THE Wellington Independent Tuesday, July 29,1862. DEFEAT AND RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1746, 29 July 1862, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent Tuesday, July 29, 1862. DEFEAT AND RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY.

The debate ou Mr. Fox's motion relative to Ministerial Responsibility, which commenced on Friday morning, terminated last night at half-past 11 o'clock in a virtual defeat of the Ministry, and in less than a quarter of an hour afterwards they had resigned.

Unless Ministers had chosen to do. as the Stafford Ministry so often did in 1861 — abandon their resolution and accept that of their oppo" neuts, — no other course but resignation was open to them. As we stated in last Friday's issue, Ministers had resolved upon a strictly parliamentary course ; and we are happy to find that they did not avail themselves of the loaphole afforded by moving the " previous question," although it was ostensibly done by an opposition member for that very purpose.'

The late hour at which the debate terminated prevents us from reporting it to-day, however briefly. We therefore meanwhile place before our readers the surroundings of the resolution.

Last session after the announcement of Sir George Grey's re-appointment, the Assembly became alarmed lest he should suspend th c Constitution. He bad never worked with a responsible Ministry during any of his Governorships, and a large portion of the Assembly believed he would not do so now — that uuder the peculiar- circumstances of the Colony, be would rule with a high hand and entrust the government to permanent officers, irresponsible to any one but himself. They voted £10,000 for his immediate use in carrying out such a native policy as he might frame, but its expenditure was only to take place under the advice of his Executive Council. They also passed resolutions for the guidance of tlie. Ministry when Sir George Grey arrived, distinctly affirming the necessity of subjecting native affairs to ministerial responsibility. When Sir George Grey arrived, the first thing he did was to consuk Ministers on the desirability of entrusting native affairs to their management. The resolution of the As sembly was fully acted up to by him, and from that day to this, he has consulted Ministers on every thing; entirely sweeping away the old and irresponsible Native Department. Ou the system of responsibility in native affairs the Government of the Country has been carried on for the last eight or ten months; but judging from last night's division it may probably continue to be so carried ou no longer.

The Opposition, last week, wanted to know the exact relations in which Ministers were to stand towards his Excellency for the future^ On Thursday, Mr. Fox tabled a motion, essentially the same as that of last Session under which they had been acting. The Opposition took exception to it, and declared that they would have nothing to do] with Native Affairs l^ Sir George Grey ought to advise himself, aft any rate they would not take upon themselves the responsibility of advising him. They would vote him money to spend as he liked and as much as he wanted. They would consent to his being a Dictator for a year, like the old Romau Dictators ; with the exception that unlike them, if he did not do what was right, they had no intention of proposing to out off his head Such men as Mr. Stafford and Mr. Weld, for, getting all their work of years to effect the subjugation of Native matters under the control of the colonists, thus met the offers of bis Excellency to consult the colonists representatives on all occasions. Turning their backs on the man, who of all others is the man for his position as Governor in an , emergency like this, they profess to be willing to offer him the few thousand pounds he asks ; (less by-the-vvay, than what they voted in previous sessions) but tell him that he must bear all the burden of the care, anxiety, and responsibility connected with restoring this csuutry to peace, without looking to his miuistry for other than money help. Can we wonder if Sir George were to express in words, what certainly he must feel in his heart, " thy money perish with theo."

The Opposition moved no amendment to Mr. Fox's resolution. Thoy would not commit themselves to anything ; no, not as it afterwards appeared, even to a negativing of Mr. Fox's resolution. Lute last evening Mr. Curtis, of Nelson, moved " the previous question," which, when put by the Speaker at half-past eleven, was carried — the votes being equal, (22) ; the Speaker giving his casting vote (as he was bound by parliamentary usage to do, no less than by his individual views) in favor of Mr. Curtis. The " previous question " is a form of motion used to get lid of another motion, without negativing it. By many members ou all sides this was looked upon as a loophole for the Ministry—that by deciding, as the House did last night, that Mr. Fox's resolution should not be put, all cliance of defeat was got rid of ; placing Ministers in the same position us they were be. fore Mr. Fox's resolution was tabled. Several members who have every wish that the Ministry should remain in power, voted with Mr. Curtis under this impression. But as we said last Friday, Ministers were not willing to be content with merely escaping from actual defeat' they desired to carry their resolution ; and as the House has now decided that Mr. Fox's resolution is not to be put to it for an expression of their opinion—as the Miuistry have not carried it, they could do nothiug else than resign. They could only resolve to conduct the business of the country with the hearty consent of the House, and not on an implied sufferance.

The following is the division list : — Ayes, 22. Noes. 22. Bell, D. Atkinson, Bramlori," ' Butler, Carter, .._.:.. -■- Colenso, Eyes, Curtis, Featherston, Dick, Fitzgerald, Gillies, Fitzhetbert, Jollie, Graham, G. -Mason, Graham, li. Modrhouse, Harrison, Mantell, HendersoD, Nixon, Fox, O'Neill, Monro, J. A. J. Richmond, O'Rourke, J. C. Richmond, Renall, Russell, lihodes, Stafford, Saunders, Wilson, Taylor, C. James Williamson, Taylor, W.W * , Weld, Williamson, John Wells, Wood, Reader Watt, Ward, (Teller.) Richardson, (teller) The speaker gave his casting vote in favour of the Noes. Mr. Carletuu (aye) paired with Mi. Domett (No.)