The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 416, 30 November 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1868.

Our local representative in the Gene- : ral Assembly, Mr T. Gallagher, returned from the conflicts in which he was engaged in the arena of politics to the peace of his domestic hearth at Addison's Fat, in a manner so exceedingly undemonstrative, that probably few but careful readers of passenger lists are aware that such an event has occurred. "While in some parts of the colony as in Canterbury members, on their return, became the objects of popular ovation and the occupants of hired conveyances ; and while in other parts of the colony—as in Oiago some members were recognised as " rats," and were treated with no more respect than is usually paid to these animals by the human race; while such was the case in those parts, the member for Westlaud JS"orth returned to his business and his constituency unwept and unsung. This was, at least, the case so far as Westport was concerned. The part in politics taken by Mr Gallagher during his maiden session was so little calculated to excite ecstatic praise, and so little deserving of extreme condemnation, that there really existed no great amount of feeling either in one direction or the other. And there was the impression, not unwarranted, that Mr Gallagher had really been so J sincere in his desire, as well as in his speeches, to do his best for his constituency, in representing local interests, that his comparative, and, to do him justice; his confessed inexpe-

rxence in general politics was frankly overlooked. Even though it was but little that he was able to achieve in the representation of local interests, consideration was given to the distracted state of the House during greater part of the session, and there was a willingness to accept the will for the deed, in the hope of better things to come. With regard to the feeling at Addison's Flat, of which Mr Gallagher may be said to have been more distinctively the representative, we are scarcely in such a position to speak. It is probable that a warm welcome was accorded to the member on his return to that particular part of the district, and it is possible that, if there was no public demonstration, there was some opportunity given to him of reviewing the incidents of the session, and of informing the electors as to the not easily discernible amount of good which the session had conferred upon the country at large. But if such opportunity were afforded, or if, when afforded, it was taken advantage of, we have cer-

tainly not heard of it. Taking it for granted that no such opportunity has been offered Mr Gallagher at Addison's Flat, any more than at Westport, are we not justified in considering that there has been some slight remissness on the part of the electors ? It is possible that Mr Gallagher may be as well satisfied with thing as they are. The undemonstrative disposition of the electors is possibly equalled by the modesty of his own estimate of what he might be able to say with regard to himself, with regard to the party with whom he voted, or with regard to the General Assembly as a whole. But it is just as possible that the cacoetJies loguendi which a young member is likely to acquire may yet be strong upon him, and that he might not—if respectfully invited—be unwilling to meet his constituents in public meeting assembled, and to dilate unto them upon political or local affairs, as far as the events of the session might justify him in so doing. This has now either been done, or is being done, by representatives of constituencies in other parts of the colony; and, with all respect to the bulk or the accuracy of ™» ports in MansarJ;, ,/neir speeches, as a mis, convey vastly more information as to the conflicts of the session and their results, than a reader of ordinary intelligence would be able to gather from all the Blue Books that could possibly be published. Without wishing to impose upon Mr Gallagher any duties extraneous to his duties in the House, or without desiring that the electors should be otherwise than welldisposed and friendly towards their member at any interview which might be arranged, we think such an interview might be arranged without detriment either to the representative or the represented. So far from such an interview being detrimental, it might prove to be productive of advantage to both, altogether apart from any indirect advantage it might have in awakening to a keener condition of political intelligence and interest the community which Mr Gallagher has now the honor to represent.