The Tuapeka Times. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1868.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 21 March 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1868.

The sensible remark made by our "Rambling Reporter" in the first account of his tour in search of mares' nests, with respect to the infinity of diverse duties imposed upon our Government, merits consideration, whether they might not be advantageously relieved from the performance of many things by a little more energy on the part of the Government. The burden, already too oppressive, however, would appear from some proceedings and resolutions passed at the late meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin, as not thought sufficiently onerous, as it is purposed by that reverend body, to solicit the Provincial Council at the approaching 1. Session to superadd to their present work, embracing every imaginable description of secular work, legitimately, if unwisely, thrust upon the Executive; the further unconstitutional duty of acting as the conservators of the sacredness of the Sabbath, and as the keepers of every man's conscience in the Province. We did imagine until now, that we were living in the nineteenth century, with the principle of toleration recognised by every one save the veriest bigot, but it would seem, it has been reserved for the intelligence, liberality, and enlightenment of the Presbyterian pastors of Otago, to cast us back upon that dark period of the middle ages, /vriien the civil power was called without remorse to enforce to their utmost extremity, the spiritual decisions of men who presumptuously maintained they could alone interpret the meaning of the Divine Word. We believe that the right of private judgment is held by Presbyterians; we believe that Protestantism itself is based upon this truth, nay more, we believe that the disruption in the Church of Scotland arose out of the doctrine; that the civil power had had no right to interfere in Church matters beyond $iein, as these had reference to pecuniary endowments conferred on it by the State. The main designs of Government, we hold, are to protect the lives and property of the governed; to compel a community to satisfy its wants, not by rapine, but by industry ; and to make it decide its differences by arbitration, and not by the strong hand. But, because a Government may be eminently fitted f®r these purposes, it by no means follows that its organisation will fit it either for the propagation of religious truth, or enable it suc-

cessfully or consistently to compel the observance of a holy day called the Lord's Day. The consequences attending the admission of the doctrine, that a Government as a Government, are bound to undertake such duties are so startling, and fearing that from the peculiar constitution of our Provincial Governments, the memorial of the . Presbytery may be favorably entertained and acted upon by legislation, we venture to step aside out of the ordinary course of newspaper journalism to enquire what foundations there are for entertaining for an instant, such an unwise and hazardous proposition. In a matter involving the liberty of the subject, and which will leave the persecution, if vigorously executed, we think ourselves entitled to demand more full and accurate demonstrations of its propriety, than have been afforded to us by the discussion in the Pres- : bytery. If the keeping of the fourth commandment is to be in all its strictness made compulsory upon the whole community, be their fourth what it may, then we ask, in j the name of ordinary consistency, why should not the first and second also be made compulsory ? Are not the feelings of Christians here as much shocked by the idolatrous practices of the Chinese, and in India are not British Christian subjects constantly exposed to rights of scandalous idolatry ? Yet no one surely will argue that it is the duty of Government forcibly to i put a stop to such religions, al- j though ignorant practices, where human life is endangered, of course, there a Government has a perfect right to interfere, but not otherwise. The whole tenor of the memorial indicates that the crusade is against the draymen and waggoners, with their drays and waggons, "passing and re-passing," and not against the pleasure seeker in his buggy or carriage. Is this fair or reasonable ? The same verse in Scripture which tells us " We must not do our own work," tells us that we must not "Think our own thoughts," nor " Seek our own pleasure." We trust enough has been advanced to make our legislators pause before they enter upon a course of interference with the rights and liabilities of every free man that may lead to great confusion, and mayhap, to the annihilation of this Province, for if it can be proved to be a duty of a Government at all, it is from the central authority it must proceed, I and not from a Council, which has not hitherto been remarkable for wisdom in conducting its own proper mundane duties.