Colonial Extracts. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. REINSTATEMENT OF THE PATRIOTIC SIX.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 98, 17 April 1847, Page 2

Colonial Extracts. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. REINSTATEMENT OF THE PATRIOTIC SIX.

A notice was issued some time ago by Hi? Excellency Sir William Dcnison, summoning the si? in ambers who resigned their seats iv the Legislative Council, during Sir Eardly Wilmot's administration and the six gentlemen who succeeded them in then scats, to Government House, on the 10th March, tt hear a despatch read from the Secretary ol State or the subject. His Excellency having received the twelve gentlemen, the following despatch was read :— Copy of a Despatch, dated the 30th September, 1810, nddressci by the Right Honorable Karl Grey, the Secretary of State foj the Colonies, to Lieutenant Governor Sir William Deuison. Referring to my despatch of this date, on the subject of Trims portation and the Convict System in Van Dieinen't Laud, I now propose to enter on some other topics connected with the duties awaiting you on your arrival in thul Island. Of these the most urgent, or at least that which will probably attract the greatest amount of public attention there, is the ad' justment of the controversy which led to the lesignntion of tin Unoflicial Members of the Legislalhe Council j and to the sub stitutlon of otlier gentlemen in thcli scat*. lam happy in tin remembrance, that the lapse of time and an entire change of cir cumstanccs will before your anival, have rendered it cntherj superfluous that you should be the bo.ircj of any decision as t< the merits of that dispute, and as to Die conduct of the varioui patties engaged in it. It is sullicient lor me to say, that tin Members of Council who resigned aic entirely acquitted by tlici: Sovereign of the imputation of disloyalty which they so stronglj and naturally lesent. I urn bound to add that the measure! which wcie in pi ogress here at the very time of that discussion and which have since been completed, absolve those gcntlemei IVom the reproach of having unreasonably urged the chums o the Colonial against the British Treasury. Nothing has occurred which should dissuade luir Majesty from availing herself of the services of any of those gentleman in the same, or in any other capacity. To the gentlemen who accepted scats in the Council, undci such tiyiiig clicumstancci, the utmost consideration is due. 1 should deeply regret the necessity of requiting such service bj depiiving any of those gentlemen of the rank and position U which it lim raised them. So long as the existing constitution of Van Diemen's Lant shall continue unaltered, the number of unofficial members rousi be limited to eight, a numbtr far exceeded by that of all tlu gentlemen who arc cither holding seats there at present, or who, under the ciicumstanpcs I have mentioned, resigned their scats. Fiom that collective body it will be your duty to select as members of Council (ijubjectto her Majesty's future confirmation) the six gentlemen the choice of whom would in your judgement most conduce to the public welfare. I can giva you no more definite instructions, nor is it desirable that on such a subject 1 should attempt to fetter your discretion. Hut this topic may, perhaps, even eventually prove of less real than seeming importance. In pursnancc of a policy to which her Majesty's Government are pledged from the deepest conviction of its wisdom and justice, it is our wish to adopt every practicable opportunity for safely extending to the Hritish colonies the system of self-govern nu'nt iv the form of a Representative Legislature. Repeated and earnest applications for the establishment of such Institutions in Van Diemen's Land have reached this ollice, nor am I aware that an; of my predecessors entertained any other objection t< complying with the request, thau the objection fouudce on the supposed incompatibility of such a form oi civi government, with the maintenance of the convict es tnblislnnents in due and effective discipline. To my self it does not appear that as much weight is really eiu< to this objection as has usually been assigned to it, J do not perceive the impossibility of icconciling the sys tenis oi a constitutional govc^nin^ein^with the dccUior and promptitude of action necessary for the effective ,ule of a large convict population. This, however, ii subject to which it will be necessary that your numerate and most careful attention should be given. I ish it to be unreservedly made known to her Majesty s subjects in Van Diemen's Laud, that the Queen's Government arc prepared, and earnestly desirous to recommend to her Majesty, a compliance with thcii petition for a representative Legislature, if it shall be found practicable, 1 (as 1 believe it to be,) to take the necessary securities against any consequent insuboidi nation amongst the convicts, and so to arrange the details of the measure,- as to render the reprcscutatior real, impartial and effective, while retaining in the hands of the Executive Government such powers nnt tesourccs as arc requisite for the general welfare of the colonists at large. 1 shall hope to receive your full report on the whole of this question with as little delay as may be compatible with a mature enquiry into every material branch of it." His Excellency then slated that he earnestly wished to be relieved from the invidious task assigned to him, and hoped the gentlemen present would relieve him from it by agreeing tiinongst themselves who were to be the new members. A long silence ensued. Mr. Giogson then said that it would be impossible to entertain His Excellency's proposition. The six members who had resigned went out on great principles, approved since by Her Majesty, and acknowledged as imperative by His Excellency. This foi himsell, us an individual, was sullicient. Their successors had gone in on no principle at all, and it wat therefore impossible to anticipate such a result a: thepicsent. The other ex-members having expressed a similar dctci initiation. Mr. Dn<?L'oll proposed that six should be clotted from the body of the colonists excluding the present 12 His Excellency fen red the instructions of the Secretary ol State would not admit of this, and propo-

scd to put it to tliu decision of the ballot; but the ex-members would not agree to this. Mr. Gregsou stated distinctly that of the twelve individuals around him, there were some utterly incompetent to fill the high and important office of legislators. He had not individualised any one person, though Mr. Driscoll had been so sensitive as to take it to himself. It might have applied to him, Mr. Gregson, or to any or all of- those with whom he had acted, hut he must assert aud maintain, as in itself a sufficient reason for refusing the compromise that some of the individuals present were utterly and absolutely incompetent for the office. His Excellency could not be expected to know them. He had been here two short a time, but the truth ot his assertion could be easily ascertained from the Chief Justice or the clergy, persons who have no political bias. His Excellency repudiated the idea of such a reference, aud after a few objections, to a similar in conclusive effect, the meeting broke up. The following day Messrs. Swanston and Gregson were requested to attend at Government House, and were informed by His Excellency that he had come to the determination of requesting the six gentlemen who had resigned to resume their seats in Council. Messrs. Swanston aud Gregsou acknowledged the honour that was done them, and stated that they would be most happy to assist the Government of his Excellency.