The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 17 May 1851, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

SATURDAY, May 17, 1851

The sayings and doings at Canterbury appear to have sadly disturbed the Wellington press of late. The Spectator falling foul of our articles on the subject of Government, and the Independent assaulting the Pasturage Report of the "Council, which we reviewed last Saturday.

We shall deal with the former to-day, and leave the Pasturage question till our next.

The Spectator is not satisfied with attacking principles or opinions ; it abuses persons. This is a pity, because personality is not essential to argument, nor vulgarity to vigour in writing.

We are told that our articles, respecting the Legislative Assembly, are Mr. Godley's manifestoes against nomineeism, and that Mr. Godley is a political agitator,—a wretch who performs the duties of Resident Magistrate and Commissioner of Crown Lands without receiving any remuneration.

All this is news to us at Canterbury. That Mr. Godley is occupying his] time in political agitation is great news. No one has discovered it here.

That he performs the duties of Resident Magistrate and Commissioner of Crown Lands without receiving any remuneration, is also news. And we do not think the colonists are likely to respect him the less for the information. That Mr. Godley dictates the policy of this Joui'nal is an assertion which it is enough for us simply and pfuinly to deny; and, that there may be no mistake, we say that especially with the articles in question Mr. Godley had no more to do than the Queen of Sheba.

Upon this point there shall be no shadow of a doubt whatsoever. "We commenced the publication of this Journal with a declaration that we desired fairly and faithfully to represent as far as possible the views of the majority of the colonists; and to this end, that whilst we should never shrink from stating our own views broadly and distinctly upon matters of public policy, yet that we would never refuse to publish any communications upon such subjects from

our fellow colonists, provided only that they were couched in courteous language. We have thrown open our pages to all parties ; and we believe that if there were any number of our fellow-colonists who differed with us in the main outline of our policy, it would have appeared in our pages ; for we have kept our promise, and shall keep it.

But why drag in Mr. Godley's name or Mr. any-body's name into the matter ? Is it meant to be asserted that we echo Mr. Godley's sentiments, and do not speak the mind of the settlement ? Then let a public meeting be called, and let the colonists speak for themselves. Of course we do not suppose that every one agrees with eveiy individual opinion we express ; but the one great question in which we believe almost all agree, is this; the desire to have the practical management of their own affairs. The question for which we strive lies in a nut shell. By what authority are the customs collected, and the taxes levied in this settlement ?. is it by the consent of the commons —or not ? what is to be done with the money now accumulating in the Treasurer's hands over and above the expenditure necessary for Government ? is it to be spent in useful public works in this (settlement, or is it to be taken away and spent at Auckland or Nelson ?

These are plain English questions : every child in the settlement can understand them. All we strive for is for the recognition of these ancient and hereditary privileges of the English people ; we claim them in distinct opposition to the present form of government in this colony, and in opposition to that form of government which has been proposed by Sir George Grey to the inhabitants of this province for their approval.

And we will not allow a veil to be thrown over this momentous question, by sinking it to the level of a petty and personal squabble. We will treat great public interests without vilifying the character of public men. And once for all we say it, we will not degrade this journal by lending its pages to the vulgarism of personality.

It matters not one shred who pens these lines; standing alone they are worthless. If they speak the mind of any great section of this community, they demand respect.

Is not this the whole meaning and strength of the anonymous press;—that it speaks, not with the narrow and personal influence of individual authorship, but, reflecting back the sentiments of the multitudes whose patronage it obtains, it becomes the symbol and representative of the public mind ?

And then we are told that because Mr. Godley holds political views opposed to those of the Government, he ought not to accept any office under the Government.

This is one of those opinions which is of colonial growth, and is one of the worst evils which has arisen from the loss of the t3 rpe of English constitutional government. In England, when a man enters into the service of his country, lie undertakes the duties of his office, and nothing else. Who ever thought that an officer in the army or navy, or a clerk in a government office, or a county magistrate, was compelled to sell his political principles along with his time and his talents. The duties for which he is paid he conscientiously performs, and votes against the Government if he thinks it right to do so. Is it not justly attacked as an abuse of power, when a Government sells its patronage for political support, instead of consulting public interests, in the appointment of public servants.

But here, because there is no legitimate machinery for the expression of political opinions, instead of the struggle between two political ideas, which is the very essence of a Representative Government, we iind Government and its officials on one side, and the mass of the people on the other.

But Sir George Grey is at all events utterly opposed to this view. His Excellency was fully acquainted with Mr. Godley's opinions when he entrusted him with the responsible offices which he fills in this settlement. And yet with a wise and liberal policy he did not on that account think that this settlement should be deprived of Mr. Godley's services.

Those who think that Mr. Godley is a man to sacrifice political principle for the sake of political power, may believe, if they like it, and as their argument implies, that the Governor of this colony is base enough to use his extensive patronage to buy off political opposition. We utterly disbelieve both one proposition and the other.