ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 717, 26 February 1853, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, — I have taken some interest in watching the late discussion between the American ViceConsul and the Editor of the Southern Cross on the subject of protection for Foreign Seamen. It is my unprejudiced opinion that Mr. Burtt’s great* mistake, in connexion with the memorial submitted to him by the Editor, was made when he allowed himself to be cajoled into the slightest recognition of necessity for that memorial, after he had himself moved the Government to take steps to remove the disabilities, and received a satisfactory answer- It is true lie may liav-e had but little knowledge of the tactics of his antagonist, never suspecting that what was being done under the professin of “ courtesy to him as American Consul” was no more than a trap to secure his name, in that capacity, to be used in connexion with this subject, when a vote of censure on the Governor should be moved hereafter for non-compliance with Mr. Brown’s wish to have (as the future is so uncertain) one chance afforded him of sitting at the Council board—not merely a nominee as formerly—but as a real representative of the people —a consummation so much to be wished for. Mr. Burtt excited hopes which have been disappointed, and he must be content to endure a portion of what has fallen to the lot of all who have differed from the oracle of the Cross from its earliest; days even to the time when according to the nature -of things it must be drawing near its latter end.

Nor am I at all surprised that Mr. Burtt’s antagonist has dealt with him according to his usual disingenuous way. In order to make out a case of Insufficiency for its purpose against JVIr. Burtt’s letter to the Governor, and the “ cogency” of the arguments of the memorial, he half quotes Mr. Burtt’s sentences, and tries adroitly, but after all, clumsily, to make the impression, that Mr. Burtt knew not what lt« was asking for. lie says, in his paper of Tuesday, that Mr. Burtt solicited the Lieutenant-Governor to “ empower the Resident Magistrate to deal summarily with such cases.” Now this is given as a summary of Mr. Barit’s letter, in hope that the letter itself, which immediately follows, will not be read. But what are the exact words used by Mr. Burtt in applying to the Governor for some measure of protection. Let us see : “ The recent instances of desertion from, and mutiny in, the Bremen ship Republik , together with the various inconveniences experienced by the American Whalers now in harbour, induce me to call the attention of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor to the very urgent neceessity far making provision for the better' protection of Foreign vessels, by empowering the Resident Magistrate to deal summarily with such cases. * * * I trust that before the several whalers now in harbour, belonging to,the United States, proceed to.their respective voyages, I may bo authorized to assure them that it is the intention of the Government to adopt measures to insure them protection. In future.” &c., &o. Now surely any one can see what Mr. Burtt asks of the Government in the above—that provisions may be made (ofcourse in an Act of Council), to empower the Resident Magistrate to deal -summarily with -Foreign Seamen, as he has the power to deal with British Seamen, for misbehaving while in harbour. Nothing can be plainer than that this is the. drift and extent of his request, for if he wished (as his antagonist has most dishonestly tried to contort it) to “pray that the Resident Magistrate may be summarily empowered ” to deal with such cases, he would not need to ask to be enabled, before the whalers left the port,' “to aware-them-that it is the intention of the Government to adopt measures,*”—for if his request were granted at all, immediate action would be taken. Which would be more assuring to the captains than any promise of a prospective nature. It is really a pity that the good feeling which is happily growing up in the community should be interrupted every now and then by a cantankerous individual, who seems never to be at peace with himself but when he is at war with somebody else. No single question can be mooted ajpong us, be it political, commercial, or social — without some persons—official, clerical, or private, . —being subjected to personal abuse. Is this to be endured much longer ! Shall we invite the enterprising: sons of ’ ottr fellow-countrymen.:to join us here to engage in the several pursuits which may be successfully fallowed in bur colony, that while thus laudably engaged, they shall be, met with; discouraging, becauseungenerousand ! unfair opposition , from those with whom, no mat- j ter what business they may turn their hand to, j ' : : ‘ a i ‘

they may have to compote * Or are they only to be secured ’from annoyance by pinning their political and commercial faith to the sleeve of a man who, from the day when an address to Her Majesty on the birth of the Princess Royal was voted by the people of Auckland, up to the date of Mr. Burtt’s letter to the Governor, has never allowed another to differ with him without the attempt being made to sting him in one way or other. Yours, &c., Observer.