THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION IN VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Public Meeting at Launceston. (Abridged from the "Launceston Examinar')

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 681, 23 October 1852, Page 3

THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION IN VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Public Meeting at Launceston. (Abridged from the " Launceston Examinar ' )

A crowded and important public meeting of the Colonists was held in Tcmpci ance Hall, on Tuesday, the 31st August, for the purpose of considering the dibits now being made to perpetuate transportation to this island, and to adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary ; and further, to enter upon the consideration of the important subject of free emigration to Van Diemen's Land. In the meeting, every class of the colonists was represented, — magistrates, clergymen, merchants, tradesmen, and mechanics. On the motion of Mr. T. B. Bartley, Ciptain Neilly took the chair, and opened the proceedings in a few brief observations. The Chairman then called upon Mr. W. Ilenly to move the first resolution. That this meeting regards \\i(b feelings of regret and inclination the attempts now in progress to perpetuate tianspoitnt'on to these shores, in dnect opposition to tho wishes of a \ast mnjoiity of the colonists not only in this islnnd but in die other Austiahan colonies, anil in contemptuous defiance of tin 1 recent unanimous declaration of our Legislati/e Coiinul, " '1 hat they cannot in any way countenance the leception of convicts." In moving the resolution, Mr. Ilcnty dwelt upon the vital and growing importance of the transportation question. The sympathy and active support which had been afforded to the struggles of Van Diemen's Land by the other Australian colonies must ensure the attention of the British public to thcii representations ; and however obstinate the Colonial Odice might be upon the question, it could not long resist public opinion. Mr. Ilenty then gave several illustrations of the evil working of the system of transportation, not only in a moral but in a political point of view, and accused Sir Win. Denison, the LieutenantGovernor, of wilfully acting in direct opposition to the best interests of the colonists. The resolution was seconded by Thomas Walker, Esq., J. P., supported by Mrßartley, and carried unanimously amid great cheering. Mr. A. J. Marriot rose to move the next resolution, — That the attempts refeired to aie calculated to with diaw tho attention ol the colonists fioin the all imp< rtant subject of frpe nnnugrition, and to frustiate the efforts now being made by the legislative Council to cairy out the same on an exte/ibue sjcale — this mpeting entertaining the firm conviction that so long as transportation to this colony is continued, in any hhape or degree, all measures to induce dee immigi.Uion to these shores will prove abortive Mr. Marriot declared his conviction that so long as the colony continued to be peopled from the gaols of England, the free people of England would be in no hurry to come. The colonists must now make up their minds ag to the course to be adopted — whether traiibportation was to continue or whether they were prepared to do anything without it. Delay would be of no use. Their labourers would still continue to go away. There was only one alternative — that all should say, and mean it, that they were prepared to suffer any hardships for a time, or that they ■would depend upon prison labour. They must at once declare which course they would prefer. No half measui'cs would do now. Half prisoners and half free people would not do. Which then should it be ? There could be no doubt as to the answer which Englishmen would give. (Applause.) Mr. W. S. Button seconded the resolution, dwelling uj:>on the increasing- necessity for free immigration, and pointed to South Australia and New Zealand, where no felons were permitted, and Avhere free emigration had been carried on to a lai'ge extent, whilst Van Diemen's Land was specially excluded from participation in the advantages of the emigration movements now going on, from the aversion of those interested in directing the stream of population to turn it upon a convict colony. Mr. Walker supported the resolution. Mr. Dowling said he would trespass upon the attention of the meeting for a fow moments as he thought that the best juncture for reading a letter that had come into his hands officially. Perhaps his best apology for occupying the attention of the meeting would be that the letter referred to was received by him from the Lord Bishop of Tasmania (applause). He had had occasion oflioially to forward to the bishop the papers of the League Conference, and had asked his lordship's sanction to copies of a petition being transmitted to the clergy of the diocese. Bishopstowe, August 26, 1832. Sir, — Pe unit me to thank joufor your kindness in transmitting the sessional papers of tho Anti-Tians-portation Confeience. In reply to your lequest for my sanction to jour fonvardui" to thecleigy of this diocese copies of the memorial to her Majesty and tho Parliament, as set forth in page '25 of these, papeis, 1 need say but little more, than that it i- beailily given. I suffer, in common with otheis, from the piesent deficiency of labour; hut no amount of peisonal loss or inconvenience will m.ilco me sweivefiom th<2 steadfast advocacy of tho pnnciple — that it is oui duty to do all in [ our power to promote tho cessation of tianspoitation to | this island, it is f.it ftom i'iy wish to condemn or call in question Uio motives of others who differ fioin me in this view, and who think that the present evigency call at least for the temporaiy continuance of tianspoitdtion. Neveitheless, 1 cannot d vest myself of the. bolief that, if we are sincere in legaiding the presence of such large masses* ol pnsoneis of the Ciowti, as fraught with surioin moial, social, and religious evils, we distrust Providence, by dehbeiately couiling ;>«'/* evils, in older to secure present ease and gain, or to ward off even heavy pecuniary lons. I romain,»Sii, jovn obedient servant. Il'.I 1 '. R. Tasmania. 11 11. Dowling, JCsq." The reading of this Idler was followed by great applaube. The Chairman then read the resolution, and 1 put it tolho ]»or-lh)«, aitci 1 inviting any person opposed to it to address the meeting. It was cairicd unamimously nmid cheeiing. Mr. T. 15. JJ.u'tley, J. I., moved the Crd resolution. That (Ins mo"(iii!r, having attnidvely considered Uio address to her JM ijusty tha yiu-e.ii piopobod by I\li

.mm ni me opening of the present session of the Legisl.itne. Count i), heieby affiims thai the s'atement deiLileil in the said arlclrpss as to the conduct of Sir William Denison on the transportation question and the a!anning consequences to be apprehended therefrom, are in every ie«pect ti lie and coirecf, and this meeting would further hereby record their solemn convictions th it Sir William Denison by the success of his peitinicious and dishonest advocacy of the continuance of tianspoitation, contemptuous opposition to (he earnest petitions, solemn protests, and ugent remonstrances of the Australian colonists, has done much to alienate then attachment from tlu; I'litish Government — to tc.ir assunder those bonds of union with tho motlier country winch H is the sincere desiro of the colonists should remain inviolable, and to place in jeopardy the supremacy of En»lan'l in these teuitoik's. He had sincerely hoped that it would r^er again have become his duty lo move a resolution against the continuance of transportation. He believed that if the colonists had been treated with co.nmon justice by hjm who had been placed over them, that they would have gained their point. (Hear, heir.) Still, they need not despair. They would yet prevail. Their cause was not the cause of this colony alone — if it were he would not conceal from them the fact that it was a hopeless one — but it was the cause of all the colonies. " The Australias are one." (Loud applause.) Mr. Bartley proceeded in a powerful and eloquent speech to analyse the conduct of Sir William Denison and the system pursued, and concluded with the 'ollowing observations : — ■ Ho did not despair of their speedy success. Tianspoitation would cease. (Applause.) All , powerful causes would produce that result. Mr. Wentworth, the great man in the Council of New South Wales, was so convinced that the discovery of gold would render it impossible to continue transportation, that he declared that if the British Government were so insane as to disregard the remonstrances of these colonies, the consequences would not rest with the colonists. Look at the American colonies; see how long they had borne with tho injustice with which they are treated, and how iong the Home Government persevered in believing that they would never revolt. They might talk of these colonies as they liked, but when their population was increasing at the rate of ten thousand in a month, could it be believed that they would much longer consent to be trifled with. (Cheering.) No — they were beginning to be too powerful to be so treated. Our strength lay in our connection with them, and it was for the people of this island to adhere firmly to the confederacy which bound them together. Let them adhere with tenacity to that great and happy union. lie would earnestly beseech them never to relinquish that grasp of friendship. If they did so, — if they severed themselves from connection with their "powerful and friendly neighbours, — their cause was lost and lost for ever, and they would sink back into their original nothingness. (Renewed cheering.) Mr. W. G. Conncll seconded the resolution. He thought that the meeting owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Bartley for his exertions in the anti-transportation cause. (Applause.) The resolution was earned unanimously. Mr. Crookc then, in an excellent speech, which was received with deafening applause moved : That this meeting, considering that Sir William Denison by his said conduct upon the all-important subject of transportation, has failed in the duty he owes to our gracious Soveieign the Queen, and shown himself inimical to tha best and dearest interests of this and the other Australian colonies, cannot but regard with feelings of astonishment and indignation the recent attempts of a k\v known advocates of tiansporation to get up a petition to her Majesty the Queen, praying for an extention of the term of Sir William Denison's administration, which ilnd meeting consideis a sinister nltempt bythesaid pa>tiesto peipetunte li.ispoituion to tins island, regardless ofeverymoralandsoci.il censideiation involved by the said course, or of the alarming consequences to be apprehended therefiom. Mr. Birch seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. W. K. Ilawkes moved :—: — 5. Tint this meeling, impelled by a sense of the sacieJ duty they owe to their Gracious Soveieign tho Queen, themselves, and their fellow-Australian colonibts, do hereby resolve to petition hei M jesty in opposition to the said transportation movements, to bring under her Majesty's notice the conduct of Sir William Denison on the subject of transportation, and the alarming consequences to be apprehended therefrom ; and to pi ay that her Majesty will direct that transportation to this ibland may immediately and for ever cease, in fulfilment of tbp imperial promise> and that the penod of Sir William Denison's administration may isoi be extended, Mr. S. E. Harvey seconded the resolution, urging the moral evils which resulted from the system of transportation, which were incomparably greater now than in the early period of the settlement of the colony. Then, perhaps, they did not sustain much moral injury. But what weight must the moral bearing of the transportation question have when they reflected on the influence to which their children were exposed. (Hear, hear.) He had always dwelt on that feature, because he considered it of vast importance. Of the 20,000 youth of this colony, the vast majority were natives of ifc, and were entitled to all the privileges of their birthright, lie was nowa bout to proceed to London, where he should meet with gentlemen connected with Mrs. Chisholms plan of emigration. lie would exert his influence to remove the erroneous impressions existing at home with regard to this colony, and amongst the facts to which he should be able to appeal in doing so, would be, that not a single member had been returned to the legislature in favour of tiansportation. (Hear.) The Chairman put the resolution to the meeting, and it was passed unanimously, and amidst great cheering;. Mr. J. B, Thomas, J.P., moved the adoption of a petition to the Queen, to be forwarded, together with the foregoing resolutions, to her Majesty, through the usual official channel. The petition, which is a lengthy one, recapitulates tho grievances of the Colony touching transportation ; and ends with the following prayer :—: — Your Majesty's petuioneis, ardently attached to your Majesty's person and government, and sincerly desirous to aveit any such calamitous results, would again most humbly but earnestly entreat your Majesty to take the foregoing particulars into your Majesty's most gracious consideiation, and to direct that transportation to this island shall immediately and for ever cease, in fulfilment of the said imperial promise, and that the order in Council constituting Van Dieman's Land a pl.ice to which tiansported offenders may bn sent, shall foithnith bo rescinded. And your Majesty's petitioners would furl her piny your Majesty will be pleased not to make an exception Mom the ordinary usage by continuing his Excellency Sir William Denison in the government of this colony. The motion was seconded by Mr. Robertson, and carried with acclamation. Mr. Bartley was then moved into the chair. He said he would ask leave to call their attention to one fact. They had now had another important and unanimous meeting against transportation though its advocates had declared they could not get one up, and he would particularly call their attention to the fact, that not a single voice had been raised agaiiiht them — not a single man of the 142, if any of them were present, had, though challenged to do so, attempted to oppose them (cheers). The thanks of the meeting were then given to Captain Neilly by acclamation for his conduct in presiding over the meeting ; and after many cheers had been given for the Queen, the Chairman, and Mr. Bartley, the assembly dispersed. Thus ended one of the best, most unanimous, determined, and orderly public meetings against transportation ever held in this colony.