ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 734, 27 April 1853, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sin, —As the Editor of the Southern Cross has not found it to be convenient to publish, as speedily as could be wished, a letter we addressed to him, we enclose a copy of the same to you, requesting the favour of its insertion in your columns. We are, Sir, Yours, respectfully, Jomv Salmon, James Macky, Thomas S. Forsaith. Auckland, April 26th, 1853. To the Editor of (he Southern Cross. Sir, —There apcarcd an article in your columns on Friday last, containing allusions to us, too plain lobe mistaken, and too incorrect to be passed over. We beg permission to occupy a place in your next issue for the purpose of defending ourselves from charges which are untrue. We deem it necessary, however, to premise that our remarks, though addressed in the ordij nary form to the Editor of the Southern Cross, I are not intended to apply to the gentleman who ordinarily claims that title. It is a fact, too well known to render it necessary for us to be scrupulous in repeating if, that Mr. Brown, though disclaiming the title and responsibilities of Editor, does occasionally perform the leading part; and probably he had some share in concocting the article to which we allude. We must not, therefore, altogether exclude him from a share of our attention, although we would by no means have it understood that we consider him to be exclusively entitled to the benefit of our observations. There is a gentleman now amongst us who, if he has not a " local habitation," has, most certainly, a famous name; whose lips gave utterance to sentiments so exactly corresponding, both in character and phraseology, with tbose which almost immediately afterwards appeared iu (he Southern Cross, that he must not be angry if we overlook the trifling circumstance of his having, apparently, a wish to remain behind the scenes, and give him and his proceedings a due place in the application of our remarks. When he re-touched, and brought out the points, and put the finishing polish upon the periods of the leading article of last Friday, had he no misgivings—no secret self-upbraidings, when the following sentence passed under his plastic hand ? " Yet such is the candidate now brought forward in the sheer extremity of partisan despair to supersede Mr. Bartley." lie knew full well that this could not be (rue, because the attempt to supersede Mr. Bartley had been already made by Mr. Brown. He knew, moreover, that we should not have raised a finger against Mr. Hartley's election, or taken a single step to produce another candidate but for the gratuitous interference of Mr. Brown. We beg permission to offer, in perfect good nature, a parting word of kindly advice to this gentleman. He has, or conceives himself to have, a special mission. Let him confine his attention to it, we shall not interfere with him. But we must take liberty (o hint " in the most delicate manner possible," that we object to his interference in the serious business of our political duties ; —at least until we have some reason to believe that, like ourselves, he has a stake upon the issue, more important than the mere gratification of caprice. There is an obvious impropriety in his present course. " Oliver Goldy" himself might, with equal propriety, have interfered with the political duties of the inhabitants of some of (he minor states of Europe, when he was travelling about the continent with nothing in his pocket but his flute. The gravamen of the charges brought against us,, when extracted from amidst the tropes and figures with which the indictment is adorned, is this :—that in bringing forward Colonel Wynyard we were guilty of a breach of trust : "a band of courtly requisilionists," we quote the article, " backed by some of the lately-chosen representatives of the people, who, a few brief months since, on the hustings, pledged their faith not only to preserve the colonial liberties, but to use every practicable means to remedy existing abuses, and establish a better order of things." We admit the fact of having given such pledges ; but we deny that the step Ave have taken, in the present instance, is a violation of them. Nay ! we assert that it was taken for the very purpose of fulfilling those pledges. " Air. Hartley," we again quote the article, " an old, respected, and respectable resident—a Barrister—and a man of the highest integrity and honour was induced to become a candidate, but under the auspices of a parly who, because of their well-known Government connexion, are justly regarded by the community with suspicion and distrust." We did not choose this candidate ourselves, hut concurring most sincerely in the attributes of his character, we were perfectly contented with the choice. If those who brought him forward were " justly regarded by the community with suspicion and distrust," — an allegation which we do not mean, by repeating, to adopt or defend—we were not, therefore, bound to suspect and distrust the candidate himself. Nor were we made aware that the " community" fell called upon to do so, until Mr. Brown, who it appears is, in his own person, an embodiment of" the community," indicated his suspicion and distrust by offering himself as a more eligible person. We differed from Mr. Brown in this estimate of himself. We considered that his pretensions were irreconcilable with the best interests of the Povincc—that the "colonial liberties," in the best and broadest sense of the term, would he endangered—" existing abuses" perpetuated-and a "better order of things" indefinitely postponed, if he succeeded in his attempt to establish himself in the Superintendent's chair. Asa proof that the "Colonial liberties,"—at least one branch of them—the liberty of opinion, even already endangered by Mr. Brown's aspirations, we have oidy to say that as soon as it was known that we and others would not support his pretensions, we were publicly challenged in the streets as " crawlers," " cut-throats," and " traitors." Believing Mr. Browns object, if obtained, to be hazardous to the Province, and remembering our pledges, we were compelled by a sense of duty to seek a candidate possessing qualifications of the right kind, and in such a degree as rendered his popularity co-equal with his fame. We found such a candidate in Colonel Wynyard ; and although we do not hesitate to admit that we should have preferred a civilian—if one could have been discovered possessing the same combination of qualifications—we regarded the fact of his being a military officer as 100 trifling to be placed in juxtaposition with Hie certain

advantages which would be secured by his election. It is not true that (he office was "eagerly coveted." Colonel Wynyard was with great difficulty persuaded lo accede (o our request. The writer of the article lo which we have been referring endeavours to inculcate (he idea that because* Colonel Wynyard is a soldier—and in lhal sense a Government officer —he cannot possibly be the friend of the people ;—lhal a gentleman who carries a sword and wears epaulettes must of necessity be opposed lo the principles of civil liberty. We repudiate the doctrine, even in its general application, and altogether deny it when applied to Colonel Wynyard. He has proved himself to be the friend of the people, so far as his power extended, even when not amenable to (heir suflYages, and therefor; we are nol unwilling again to entrust our interests lo his hands. Our accusers, in their anxiety (o place our conduct in a false light, have not hesitated to substitute, in some instances, sophistry for solid argument. They say that we have brought forward a candidate " but a short three weeks since the Provincial Head of that Government from whieh the colonists have, year by year, been praying Her Majesty and the Parliament of England in mercy to deliver them." This sentence is ingeniously constructed to lead the reader lo confound the person with the system. 'Tis (rue we have been praying (o be delivered from (he form of Government of which Colonel Wynyard was (he Provincial head, but what has (hat lo do wilh his being a candidate for the Superinlendentship ? Did we ever pray to be delivered from him ? No ! But we do most earnestly pray to be delivered from such unreasonable men as the writers of that paragraph. If, under a system which was so generally delested, Colonel Wynyard succeeded in inspiring all classes with confidence in (he uprightness and impartiality of his character, by the mode in which he administered it, how much more likely is he lo succeed, and give still greater satisfaction under a new and better system ! We cannot presume lo trespass upon your space so largely as would be necessary lo reply to all lhal has been advanced against our pioceedings. We have contented ourselves with staling, in general terms, our reasons for opposing Mr. Brown's pretensions ; and wc repeal i(, as our deliberate conviction, that he could nol be placed in the office of Superintendent without endangering the interests of the Province, and we are not inclined to imperil those "interests simply because he thinks that his " past services" entitle him lo such a reward. We may possibly differ from him a little as lo the value and importance of the services which he, individually, lias rendered lo the colony, and the consequent amount of the debt of gratitude which is justly his due, but we have no personal hostility towards him. On the contrary, we will exert ourselves with as much energy lo promote his wishes when wo believe (hem lo run parallel with the public interests, as we have done, in Ibis instance, to thwart them. We rose against him on this question — " Nol (hat we lovrd But (hat we loved Borne more." And without straining (he illustration (oo far, but cordially rendering (he appropriate equivalents for any excellencies he may possess, we conclude by adding that ''As he was ambitious, we slew him." We arc, Sir, Yours, respectfully, John Salmon, James Macky, Thomas S. Forsaith. To (he Editor of the New-Zealander. Sin, —We have been favoured wilh a leader in Mr. Brown's paper, of Friday 22nd, clothed in (he spirits of a tamer feeling and milder language than usual, and, from this circumstance, il is by some supposed lo be written by another individual, weil known before the public, and generally considered by his writings, the declared enemy of Sir George Grey, I do not however, think lhal (his article warrants the supposition, —not sustaining, in my opinion, the supposed abilities of thai writer, —and 1 think there is no difficulty in showing the fallacy of its arguments. The pretence indeed of dcsertingMr.Barlley seems no more than the profession of many persons, thai, from their desire lo save the Province from the consequences of animosities, that should Mr. Brown (whose policy was so much dreaded) not enter Ihe field Ihey would nol urge any opposition ; but as Mr. Brown, possessing no advocate beyond his own house, solicited Ihe public on his own behalf and having succeeded in drawing from Mr. Barlley an engagement lo abstain from personal canvas, evinced at once that Mr. Barlley was nol the man lo save the Province from Ihe effects of a hitler contest. Mr. Barlley bad rested 100 much on the strong antipathy aganist Mr. Brown beyond the limilsof his immediate circle; he forgot the powerful effects of the agency of an extensive monopoly, and thus Ibis injudicious measure of Mr. Barlley"s, coupled wilh Ihe confessed determination of Mr. Brown, induced the ballalion of 500 (o rise simultaneously to call on one who had Ihe respect and affections of (he people; and (bus to enter their slrong protest against being ruled by the dogmatic spirit of that monopolizing parly influence, and against being made the cats-paw of Wellinglonian clap-traps, to sacrifice Ihe interest of Ibis province al Ihe shrine of private animosities and personal haired. How far Ihe eight oul of twelve Bepresenlatives have deserved the thanks of (he Province, the public will decide. St is confidently reported that Dr. Campbell is lo return and Ihe canvas lo be kept actively alive lot both parlies, so (hat if Mr. Brown cannot hope for success, his votes may be turned in favor of the less objectionable Doctor. Bui it won't do, the spirit is the same—the game is Ihe same—lhe pieces are the same,—it won't do and no one that is suspccled lo have made compact with a southern cabal will be allowed lo risk Ihe interest of this Province to their own ends. I wonder whether "Meloikos" has got a hand in this, and whereabouts he votes for; Public opinion will be brought lobear on this question ; and no doubt the committees will take Ihe hint to classify their volers, how many votes are exercised by one man. The poor man has one vole for his domicile, (he multi-monopolist will have four or five voles, the landjobbers' voles, the fanners' voles, the graziers' voles, the shepherds' votes, the dairy mens' voles, Ihe pork butchers' votes, the beef butchers' votes, Ihe spirit dealers'voles, Ihe brewers' voles, the soap boilers' voles, the candle makers' voles, Ihe merchants' votes, the shopkeepers' votes, —why verily here is a phalanx indeed ! I wondor if all these will be in one num. Pi ay, Mr. Editor, if one man has three or four voles, will he be allowed three or four opinions. But to return lo the text, we ask if it be reasonably possible that the Commanding Officer of Pensioners would venture on Ihe disinheriting any, even the smallest jnumber of Pensioners, and even of it was but one ; would not the thunders of Ihe Cross, and Ihe sympathies of Ihe people clap a plaster on his back that would stick as long as ever he remained in the colony. Yes indeed, lhal press in the rule and governance of one man, will cast Ihe shafts of calumny on any man thai will

not succumb to his rule. The Pensioners are not I so easily fooled ; they know the value of both these propositions. * The next statement, that there arc twenty discharged soldiers that have preferred remaining in oar colony, and will come forward to a man to support Colonel Wynyard, is gratifying to learn, as assuring us that our confidence has not been misplaced. The next bug-bear thrown out to tins class of volers, is (he risks and fears ; and calls out (o them —beware I Yes, he says Beware! beware of the democrat icrulcofthat man,whotogainhisends of discord, would villifyyourofficers under pretence of dereliction oQduty in doing any little limited kindness in their power. As for the fear we fling the vile insinuation back in the name of the Pensioners, and iell him it is not known in Use breast of a British soldier. When Ihey come to the poll they will show (he true spirit of Englishmen to maintain (heir own opinions, as (hey have ever shown in the field. The childish allusion (o Sunday parades we hold too contemptible to notice. The next insinuation, —(hat no money will be raised or spent, or any compensation given by a military Superintendent. The Pensioners have men among them intelligent enough to know all about these matters as well as the writer can (ell them, and we know further by clause four, that upon representation made by so many of the Provincial Council the Superintendents can be removed. Thus a remedy is provided against any unpopular Officer who may pertinaciously refuse to bring forward such bills as are desired; and this power makes us to know that if Mr. Brown's parly possess as he slates (he majority of (he country, Ihey could pul oul any Superintendent obnoxious to him. But what chance would the other interests of the country have (o displace a Superintendent in the fangs of the monster Monopolizing interest of Mr. Brown and his packed council ? We are also informed by Mr. Brown's parly that he has also made a slrong parly at Wellington, (hat is, that through the supposed agency of the supposed writer of Friday's article, he has monopolized a greal part of the Council that is to be. For what purpose has this been organized ? Will they be traitors (o (heir conslilulenls and support our welfare against their own? Oh,no, says Mr. B's. friends, il is against Sir G. Grey, and if lie be removed there will be no one to oppose Mr. Brown ruling the colony as he will, and of course nothing can be belter for us. Perhaps it will suil"Metoikos"also,and then all will be pleased that win. Pray who is "Meloikos?" Where will his vote be taken? Has (he poor old parson been foisted into Hie belief that the public of Auckland are deeply interested in hisby-gone woes. Verily "•Meloikos" has worn the parson's old black coat Brown. The people of Auckland have too much to do to grapple with coming things, to heed the waning shadows of things that were. And now for the jingle of military duties and civil superintendent .strewed up and down, to make a noise like gingling spurs upon the pavement of military parade. This false and puerile stuff will meet with all the scorn il deserves, bolh within (he Province and abroad. The high sense of unsullied honour and of truth in the breasts of those gentlemen, will teach them to (read il under foot as a rag, (it only to v\ipe its kindred dirt from off the shoes. The polish is 100 bright and clean for such loose and dull material in its airy passage to sully the lustre of their cloth. Sir John Pakinglon does not say the Superindenfs office is a mayoralty, but that his powers arc very little more extended, and (hat the functions of tiie Council are purely of a municipal character, but as the Superintendent does not sit with the Council, (hey having their own Speaker, and as Bills must be first presented by, arid through the Superintendent, and iie also being a separate power, lo negative or affirm (he Bill when passed the- Council ; he is in fact a deputy governor, with a Provincial Councd—and we have no great way to go for a precedent —namely Honduras. The British Settlements in Honduras are governed by a Superintendent who is always a Military Officer and frequently commanding officer of the forces within his jurisdiction—as was Colonel O'Brien, who was relieve 1 by Major Arthur, then Military Secretary in Jamaica. Major Arthur remained three years, was relieved on account of ill health, and on his recovery in England—was promoted as Colonel Arthur, (o (he Government of Van Diemen's Land. There is now one poinl we must not forget.— Q lite true —that the question of Mr. Brown '• lies in a nutshell" I need not lake the whole passage. 11 is nol a question of ability and mental qualifications nor of social or political eminence,-—and I would like to add, if I conscientiously could, not moral goodness or badness of a cause—but il is unfortunately directly on fhe consideration of the results likely (o take place, from the principles and conduct of future actions —deducible from known, previous 1 , actual, and Ifear conclusive evidence. We do not in general believe that we identify our political interest with private character or personal differences —but, we arc so often influenced by passing events, that the most casual connexions often bias or altogether carry away our judgment, without any consideration lo fhe moral goodness or badness of the cause, and thus we unwillingly surrender our opinions to our hasty estimate of the general character of an individual. Now this is the gist of argument in question, and judging from previous evidence—we say notwithstanding the capacity ofa man if he cannot conduct his official business in a way creditable to himself and becoming his duly lo Hie colony—he is nol a (it person to intrust with its destinies. Upon this judgment has gone forth from all classes, not embraced by the fangs of the monopoly—(he greater body of late chosen representatives, £ c.—the import and export merchants to a man, who have been extending (heir energies to open thedoor to foreign export of our produce, nol to peering about the country, picking the wee billies land here and there, lo bring about the day when a numerous and influential tenantry, will vote in—a despotic king lo Auckland. "' Na doubt, na doubt ;" it is belter to be the serving mon of my laird of Glenorchy, thain a laird of Pen-cock. How strange that a close reasoning mind should not perceive that it is but the tool of another, and a master mind free from the consequences of the anarchy it may create,. to gain its own selfish views. Whois "Meloikos?" What is he, does he exist at all ? Or is " Meloikos*' Mr. Brown himself? Surely, there is some invisible connexion ; all that appears that we can know of him, is as a shadow passing lo and fro in the land, casting blight and mildew. I would fain believe that Mr. Brown means the good of the colony, when Governor Grey is oul of the way ; but let him ask himself, if those who are backing him up, have the one sole end in view, the good of this Province. Of course, the party formed at Wellington have pledged themselves lo support Mr. Brown's measures for the good of this Province especially—and its garrison town. How very low an estimate must (he writer of (his paragraph, have of (he people of Auckland, oils he, daft, as (he Scotchman says. In England from the pressure of commercial engagements, barracks are built out of the town. In Colonies their Capital is always the garrison town. Our neighbour Sydney has had her barracks removed from the centre of the city lo its Suburbs—but il is still the only garrison town in N.S. Wales. Mailland (hat pours 100 tons of goods daily into the sea, has yet no garrison, tho* il is now in

contemplation to build barracks. Calcutta is a garrison (own, Madras, Bombay, Port Louis, llobarl Town, and every o!her Colonial Capital are garrison towns, and their head-quarter?. Long may Auckland continue the garrison town of New Zealand—when it no longer is so, it will no longer be the Capital—and now farewell Olet Ihc writer of that article sharpen his wits upon (he grindstone of discord in his Old Brown coat, and do you, Mr. Editor, be ready to point a good quill with the blade that is to come out of belter materials. —Yours, &c. P. Auckland, 2ath April. To the Editor of the New-Zeala'ndei?, Sir, —As one of the constitutency of the Province of Auckland which the Southern Cross, of Friday last, in its accustomed intemperate style, stigmatizes as having " politically disgraced itself," on the principle of self defence, I desire to make a few observations upon the article in which the impertinent observation is made. I beg'you will allow me to do so through your medium. I would first ask, —"Who is the man, who the mysterious we, who has or have had the consummate impudence to speak thus of the act of 506 of their fellow colonists ? Is it the crest-fallen, disappointed, chagrined, self-offering candidate for the Superintendency ? Is it his paid editor writing at his command I or is it a stranger and Sojourner amongst us, intermeddling wiih affairs in which he has no deeper interest than one of the passengers in a vessel temporarily visiting our harbour 2 But it matters not, the whole thing is based on so false, so hollow a foundation that a few observations will cast the whole fabric to the ground. The Cross's writers are quite aware of the falsity of that part of their article which professes to relate the history of the coming forward of Mr. Bartley; and further, they well know that it was because he is regarded as " a man of integrity and honour, an old respected and respectable citizen," that he was asked to allow himself to be put in nomination, in the hope that one so qualified would have commanded a hearty, cordial, and universal tmion. But most sapient Cross, how was he brought forward "under the auspices of a party, having well known Government connection 5" These writers have for once admitted that some one member of the community other than the head of their firm has " integrity and honour," and yet in the same breath they virtually charge Mr. B vrtley with an untruth. They say "he is brought o.it under the auspices of a party, &c," he declares in his address to the electors, published in their own columns, " that he is free from connection with any party." By what authority, I would ask, (other than that most grossly usurped) does one merchant in Shortland-street assert that three brother merchants in Auckland, of as high standing as himself, and others who most of us I look upon as good and worthy members of the I community, "are regarded by that community with suspicion and distrust V or how dare he say that " upright tactics are far from their im 4 ! agination V of " what old Government influence'' are these gentlemen possessed 2 and bo w dare the : writer libel them with the. charge of " enlisting" ! any influence to make common causes against j "Public opinion." Here lies one of the errors of our would-be Superintendent; be hastt small violent clique about him, hi-> own ideas'are so nar- | row that he looks upon every man who docs not ■ belong to that clique as bis own enemy, and I strictly avoids contact with him, that he may, I with the less contradiction, form his own opinion I according to his own interest; thus he "has dragged | bis tail after him, so long and so uninterruptedly, j that he has flattered himself into the belief that ! he can expand it as the rings of the rattle-snake, | and now that he finds that, like Cruiksbanks' ; i oodle dog, he has curled it so tight that it has lifted his leg-s off the ground and dropped its I feather, lie would wag faster the unfortunate I stump and call that " Public Opinion !" He will now learn that however he may exert himself to dress up his wax-work notions with tinsel and spangles, the public will no longer believe in bis show, or that his is "the only genuine Jarley." I confess I was rather tickled at the cool effrontry with which the Cross attempted to back its opinion by a reference to the requisition to Colonel Wynyard, a document more numerously and respectably signed than perhaps was ever before presented to any man in these colonics in such a case. I, too, would beg to commend your and the Cross's readers to its columns "as a most significant document." The callings of the 500 persons whose names are appended thereto, I have : investigated as far as circumstances would allow, : and tliere find the names of the lately chosen i Representatives of the People ; —with the except--1 ion of three who are requisitionists to Mr. Bartley ! and Mr. Brown himself, nearly if not fully the I whole number of merchants amongst us ; scores I of Farmers and Settlers ; Clergy and Ministers of j all denominations ; Professional Gentlemen ; and ; scores of Tradesmen, Shopkeepers, Artisans, ; &c, &c Who of our fellow citizens (except the Cross's ' own fiction) are "surprised and indignant" at the combination of these with so many of their ; fellow colonists—the enrolled Pensioners I Who, but they, will regard with other than pride and satisfaction so many of those brave old defenders of our parent country, placing themselves side by side with such a force, as Fentibks against the greatest ill that could befall our adopted country, —the domination of a violent faction ? And who but the Volunteer Would-be Head of the | Province would have the effrontery to talk of j these men " trembling for their cottages," and suchlike nonsense. I Let me too, Sir, say one word to the Pensioners. Bi:\v.YRE! Beware of the man or the party who i would attempt to warp an honourable mind by insinuating the possibility of some act of oppres- ; sion arising from an adverse vote. Has not ! his paper, with well-fed complaisancy bespattered j its praise and commendation, almost to an exi treme, upon the man it would now ask you to i believe capable of the most wretched and un- ; worthy oppression? Has not the dictionary been ransacked with the hope to find some new word with which to attempt to flatter him, and this before and during the time he was Lieut.j Governor of the Province, until very lately ; but , now, when at the call of those over whom he presided | with so much credit, he consents to take a course i which will interfere with the ambitious aspirations of his maligner, it is attempted to make you believe that he would do that which no man of the most ordinary regard for the golden rule would not scorn to do. Sir, we are not to be cajoled into a belief that that man who only a few weeks since gave currency to the foul insinuation that the Representative of our Sovereign was a party to the arson of the Government House, could conduct his official intercourse with that or any other Representative of the Queen in a manner either creditable to himself or becoming his duty to the colony. It requires but little consideration. The community will soon show that he who almost directly asserts (as those who know him believe too well) that he would prefer "jarring" to peace and harmony, and who is now, in the face of the recorded testimony of so many, even of his old supporters, by the very attempt to thrust himself into the highest post amongst us, clearly evidencing that Self Glory and aggrandizement is his great aim, and that to him, the quiet, peace, prosperity, and honor of our adopted, country are as nothing in the balance when weighed against his insatiable ambition, —that he hasvastly overestimated himself and his influence when he asked for such a mark of the respect and confidence of the Province.— I am, Sir, &c, A RjEQ/JISITIONIST TO COLOSEL WyNYAKD,