VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 981, 6 July 1868, Page 3

VICTORIA.

(PEOM OTJB OWIT COBEESPONDENT.) Melbourne, 27th June. In my last, I expressed a belief that, the troubled waters of our political sea were likely to become tranquilised — that the suggestion of the Hon. Mr Francis for a compromise would "be adopted by both parties, and the " dead lock" terminated. My anticipations have proved to be faulty, for instead of the party strife ceasing, it has become more bitter and intense ; in fact, during the last few days, events have crowded one upon the other, with a rapidity that gives to the parliamentary struggle so serious a complexion that in every direction the question is asked, what is to be the end ? And not a few favor the opinion that unless conciliatory despatches are speedily received, and his Excellency the Governor is instructed to retire from the position he has taken up there will be open rebellion in the Assembly. In accordance with a motion of Mr M'Culloch an address was sent from the Assembly, requesting the Governor to Bend down a message for the Darling grant. I may explain here that this motion virtually ignored the existence of a Ministry and was almost a direct demand on Hi 3 Excellency to do the bidding of the Assembly. Still it was thought that the suggestions of Mr Francis, coming as they did from the Opposition— suggestions that if adopted would have paved the way for settlement of the dispute — would have led the Ministry to recommend His Excellency to send down a Supply Bill to cover the amount required. It was during the afternoon of Thursday whispered about that His Excellency had determined not to comply with the request, and great excitement prevailed amongst all classes. The Assembly met as usual, but no reply was forthcoming, and the adjournment 1 of the House almost immediately took place. Many of the constitutional party hoped that the suggestions of Mr Francis would be acted upon, and some of the newspapers in the interest of the Ministry — the "Herald" for one — advocated their adoption. The Assembly met again on Friday. The hall was crowded, and great anxiety was shown throughout the city to know the nature of the reply. The following is His Excellency's answer to the address of the Assembly. "Message, No. 3. " J. H. T. Manners Sutton, Governor. "The- Governor has received the address of the Legislative Assembly, praying that he will recommend a grant of £20,000 to Lady Darling. " It must be at all times the most earnest desire of the Governor to attend to the wishes of the Legislative Assembly ; and if in this instance) as in ordinary political conflicts, the solution of the conflict depended upon the advice to be tendered to him by his responsible advisers, he would, if the existing Administration declined to tender advice in conformity with the views of a majority of the Legislative Assembly, at once entrust to an Administration entertaining those views the powers and responsibilities of office. Bat the present grave and increasingly critical difliculties do not arise from a contest between a majority and a minority in the Legislative Assembly, but from a controversy between two independent branches of the Legislature ; and experience has shown that the support of a majority in the Legislative Assembly does not of itself enable an Administration to solve these differences. Moreover, the Governor was, so recently as 22nd April last, informed by his late advisers that, under the circumstances then existing and referred to by them, it was, in their opinion, all but hopeless to resubmit to the Legislatiie Council the AppropriaBill for last year ; and his present advisers have informed the Governor that in this opinion they entirely- concur with their predecessors. " The Legislative Assembly, therefore, will perceive that if the Governor should by any act of his promote the re-submission to the Legislative Council of the Appropriation Bill of last year the step thus taken by him would, in the opinion of his late as well as of his present advisers, contribute to, and result in, tl«> prolongation instead of the termination of that condition of affairs which presses so heavily upon the credit of the Government and the interests of the community at large ; and the Governor is sure that the Legislative Assembly would regret no lesß deeply than himslf so lamentable a result. "But the Governor will be ready to give effect to the wishes of the Legislative Assembly whenever he shall be advised that the concurrence of Parliament may be expected. " Government Offices, June 26." The reading of this message acted upon the Opposition as if a shell from an Armstrong gun had been shot into their midst. The twitching of the nerves, the compressed lips, and dead silence maintained during the time the Speaker was reading the message, indicated surprise, indignation, and determination. The Speaker resumed his seat, and Mr M'Culloch, in a subdued, but emphatic voice, stated that under '*the extraordinary circumstances, and with such a reply to the respectful message from this House, I move that the House at its rising adjourn until to-morrow." The Colonial Treasurer, (Mr Langdon) rose to speak. This aroused the members from the state of stuperfaction into which the reading of the address had thrown them, and the Speaker had scarcely uttered a dozen words in opposi-

tion to the adjournment when he was clamorously interrupted with cries of "we don't want your reasons ;" in the midst of the Babel sounds one voice, more shrill and powerful than the rest was heard declaring that "if we sit till doomsday we won't hear your reasons." Mr Gh, P. Smith, with great feeling, moved that " the hon. member be not heard. " An indiscribable scene of confusion ensued, one member declared that there was now no Parliament, another affirmed that those (the Ministry) who profess to maintain the privileges of the House had been guilty of an act of deliberate treachery to the privileges of the House. The Speaker endeavored in vain to obtain a hearing for the Ministry. Mr Duffy sought to throw oil upon the troubled waters, and succeeded in a measure in subduing the excitement, and it was at length resolved to allow the Colonial Treasurer to speak on condition , I that he should not make any remarks j I having reference to the message of the j ! Governor. Mr Langton having touched j upon some topics that were deemed outside the question of adjournment, another interruption took place, and after a lengthened discussion, in which Messrs M'Culloch, Highin botham, and others took part, the motion for the adjournment was carried. This matter having for the time been disposed of, another shot was fired against the Governor and his Ministers. Mr Casey in resuming the debate on " the claims against the Crown " motion, in strong language denounced the position occupied by the Government, concluding by saying that he regretted that he should have been compelled to support such a motion, but the almost threatening attitude of the Ministers, and His Excellency'a utter disregard of the respectful address of tha House, made it absolutely requisite that hon. members should express their constitutional contempt for the position of the hon. members sitting on the Treasury benches. After a protracted and stormy debate^ the the motion was passed, and henceforth neither the Ministry or the Governor can continue the confession of judgment system without flying in direct opposition to the votes of the Assembly. In the Council nothing is doing. The members meet and chat for a short time, and adjourn\to meet again. The stolid obstinacy that has hitherto been shown by them still continues. Notice of motion was tabled by Mr O'Shannassy, sometime since from the passi ngof which it was hoped a better understanding between the two Houses might have been come to, but nothing came of it. Mr T. T. A'Beckett, has now taken up the subject, and tabled a series of resolutions having for their object the more clearly defining the position of the Council, and the Assembly as to the money bills. They are comprehensive, and may prove interesting to some of your readers," although from present appearances it is not likely that they will be seriously debated. They are: — 1. That in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that means be afforded of testing the opinion of the constituencies of the colony on the propriety of paying grants of money of an exceptionalcharacter,T being in the nature of gratuity, compensation, or pension, that may happen to be included in an Appropriation Bill, and to which thiß House may be opposed, without throwing upon this House the responsibility of rejecting such bill. 2. That grants of such a* character, if protested against by one-fourth of the Legislative Assembly when voted, shall be placed in a schedule of the general Appropriation Bill, and the payment thereof shall be reserved until this House shall have considered such bill. 3. That if a clear majority of the members of this House shall protest against the payment of uch scheduled grant, the payment thereof shall be suspended until the opinions of the constituencies of the colony on the subject thereof shall havebeen ascertained in the manner hereinafter mentioned. 4. That if six members of the Assembly Bhould require, in writing, the Speaker thereof to ascertain such opinion, he shall thereupon issue writs, directed to the returning officers of the different constituencies, requiring tbem to ascertain, by a vote by ballot, the opinions of such constituencies thereon. 5. That if a majority of all the votes taken in the sdifferent constituencies, when added together, be in favour of such grant, and such majority shall be equal in number to one-fourth of the number of votes on all the electoral rolls, the facts shall be certified to, and afterwards by the Speaker, and thereupon such grant shall Jbe legally payable out of the moneys appropriated by the general Appropriation Act ; but if there shall not be such a majority, the said grant shall be deemed to have lapsed. And, contingent upon the adoption of the foregoing propositions, that they be referred to the select committee that may be chosen to consider and report on the bill now before the House for the reform of the Conncil, with a view to their embodiment in such a bill.'! The wedding of Mr Bright to Miss Manners Sutton was celebrated with great pomp at St. John's Church, Toorak, on Thursday, the 25th ult. The Church was crowded to excess, numbers of ladies being obliged to remain outside. After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom proceeded on their wedding tour to that beautiful watering place, Queenscliffi The shops and harbor were gaily decorated in honor of the occasion, and a good many places of business were also dressed out in flags, &c.