THE Wellington Independent "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, 15th JUNE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2219, 15 June 1865, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, 15th JUNE.

THE RESIGNATION OP ME. FOX. William Fox has resigned his seat in the House of Uepresentative9 and his farewell address to the electors of Kangitikei, appears in our columns to-day. Wo believe, Mr Fox intended leaving Adelaide en route for England, by the overland mail, on the 27th ult, so that by this time it is probable he is already far from Australia, enjoying the amenities of the lovely island of Ceylon, where he contemplated sojourning for a month or two. It is needless to say that we regret the loss of Mr Fox's services in the Assembly, at a time so critical, when men of his great ability and experience are so much required. He appears totakeaverydispairing view of New Zealand's irninediats future, and, convinced that the Assembly can exercise but little influence, declines to hold a position where, as he says, "no humble efforts of mine could avail." Our regret at Mr Fox's departure is none the lesg bitter, because we do not agree with all the statements he advances, nor think they furnish reasons sufficiently strong, to have warranted the step. It is true that the Seat of G-overnment question is now finally settled, and that the agitation for separation, already in a comatose state, will probably Boon die out altogether, but there are many other things to which a leading man can still devote his efforts, with a fair hope that they will result in some practical good being accomplished. It is not yet a hopeless task to solve the native difficulty; indeed we look upon the decision of the Imperial Government to withdraw the troops, and leave the control of native affairs to the colonists, as being a sign that its solution is much nearer than might be supposed. Mr Weld's resolutions of last session amounted to a proposition to the Home Government. He virtually said : — " So long as the troops remain in the colony, Imperial interference must continue, and as with, the latter, consistent and useful action is impossible, I ask you to take the troops away, and vest complete responsibility and control in the hands of the Colonial Ministry." That offer has been accepted, th« troops are to go, and the Colony is to manage its own affairs. Mr Fox has hit upon the real point of danger, when he says that so long aa a British regiment remains in the colony, Governor Grey will have power to thwart and obstruct hia Ministers, bat the Assembly has the power to prevent this bj refusing to contribute a single shilling for the maintenance of an Imperial force. Last session they refused to contribute the sum \ demanded of £40 per head, and at the approaching meeting, wo believe they will go further, and refuse to contritmte anything whatever, except under a guarantee, that whatever British troops are retained in tho colony will bo completely under the control of the Ministry, and employed in carrying out their policy. It is only on such conditions that we could keep a single soldier, and if they are not complied with, then it would bo better to rely Bolely on a colonial army, as proposed in Mr Weld's scheme. It is not surprising, after liis experience that Mr Fox should express the opinion that so long as Governor Grey remains in the colony, its great trouble will never ceaae. We could almost echo the assertion about a man in whom neither natives, colonists, nor Ministers, can place the slightest trust. But Governor Grey is in a very different position now to that which, lie occupied more than «,

year ago. Then, lie wa3 backed by Mr Cardwell and tlio Imperial authorities, while public opinion, both in and out of Parliament was strongly in favor of the great pro-consul ; now, his reputation had fallen seriously, and the right of responsible Government for which Mr Fox struggled so arduously and sacrificed himself in the attempt, has been conceded to his uaei'essor. Governor Grey beat the last Ministry, because responsible Government was a sham, but he will not boat the present, because it has now — if Imperial pledges mean anything— become a reality. The colonists do not trust Governor Grey any more than does Mr Fox, and his departure from these shores would be hailed with the utmost joy, but; they hope and believe that his power of interference has been, and will be, completely neutralised in the future. Our prospects arc doubtless in many respects gloomy, but there is a gleam of sunshine in them too. Past experience has proved that the Imperial Government cannot put down the rebellion, and now it has to be tried whether the colony can ? Mr Weld's policy cannot be said to have failed, because it has never been tried at all. Still, he has done good work since his accession to oflice, and his Ministry will leave their mark in the page of New Zealand's history, as the one which gave the colonists an opportunity to grapple with their own difficulties unfettered by interference. It is doubtless a hard and arduous struggle that is before us, but it is not a hopeless one, and the career of prosperity which will follow its termination cannot be far distant. England is indeed bound to render that struggle easier and shorter by affording us some pecuniary aid. It has been her blunders and mismanagement in the past that have created the evil, and if we have to take up a task in which she has failed, then either money help should be given, or the whole of our present liabilities should be wiped ofTthe slate. Mr Fox's tone of bitterness is excusable. He went into office at a time when war had already commenced at Taranaki, and the Waikatos but awaited the signal to strike at defenceless, settlers. He proved equal to the occasion. A policy was put forth — that of July, 1863 — which only required that it should be consistently pursued, to ensure that the rebellion would have been put an end to for ever. For a time this was done, until through the dishonest representations of Sir George Grey, the Imperial Government interfered, and the work was arrested midway. The inconsistency of such proceedings cannot be too strongly condemned. The \ Imperial Government accepted and approved the scheme, while furnishing the means to carry it out. Governor Grey called it " his policy," and the Colony, overjoyed at sucli apparent unanimity, cheerfully gare money and men, and taxed its resources to the ut- j most. But soon a change came. Confiscation was stopped, the army stood idle, and the long struggle commenced between Governor and Ministry, ending in the resignation of the latter, and the issue of a Peace Proclamation by the former. Mr Fox and his colleagues failed, not because their policy was defective, or that they lacked ability to carry it out, but because of the shameless bad faith of the Imperial Government and its representative in the Colony. It is little wonder then that Mr Fox retires disgusted from the political arena. During the last session, when a fresh Ministry had taken office, it must have been % severe trial i to the patience of the ablest debater in the House, to sit silent when so many opportunities were presented for the justification of his political conduct. That he did so, was because the interests of the Colony might have been damaged by party discuscussions, and the settlement of the Seat of Government question postponed. In this act of self abnegation, as well as for many other political services, the gratitude of the Colony will follow Mr Fox into a retirement from public life, which we trust is only temporary.