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of the unworthy imputations and disrespect shown-those I could afford to disregard-but that such a letter should come to me from men with whom I have been, as I have said, on such friendly relations up to this, the end of my career, That causes me very great pain indeed, and I felt surprise as well as pain, that the letter should have come from any members of a community which I have served to the best of my abilities for the last three years. As I said before, I cannot believe that you, or that all of you, when you signed this, considered the effect of a great many of these words, and would have addressed to me a letter, to me above all others, to whom you have yourselves hitherto used strong terms of consideration and respect. You have addressed a letter not only disrespectful, absolutely disrespectful in many passages, but containing in it not one single word indicative of respect from beginning to end. It was matter of surprise to me that you should address such a letter to Her Majesty's representative at all, and as I said before, I cannot believe that you entirely thought of the effect of your words. If this letter is withdrawn, I shall be most anxious to do anything in my power to bring about that harmony which before existed, though it is scarcely possible to believe that any person who could write such a letter as this would be conciliated by anything I could do, nor do I feel as regards the writer, whether he is one of you or not, that I have any great desire to conciliate him. I am certain, however, that some of you could not have thought of the effect of your words, and I sincerely trust that you will take this opportunity of withdrawing them. Whether disrespect was intended or not, I am happy to believe that in this matter at all events, you do not represent the community. It is only a year ago that on leaving the colony, I received universal expressions of regard from the whole colony, yourselves included, and I can conscientiously say that I have done nothing since to justify any loss of that respect.
I am glad to know that I have not forfeited the respect of the colony. Had I any doubt on the subject, the numerous and touching communications I have received since the news of my approaching departure became known would dispel any such doubt. Moreover, I had every reason to believe that I had your respect also until the rise of this unfortunate question of military contribution. Now, had I been a more time-server, it would have been an exceedingly easy thing for me to have simply passed this vote as instructed without my allowing the public to suppose that I approved of it. In that case, I was perfectly aware that I should retain my popularity. I had, moreover, special temptations to take such a course, seeing that my career was almost finished, and that I should thereby have avoided an imputation of inconsistency; but unfortunately, honesty would not allow of such a course.
In the last colony I was in, Newfoundland, when I believed the interests of the colonists were seriously threatened, I did not hesitate to use to Her Majesty's Government on their behalf language which it was commonly supposed would have caused my being recalled from my office. I said to Her Majesty's Government with reference to their deliberately and frequently expressed policy of twenty years that now that I had put the whole case before them, I trusted that the vital interests of two hundred thousand British subjects would no longer be disregarded out of deference to the susceptibilities of any foreign Power. That was the course I took when I believed the colonists to be in the right. Her Majesty's Government were generous, however, and having become convinced of the reasonableness of the policy I recommended, so far from recalling me, promoted me to the Governorship of this colony.
That, gentlemen, is the part I took at a time when my career was very far from ended. Now, when my career is about to close, when I have nothing further to expect from Her Majesty's Government except what must come in due course in any case, I need hardly point out that I have special inducements to take a popular course with regard to this colony. But when I came to consider the whole facts contained in the Secretary of State's despatches, apart from the unfortunate promise made, and when I came to consider other facts which were put before me, such as the enormous extent to which the British subject within England is taxed in excess of what you are taxed here, I felt I could only take the course I have done and recommend that you should pay a very considerably larger proportion for your defence. I took what was the only honest course to take when I had deliberately come to that conclusion.
I know that it would be an unpopular course and would probably cause that ill-feeling that has embittered the last days of my career. But I do not regret it. I do not regret it in the slightest degree, because whatever momentary unpopularity I may have gained, when that course comes to be looked upon in the right light, when it comes to be looked upon calmly, I know that I shall not lose one iota of the respect of the colony.
And now, gentlemen, I have, as I said, invited you here to-day to consider whether you will withdraw this letter. If you do not do so, I shall of course deeply regret—I say deeply regret—that the friendly relations, the extremely friendly relations, that have existed hitherto, should come to an end. But in a career like mine, one learns to bear all pain of this kind with equanimity. I shall in this case at all events feel that I had done my best to avoid such, and I feel quite certain, as I said before, that when all the facts are known and considered, I shall be justified by public opinion, I mean the opinion of those whose judgment I value.
If you do not withdraw the letter, or if you do not entirely withdraw it, so alter it as to make it unobjectionable—I shall, while regretting the rupture henceforward of all friendly relations, accept the situation, and shall do my best in the few days remaining to me to see that the rupture created causes as little harm as possible to the colony. It has already caused some harm, because it has necessitated the devotion of time which might have been much better employed. And I cannot expect that the heavy pressure of work which is now upon me, coupled with failing health, can do otherwise than preclude me from doing much that I intended, or cause mistakes both of omission and commission, that under happier auspices might possibly have been avoided. But at all events, the good feeling of the community in such cases will attribute my defects to their true cause, and I shall go away, whether popular or not, I care not in the least, but with the full respect of a community to which I have honestly and strenuously devoted the best efforts of my failing strength and ability.
Now, gentlemen, you may like to say something, and I should be glad if you could agree to some immediate course.
Mr. YET? heula Dts in Parlett that you have not touched on the latter part of the letter written by you to the unofficial members. It was a most inconsiderate letter. It was not a letter that should have been addressed to them at all. I dare say you have a copy of it somewhere, and I should like to be read.
HIS EXCELLENCY—If it appeared inconsiderate, it was certainly not intended to be so. It was a deliberate expression of opinion. However you might object to that opinion, I see nothing objectionable in the form of conveying it. If it was so, I must bear the discredit. But in any case, it is inconceivable that any possible view of it could justify the letter you have written. However, it must remain. Perhaps I had better retire while you consider.
Hon. P. RYRIE—I do not think we can come to any conclusion at once. We did not know the object of the meeting when we received the notice. The unofficial members would like to confer together.
HIS EXCELLENCY—Very well.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—Let me assure your Excellency that nothing was further from our intention when that letter was written than to be disrespectful.
HIS EXCELLENCY—I am very glad to hear the avowal. I can only suppose that you could not have considered your words. Litera scripta manet. I am very glad to hear anything of the kind, but I must point out that this letter, whatever its intention, is gravely disrespectful—and I might use a stronger epithet and be fully justified in doing so. When such expressions are used, it is not sufficient to say they are not meant.
NO.
Hon. P. RYRIE—About the people at home being taxed—
HIS EXCELLENCY—That is a side issue. Do not bring it in. One word more. I know that...
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of the unworthy imputations and disrespect shown-those I could afford to disregard-but that such a letter should come to "me from men with whom I have been, as I have said, on such friendly relations up to this, the end of my career, That causes me very graat pain indeed, and I felt surprise as well as pain, that the letter should have come from any members of a community which I have served to the best of my abilities for the last three years. As I said before. I oxunot believe that you, or that all of you, when you signed this, considered the effect of a great many of these words, and would have addressed to me a letter, to wa above all others, to whom you have yourselves hitherto used strong torms of consideration and
mne You have addressed respect. letter not only disrespectful, absolutely dis respectful in many passages, but containing in it not one single word indicative of respect from beginning to end. It was matter of Bur. prise to me that you should address such Her Majesty's representa- tive at all, and as I said befors I cannot believe that you entirely thought of tha effect of your words. If this letter is with- drawn I shall be most auxious to do anything in my power to bring about that harmony which before existed, though it is scarcely possible to believe that any person who could write such a letter as this would be conciliated by anything I could do, nor do I feel as regards the writer, whether he is one of you or not, that I have any great desire to conciliate him. I am cer- tain, however, that some of you could not have thought of the effect of your words, and I siu- carely trust that you will take this oppor- tunity of withdrawing them. Whether disrespect was intended or not I am happy to believe that in this matter at all events you do not represent the community. It is only a year ago that on leaving the colony I received universal expressio s of regard from the whole colony, yourselves included, and I can conscien- tiously say that I have done nothing since to justify any loss of that respect. I am glad to know that I have not forfeited the respect of the colony. Had I any doubt on the subject the numerous and touching communi- cations I have received since the news of my approaching departure became known would dispel any such doubt. Moreover, I had every rea- son to believe that I had your respect also nutil the rise of this unfortunate greation of military contribution. Now, had I been a more time- server it would have been an exceedingly easy thing for me to have simply passed this vote as instructed without my allowing the public to suppose that I approved of it. In that case I was perfectly aware that I should retain my popularity. I had, moreover, special temp- tations to take such a course, seeing that my carrer was almost finished, and that I should there- by have avoided an imputation of inconsistency; but unfortunately honesty would not allow of such a course. In the last colony I was in, Newfoundland, when I believed the interests of the colonists were seriously threatened I did not hesitate to use to Her Majesty's Government on their behalf language which it was commonly sup- posed would have caused my being recalled froin my office. I said to Her Majesty's Government with reference to their deliberately and frequently expressed policy of twenty years that now that I had put the whole case before them I trusted that the vital interests of two hundred thousand British subjects would no longer bo disrogarded out of deference to the susceptibilities of suy forsign Power. That was the course I took when I believed the colonists to be in the right. Her Majesty's Government were generons, how- ever, and having become convinced of the rea- sonableness of the policy I recommended, so far from recalling me promoted me to the Gover- aorship of this colony. That gentlemen, is the part I took at a time when my career Was very far from "ended. Now when my career is about to close, whon I have nothing further to expect from Her Majesty's Govern. mont except what must come in due course in any case, I need hardly point out that I have special inducemouts to take a popular course with regard to this colony. But when I came to consider the whole facts contained in the Se- cretary of State's despatches, apart from the an fortunate promise mude, and when I came to con-
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Įsider other facts which were put before mo, such 596
as the enormous extent to which the British sub- ject within Englaud is taxed in excess of whatyou are taxed here, I felt I could only take the conrae I have done and recommend that you should pay a very considerably larger proportion for your defence. I took what was the only honest course to take when I had "doliberately come to that conclusion. I know that it would be au unpopuler course and would probably cause that ill-feeling that has embittered the last days of my career. But I do not regret it. I do not re- gret it in the slightest degree, because whatever momentary unpopularity I may have gained, when that course comes to be looked upon in the right light, when it comes to be looked upon cally, I know that I shall not lose one iota of the respect of the colony. And now, gentlemen, I have, as I have said, invited you here to-day to consider whether you will withdraw this let- ter. If you do not do so I shall of course deeply regret-I say deeply regret-that the friendly relatious, the extremely friendly rela- tious, that have existed bitherto, should cone to an end. But in a career like mine, one learns to bear all pain of this kind with equanimity. I shall in this case at all events tool that I had done my best to avoid such, and I feel quito certain, as I said before, that when all the facts are known sud considered I shall be justified by public opinion, I mean the opinion of those whose judgment I value. If you do not withdraw the letter or if you do not entirely withdraw it, so alter it as to make it unobjectionable-I shall, while regretting the ruptare hencefor- ward of all friendly relations, accept the situa- tion, and shall do my best in the few days remaining to me to see that the rupture created causes as little barm as possible to the colony, It has already caused some harm, because it has necessitated the devotion of time which might have been much better employed. nad I cannot expect that the heavy pressure of work which is now upon me coupled with failing health can do otherwise than precinde me from doing much that I intended or cause mistakes both of omis- sion and commission, that under happier auspices But at all might possibly have been avoided. events, the good feeling of the community in such cases will attribute my defects to their trae cause, and I shall go away, whether popular or not i care not in the least, but with the alt respect of a community to which I bare honestly and strenuously devoted the best efforts of my fail- ing strength and ability. Now, gentlemen, you may like to say something, and I should be glad if you could agros to soiste irymediatu poures,
Mas. YET! heula Dts in Panett that you have not touched on the latter writ
1t 4ou by you to the unofficial members. was a most inconsiderate lotter. It was not a letter that should have been addressed to thep at all. I dare say you have a copy of it somewhere, and I should like to be read.
HIS EXCELLENCE-If it appeared incon- siderate, it was certainly not intended to be so. It was a deliberate expression of opinion. However you might object to that opinion, I see nothing objectionable in the form of conveying it. If it WAS BO I must bear the discredit. But in any case it is inconceivable that any possible view of it could justify the letter you have written. However, it must remain. Per- haps I had better retire while you consider.
Hon. P. RYRIE--I do not think we can come to auy conclusion at once. We did not know the object of the meeting when we received the notice. The unofficial members would like the to confer together.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Very well.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Let me assure your Excellency that nothing was further from our int ation when that letter was written thun to be disrespectful.
His EXCELLENCY—I am very glad to bear the avowal, I can only suppose that you could not have considered your words. Litera scripta manet. I am very glad to hear anything of the kind, but I must point out that this letter, whatever its inten- tion is gravely disrespectful-and. I might use a stronger epithet and be fally justified in doing
When such expressions are used it is not i sufficient to say they are not meant.
NO.
Hon. P. RYRIE-About the people at home being taxed-
His EXCELLENCY-That is a side issue. Do not bring it in. One word more. I know
that
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