble their circumstances or occupation,'may send their sons to college, they having the noctssary literary qualification ? The present scheme appears a mere class concern ; it gives a school for boys whose parents aye in the most favorable circumstances, —a mere smart boot affair, without any reference to the properly constituted want of .Nelson, ■ Now herein consists the grand question concerning the Nelson College: Shall it be a: great public benefit, for all having the necessary literary qualifications for entrance, -without-class, wealth, or any conceivable distinctions from the lords and ■ dukes? Or, shall it be a college for the few, or, generally speaking, for.the Nelson wealthy class? 'We want no invidious distinctions. The election of College Governors by themselves is the first grand breach, and the breach I hope hundreds will #Hter,_and carry all.before them, neither expecting nor giving quarter, until-we • have finally placed tho college,, its funds, Vith its other possessions, away, and out of the reach of all sinister influences whatever. Yourssinccrly^ - •■ • .-.•: WORKING MAN. Eichmond,. March 7, 1858;

, RETtTBN OF EjJIGUANTSFBOII' AMERICA..— Great miinbeis of both inetr amf women are iniVing along the,line of- the- Berry and Enri:sJcilipn Railway almost every clny, returned emigrants from, America. AhpiiV 40 arrived oil Thxtrsrfay.— Tyrone -Constitution. " \ r Strike -of Flax; Spinners at •Belfast..---On Monday,, the flax- spinners of Be Hast struck against, a proposed reducjiop pf their wjiges. About 2500 struck, and it is appre'lieTided that ■others will join them. - No disturbance has hitherto Occurred* : :;