The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1863.

Southland Times, Issue 910, 4 March 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1863.

That the possession of privileges entails a corresponding amount of responsibility is au obvious truism. The obligation rating on individual members of the community to maintain their civil rights and to exercise their civil privileges is also generally admitted. To forego the one or to neglect the other, except in -&j>ooialr-case9, and-ftui-xeasc)ns_ thie_Boundness of which cannot be disputed, occa- . sions, as its ultimate effect in most iustances, the detriment of the community I to a greater or less degree, and is ia all cases,- whether the effects be palpable or not, a moral wrong. The individual benefit received as the result of combination requires to be distinctly recognised, and suitably acknowledged, and iv return for the protection, support, and other social benefits which each separate person receives from the banding together of the masses, he is very properly required to furnish his proportion of individual exertion and influence, to carry out the common object and effect the general good. In no respect is this proposition more true than as regards the legislation of the community, and admitting the truth of the axiom, ' the people the only source of power' — the direction of that power must rest in the combination of the opinions and intellect of the units. Generally as the principle is recognised, the responsibility is, however, so lightly felt by the masses, that action is in many cases prevented by a variety of reasons utterly insufficient to absolve from duty, or to justify its apparent neglect. As regards political privileges generally considered as such, the feeling iv respect to their exercise is that of apathy,, or at any ratea seeming disposition to let matters take their own course: an unwillingness to incur much trouble in the prosecution of that of <which the result is neither palpable nor present. The privilege of Englishmen to grumble on all reasonable, and on mauy unreasonable occasions, is one which is very largely availed of. It very seldom, however, occurs to the grumblers to ask themselves the question, whether, had their own duty been properly discharged, there would have been so much occasion to grumble ? In cases of committees for the carrying out of charitable and benevolent institutions, works of public utility, and undertakings generally of a philanthropic character, it is found that the actual work devolves on a few individuals — the same names with but few variations being found in connection with each undertaking. This, while actually unjust to the parties on whom the extra work is imposed, is prejudicial to the proper carryingoutof the business in hand, by narrowing the field of intellect and energy required successfully to accomplish great results. It is, moreover, injurious to the general body, by encouraging a spirit of sloth and apathy, the predominance of which is fatal to true progress. To apply these remarks to the subject of the registration of electors. As the time for registration of claims is rapidly closing in, it becomes the duty of everyone possessing the required qualification for voting, to remember that, as we are constituted, all our political battles are in reality fought out in the registration court, and to enrol himself as a voter accordingly. The Electoral Roll, from the number of new claims, as well as from the change in qualifications, will require this year a considerable aDiount of revision, mauy changes affecting the register having recently taken place in the holding of property. The citizen who neglects or is unwilling to bestow the small amount of trouble necessary on his part, to entitle him to be heard in the consideration of the questions which must sooner or later occupy public attention, will have no right to complain at fiuding himself virtually disfranchised. The injury does not, however, rest here. If the loss of the* franchise were simply the loss of the individual neglecting or refusing to exercise it, the matter would but concern himself, and society could have no reason to complain ; but the apathy or negligence of a single individual may, under certain circumstances, be the cause of general disaster and loss. At tho present time especially, we have in prospect the settlement of questions so grave in their import, as that it may be truthfully said of them that they exceed in the probable importance of their results any that have yet occupied our attention

aa a Province. The subject cf Contra* liaation, the consideration of which was temporarily disposed of during the last session of the Provincial Council, must ere long receive a full and patient investigation with a view to final settlement. The deliverance on this subject profoundly affects the present and the future, and inasmuch as it cannot be supposed that any individual possessing a stake (however small) in the community, can be without an opinion on the subject, it is the plain and positive duty of every one to make that opinion known through the medium of our representatives. By way of introducing into the consideration of so important a question as this every element that can aid in its satisfactory solution, let each possessor of the franchise see to it that his name is on the Register, and then regard the exercise of his right to vote, not merely as a privilege which he may use or not as he pleases, but conscientiously as a sacred trust which he is bound to exercise, and for the exercise of which, society will in some way or other hold him accountable.