CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 2, Issue 53, 17 December 1857, Page 3

CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

(To the Editor of the Auckland Examiner.) Sir, —-Please to oblige me by inserting the inclosed letter at your earliest convenience. The Conservative Editor of the Southern Cross has rejected it, on the plea There is nothing in it that w'C have net already published I”—Such a plea 11 ■» I incline to think that Conservatism and Wcsleyanism are both interested in the Golden Pippin Orchard, and that party strife gives each a chance for tl;e keepership. But, however this may be; all that I ask of them is a free-press for the people. Nut a Co user oa tor as Americans apply the term.

(To the Editor of the Southern Cross.) Sir, —In your Journal of the 2.7 th Nov., I find th t His Honor the Superintendent in his opening speech, made short work of his previously “ assumed responsibility, ” and said, —“By the verdict of the Constituency of this Province pronounced in the late elections, I am absolved from the necessity of referring in this Council to past political occurrences, or of defending inv own official conduct in the very embarrassing position in which 1 found myself.” Had he said ix which I placed myself, facts might le adduced to prove its truth. Surely lie must have lost himself while talking about the “ verdict of the constituency of the Province.” All that he claimed on the hustings wu.t that he had been

“elected by a majority of the people to carry out a system of Government which that majority deemed to. be essentially necessary for the prosperity of the Province.” That, majority was obtained over Mr. Giifillan. Query, — were they valid votes? The nonopposition to ins re election was attributable to the corrupt state of the Electoral Holl, the tide of which, no man of intelligence and moral wortli would attempt to stem. On the hustings, after eulogi«ing himself snd “his colleagues" for their past conduct, he eaid—“ He hoped, however, that what had passed would remind those who were sent to represent tile people in future, that there were uowers conferred on the Superintendent wliieli enabled him when he considered the public weal was prevented by partv factions opposition, to protect the interests of the Province from the ruinous consequences of such reckless conduct. The Superintendent had duties to perform whicii might he performed in spite of faction.” Facts can be adduced to show that the Government party were extremely factious, facts which defy refutation.” This official rod, shaken at the. representatives of the Piovince, seems to indicate that what the Superintendent has once done he will do again if they give him the cidTnce to denounce them factious. Of course, one “ cleatinfraction of trie Constitution Act” may be pleaded as a precedent for future infractions infinite If*it ue true that such powers are vested in the Superintendent, then it follows that any man irrespective-of character or ability, who can by any means, fair or unfair, get seated in the Superintendent’s ehair, can at pleasure denounce as factious men of superior intelligence, truth and equity, who refuse to do Ins bidding ; notwithstanding the people have chosen and sent them to represent their interests in the Provincial Council. Then he can “ prorogue the Provincial Council for an indefinite period,” and appropriate public money just as he pleases. What more could “ king Bomba” do in his own dominions. In avoiding the Divine right of Kings wo approximate to Divine right of Superintendents. I incline to think-that the root of all.the evils which afflict the Provinces is to be found in the elective character of the Superintendent. If His Excellency in Council appointed the Provincial Superintendents, "the expense, the strife, the turmoil, the animosities, and immorally consequent upon their Election would be avoided. The districts knowing the Superintendents would send their representatives to co-operate with, them, or to oppose and remove them from office ; which could bo done just as easily, and by the same means as now. The representatives could select from themselves, their own Executive Officers, who would te aided by the Superintendents, not over-r/dden by them, and the out-siders whom they may choose to call to their assistance. They rePresk.vt nothing, they do notning, except mischief) and keep better men out of honorable employment. Provincial lands and funds would not be misappropriated for political party purposes. Public works jobbery would be frustrated, and the real business of the Provinces would be better conducted for less than half tlie present cost. Yours, &e., G. Vaile. November 28th, 1857.

(To the Editor of the Auckland Examiner.) Sir,—ln the last number but one of our Superintendent’s little go, the Editor abuses the true office of Journalist, by unwarrantably and foully traducing tha professional character of a gentleman of the long robe, Mr. Bracey, relative tn the conduct of a case in which he was engaged before the Resident Magistrate. Whatever the little-go or its parent thinks or expresses relative to Mr. Bracey is of little account I should think to that gentleman when he has the public with him as a Solicitor to whom they can entrust the conduct of business without fear of being sold to their opponents, as some folk shrewdly suspect happens now and again with two other Solicitors, who, when they ought to do their wo-st against each other, seem quite to lay their heads together with perfect understanding. Now, as regaids Mr. Bracey, it is notorious that when he went first to. practice at the Magistrate's Court, a must cowardly attempt was made by a ceitain UNACCOUNTABLE Solicitor of long standing there, and conversant with the proceedings of the Court, to bully, I bounce, und put him down, and by any means to prevent his getting a footing fer fear ho should draw off business from that unaccountable Solicitor ; but Mr. Bracey manfully stood his ground, and has gained his present position in spite of all opposition. It is still fresh in tlie memory uf tlie publie that he was employed,single-handedly too, to put down the corrupt PRACTICES of PERSONATION by the Superintendent’s partv nearly a year ago, and at a later election, and that Mr. Bracey afterwards upset the Suburban election of the Provincial Secretary before the Committee of the Provincial Council. It is not altogether to be wondered at that Mr. Bracey is obnoxious to the Superintendent’s party ; the Superintendent himself has had a taste of Mr. Hracey in a law-suit against him for settlement of his old liowick Election grog-scores. Only let Mr. Bracey continue the open, straightforward course he has pursued, and he may fearlessly defy the malice of his assailants. Lawyers and Doctors are commonly called necessary i evils ; if ne have any Lawyers at all, it is desirable that we should have men of Mr. Bracey’s character to consult. There is nothing more prejudicial to society than I low, unprincipled Atturnies ; and it is with the "public I to prevent such pests. Yours, Jtc., Fair. Play. December 15th, 1857.

(To tlie Editor of the Auckland Examiner). Sir, —In the Cross of 27;h ult, 1 perceive with astonishment, under the head of Local Intelligence, t-ho following : —AH true Scots are reminded that the Annual Dinner in honor of their pa'rou Saint, will bo held, &c ” The writer of the above may be excusable in a slight degree on account of not being himself a Scotchman ; yet he ought to have been better aquainted with Scotch History than to have made such an announcement, which I pronounce to be a libel on the character, and hurtful to the feelings, of every intelligent and true Soot. I believe that you, sir, know full well that Scotland is, and has been for some ages, a Protestant country ; that almost all who are entitled to claim it as their native land, have no faith whatever in the Saints of the Romish Church ; that so far fro n wishing to claim patronage of either Saint or Pope, they would, like their forefathers of by-gone ages, lose the last drop of their blood in order to maluhiin that liberty of conscience and free use of the Bible which as a nation they now enjoy. I cannot but acknowledge, however, and with feeling's of the deepest regret, that there are a few- of my countrymen, who would be glad under any pretence, of an opportunity to revel in gluttony and drunkenness, in honor no matter to them of whom ; but methinks that on all such occasions His Satanic Majesty feels himself more highly honored than any one else when not a few so far forget their dignity as men, as to become intoxicated with the very King of Curses to such an extent as renders them totally unable t*> find their way home unless by the help of the more sober. One word for the Ladies before I have done. lam a lover of sociality and innocent amusement: but do not consider it either just or expedient that these should be monopolised by my own sex. If what transpires at Public Dinners ex”lu les the Ladies from so much sociality then the right thinking ought to discountenance such parties, and substitute something in their place of a more refined and rational character. There is to my knowledge in this place many a true Scot; ay, und a member of the Si. Andrew's Society, who will not go to the Dinner, because that for the time the sociality ot his wile and familv would be subtracted firm. Let something thm be substituted which our wives, sons, daughters, or sweetheart- may with propriety enjoy with us, instead of being left at home to pine in wearisome and. anxious thought. A great favor will then have been conferred upon A True Scot. November 28th, 1857.