CHARLES ROUS MARTEN,

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 223, 2 March 1866, Page 3

CHARLES ROUS MARTEN,

Director of Meteorological Station. Martendale, Feb., 1, 1866.

VICTORIA.— ITS REVOLUTIONARY MINISTRY.

(lYom the Sydney Morning Herald. ) "It is reported by our telegram that Mr. Michie, in addressing his constituents, said, — ' that the Ministers would govern according to the Constitution ; and that if the British connection was involved, he did not care that for it!' (snapping his fingers.) A subsequent paragraph alleges that Mr. Michie did not say that he did not care the snap of a finger for the ' British connection,' but for 'Downingstreet' only. Such, then, are the sentiments of a functionary who calls himself a Minister of the Crown, who has sworn allegiance to the Sovereign, and who is the adviser of her representative. These were not the words of haste and passion. The subject has been argued over and over again, and the news from home has placed the Ministry in a dilemma which compels them to choose their side, and doubtless that which is announced by Mr. Michie is that which he has chosen. The distinction drawn between Downing-street and the British connection is meie grimace. Mr. Miebie's adherence to the British connection is something like the play of ' Hamlet ' with the part of Hamlet omitted. ' Downing-street' is the place j where the Government of England transacts its business. The Secretary for the Colonies is the organ of the Crown. The law makes it a misdemeanor for a G-o---vernor to disobey the instructions of the Secretary of State conveyed with the proper formalities. To sever the connection with 'Downing-street,' means to renounce the subordination of a colony, and to annul the law by which it is established and enforced. The language of Mr. Michie, therefore, while conveying to many persons a mistrust and dislike of a particular street, implies — if it sigifies anything at all — that the constitutional authority of the Crown, exercised through the medium of the Colonial-office, is repudiated by the Minister of Victoria. The explanation which puts 'Downingstreet' as distinct from ' the British connection' is therefore hollow and useless, because 'Downing-street' means 'the British connection' so far as it implies the authority of the parent state and the political subordination of the colonies. The language of Mr. Michie is therefore the first note of a rebellion. He is the copyist of Jefferson Davis, who ' did not care a snap of his fingers ' for Washington ; and we hope that if ever he should rise to the height of his model he may find himself in a similar place. It is quite proper that all parties should thoroughly understand what all this means and where it leads, and there are, therefore, some thanks due to Mr. Michie for disclosing so early the policy of himself and his compeers. As a lawyer, he has recommended his colleagues -to violate every constitutional law. The effect on the British G-overment was certainly inevitable. The unsparing vigor of these revolutionary Ministers made it impossible for ' Downing-street ' to ignore what was passing, or to misapprehend its tendency' and its import."