THE Wellington Independent Friday, March 15, 1861. THE LATE ELECTION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1505, 15 March 1861, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent Friday, March 15, 1861. THE LATE ELECTION.

The result of the City polling on Tuesday last, is one of which the Constitutional party may well "be proud. It is an answer to those who are ever ready to throw contempt on the working of our

Constitution, as it affords abundant proof that, if the Constitution is worked in a spirit of goodwill, it possesses within itself a remedy for whatever/ contretemps may at any time happen to arise. Nothing can prevent deadlocks occasionally occurring ; hut their continuance can only he temporary, if the Constitution is fairly worked out in all its parts. We have pointed out over and over again, during the last three years,; that either the Council ought to have petitioned the Governor for the removal of the Superintendent, or have called upon his Excellency to dissolve. In either case the question at issue would have "been remitted to the Constitutional umpire — the people ; the source of -all power. In Otago, the Council and Superintendent cannot work together. There, it is not a question of political policy, but of personal respect. Instead of jangling out the whole or nearly the whole of the remainder of their term and%topping progress, as the Council did here ; the power vested in them- by .the Constitution was called into operation by the Otago Council, and tbe Governor was asked to remove the Superintendent, Mr. Mac Andrew. Had it been a question of difference on some scheme of provincial policy, the Governor would, no doubt, have at once complied with their request ; but as it involved personal character, his Excellency very properly appointed an enquiry first. That enquiry, we presume, was condemnatory of Mr. Mac Andrew, and his removal has now been gazetted. Had the late Wellington Council petitioned the Governor to remove Dr. Featherston on the ground of its being impossible for the two to work harmoniously, the people would have been called upon to support the policy of one or the other, and whichever was condemned must have given way, and the deadlock thereby have come to an end. The Council ignored the right the Constitution gave them, because they lusted for the seats they knew the people would deprive them of. The Constitution was not in fault. It was the refusal of the Council to avail themselves of the remedy it provided. A. dissolution was the only otber alternative. That it was a remedy amply sufficient, the re-election of Dr. Featherston to the Superintendency and the results of the Council elections now going on, abundantly testify. Desirous as the Superintendent was for a dissolution and equally as so were the people, the only drawback to its being granted was the refusal of the Council to join in with the request. When at last they did so, the dissolution was granted, and the deadlock vanished. Last Tuesday's contest assures us that a Council will be elected, which, working in harmony with the Superintendent — coinciding in the main principles of his policy ; though perhaps on many points of detail differing with him — will ensure an amount of progress and prosperity, to which we have lortg been strangers. During the three years in which the Wakefield incubus has oppressed this Province, the times have been sadly out of joint, and much as they might be traceable to over-trading, the pressure of the bank-screw, and to the unfortunate war, they were also in a large measure attributable to our political troubles and the consequent stagnation of public works, and general want of confidence. Of the past we may say, in the language of the old ditty : — '• 'Twas a very good time that we lived in, To lend, or to spend, or to give in ; But to beg, or to borrow, or to get a man's own, 'I 1 was the very worst time that ever was known.'* Of the future, we may prognosticate better things. We may fearlessly hope that, provided native troubles do not assail us, we shall witness a return to the prosperity which a few years ago was shared in by all classes.