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ress　upon　the　mind　of　the　Lieutenant…Governor；　that　it　was　equally　true　that　the　majority　of　those　who　were　proud　of　being　British　subjects；　were　growing　tired　of　waiting　for　simple　justice。　And　if　the　executive　wish　to　secure　their　confidence　and　support；　they　must　give　better　evidence　of　their　good　intentions　of　making　better　laws；　or　laws　better　suited　to　the　wants　of　the　people；　and　securing　'equal　justice　to　all。'　　Their　recent　conduct　has　created　disaffection　amongst　the　ranks　of　the　best　disposed；　in　fact；　those　who　disapproved　of　the　resort　to　arms　on　the　part　of　the　diggers；　condemn　in　the　most　unqualified　manner　the　conduct　of　the　Ballaarat　officials　in　collecting　a　tax　（obnoxious　at　the　best）　at　the　bayonet's　point；　and　of　the　late　Colonial　Secretary；　who　could　unblushingly　write　to　Commissioner　Rede　（who　superintended　the　digger…hunt　on　the　30th　November；　and；　no　doubt；　counselled　the　Sunday　morning's　butchery）；　thanking　him　for　his　conduct　on　those　occasions！　And　that　if　His　Excellency　would　allow　us　to　strip　the　matter　of　its　official　colouring；　he　would　see　things　in　a　very　different　light　than　they　had　been　officially　represented。

That　an　amnesty　would　not　only　secure　the　confidence　of　the　people　in　the　Governor；　but　it　would　show　the　confidence　of　the　Governor　in　the　peopleit　would　be　looked　upon　as　a　proof　of　the　strength　and　vigour　of　the　British　constitution；　instead　of　weakness　in　those　that　administer　the　laws　under　its　guidance。

That　His　Excellency　could　well　afford　to　be　generous。

That；　in　asking　for　an　amnesty；　we　were　aware　it　was　asking　for　much；　and　what　a　statesman　should　not　do　without　due　deliberation。　　But　at　the　same　time；　we　submitted　we　did　not　ask　anything　inconsistent　with　the　true　interests　of　the　colony；　or　derogatory　to　the　dignity　and　honour　of　the　throne　itself。

That　a　general　amnesty　to　the　state　prisoners　would　tend　much　to　consolidate　the　power　of　the　British　government　in　this　colony；　and　show　that　the　representative　of　Majesty　here　can　afford　to　be　justto　be　generous；　with　the　full　confidence　that　such　an　act　would　meet　with　the　full　concurrence　of　the　Queen　of　England；　and　the　approbation　of　the　whole　British　empire。　　That　in　this　he　would　act　wiser　far　in　listening　to　the　voice　of　the　people　than　to　the　short…sighted　counsel　of　the　law…advisers　of　the　Crown。　　Humanity　has　higher　claims　than　the　mere　demands　and　formalities　of　human　law。

We　forbear　saying　all　that　might　be　said　as　to　the　spies　being　sent　from　the　Camp　to　enrol　themselves　amongst　the　insurgents；　and　who；　report　says；　urged　them　to　attack　the　Camp；　which　was　repudiated　by　the　diggersthey　saying　they　would　act　upon　the　defensive。

That　we　believed　the　enforcement　of　the　law　in　this　case　would　have　the　most　pernicious　effect；　not　only　upon　the　commerce　of　the　colony；　but　would　retard；　if　not　prevent；　the　accomplishment　of　those　schemes　of　reform　that　His　Excellency　had　promised。

That　if　he　valued　the　good　opinions　of　the　peoplethe　peace　and　prosperity　of　the　colony；　he　would　be　giving　the　best　evidence　of　it　by　granting　the　amnesty　we　prayed　for；　but　that；　if　His　Excellency　punished　these　men；　it　would　be　calling　into　existence　an　agitation　which　would；　we　feared；　end　in　civil　commotion；　if　not　in　the　disseverance　of　the　colony　from　the　mother　country。

That　we　thought　there　were　reasons　sufficiently　important　to　justify　an　amnesty；　on　the　grounds　of　state　policy　alone。

But　even　supposing　there　were　no　legitimate　grounds　for　an　amnesty；　and　that　the　government　have　been　right　in　all　that　they　have　donewhich　would　be　saying　what　facts　do　not　warrantsurely　the　slaughter　of　some　fifty　people　is　blood　enough　to　expiate　far　greater　crimes　than　the　diggers　of　Ballaarat　have　been　guilty　of；　without　seeking　the　lives　of　thirteen　more　victims。　　The　government　would　act　wisely　in　not　pursuing　so　suicidal　a　course。

His　Excellency　states；　in　his　written　reply；　that　the　diggers；　notwithstanding　his　promise　of　inquiry　into　all　their　grievances；　had　forestalled　all　inquiry。

On　this　head；　we　would　wish　to　remark；　that　the　fault　lies　at　the　door　of　the　government；　in　prostituting　the　military；　by　making　them　tax　collectors；　and　placing　them　at　the　disposal　of　a　few　vain　officials；　who　were　not　over…stocked　with　brains；　and　ignorant　of　the　functions　of　constitutional　government。　　But　one　fact　they　seemed　fully　sensible　of；　viz。：　　That　'Othello'　occupation　would　indeed　soon　'be　gone；'　and　they　were　determined　to　'crush　the　scoundrels'　who　dared　to　question　the　policy；　or　even　justice；　or　a　government　keeping　up　such　an　expensive　army　of　La　Trobian　idlers　as　strut　about　in　borrowed　plumes　with　all　the　insolence　of　office；　who；　in　fact；　have　proved　themselves；　with　a　few　honourable　exceptions；　fit　for　little　else　than　bringing　the　colony　into　debt；　creating　disaffection　amongst　the　people；　and　stamping　indelible　disgrace　upon　any　government　that　would　uphold　the　system　that　tolerates　them。　　One　of　these　'retiring'　gentlemen　stated　on　the　morning　of　the　famed　'digger…hunt'　of　the　30th　November；　in　reply　to　one　of　the　refractory　diggers：　〃If　you　do　not　pay　your　licences；　how　are　we　to　be　supported　at　the　Camp？〃　and　further；　〃There　are　some　disaffected　scoundrels　I　am　determine　to　arrest！〃　　To　crush！　for　what？　For　daring　to　refuse　to　pay　taxes　except　they　had　a　voice　in　the　expending　of　them　for　the　public　weal；　public　taxes　are　public　property。　　Some　of　these　'gentlemanly'　officials　made　use　of　language　on　the　occasion　alluded　to；　that　not　only　gave　evidence　of　considerable　malignity；　but　of　a　vulgarity　that　a　gentleman　would　scorn　to　use；　and　we　think　it　not　an　unfair　inference　to　draw　from　the　foregoing　facts；　that　the　digger…hunt　of　the　30th　of　November；　and　the　cruel　slaughter　of　the　3rd　December；　were　unmistakable　acts　of　petty　official　revenge；　and；　therefore；　instead　of　the　diggers　forestalling　the　Commission　of　Inquiry；　appointed　by　His　Excellency；　we　advisedly　say　it　was　Commissioner　Rede　and　Co。　who　forestalled　the　inquiry　by　endeavouring　to　crush　the　'500　scoundrels'　he　complained　ofa　scoundrel　in　that　gentleman's　estimation　seems　to　be　one　who　thinks　that　some　12　pounds　per　head　per　annum　is　rather　too　heavy　a　tax　for　an　Englishman　to　pay；　especially　if　used　in　supporting　men　so　unfit　for　office　as　he　has　proved　himself　to　be。　　This　gentleman　was　the　arch…rioter　of　the　30th　November；　in　this　we　are　confirmed　（if　confirmation　of　well…known　facts　were　needed）　by　the　verdict　of　acquittal　of　the　so　called　'Ballaarat　Rioters；'　partially　on　the　evidence　of　Mr。　Rede　himself。

In　the　latter　part　of　His　Excellency's　reply；　he　very　properly　lays　it　down　as　'the　duty　of　government　to　administer　equal　justice　to　all；'　which　is　no　doubt　the　noblest　principle　of　the　English　constitution；　and　we　certainly　have　no　fears　for　the　peace　of　even　colonial　society；　with　all　its　supposed　discordant　elements；　so　long　as　that　principle　is　practically　carried　out；　but　we　are　under　well　founded　apprehension　if　the　reverse　is　to　be　the　order　of　the　day。

There　is　a　paragraph　in　our　petition　to　the　effect；　that　if　'His　Excellency　had　found　sufficient　extenuation　in　the　conduct　of　American　citizens；'　we　thought　there　were　equally　good　grounds　for　extending　similar　clemency　to　all；　irrespective　of　nationality；　and　that　it　was　unbecoming　the　dignity　of　any　government　to　make　such　exceptions；　and　if　such　have　been　done　（and　that　something　tantamount　to　it　has　been　done；　there　is　ample　proof）；　it　is　a　violation　of　the　very　principle　enunciated　by　His　Excellency　in　his　report　viz。；　'That　it　is　the　duty　of　a　government　to　administer　equal　justice　to　all。'　　What　we　contend　for　is　this：If　it　be　just　to　grant　an　amnesty　to　a　citizen　of　one　country；　'equal　justice'　claims　an　amnesty　for　all。　We　wish　it　to　be　distinctly　understood　by　our　American　friends；　that　we　do　not　for　a　moment　find　fault　with　His　Excellency　for　allowing　their　countrymen　to　go　free；　but　we　do　complain；　in　sorrow；　that　he　does　not　display　the　same　liberality　to　othersthat　he　does　not　wisely　and　magnanimously　comply　with　the　prayer　of　our　petition　by　granting　a　general　amnesty。

But　is　is　stated　further　in　the　reply；　that　'no　exception　had　been　made　in　favour　of　any　person　against　whom　a　charge　was　preferred。'　　With　all　becoming　deference　to　His　Excellency；　we　think　this　does　not　meet　the　point。　　If　the　gentleman　were　innocent；　why　guarantee　him　against　arrest？　　And　if　his　friends　（and　we　give　them　credit　for　good　tact）　anticipated　the　'preferment　of　a　charge；'　it　does　not　create　any　special　grounds　for　an　amnesty　in　contradistinction　to　a　general　amnesty。

Again；　upon　whom　lies　the　onus　of　'preferring　charge？'　500　pounds　was　offered　for　Vern；　'DEAD　OR　ALIVE'　and　400　pounds　for　Lalor　and　Black；　and　yet　we　presume　there　was　no　charge；　or　charges；　'preferred'　against　them　any　more　than　the　gentleman　alluded　to。　　We　yet　trust　that　the　same　good　feeling　that　induced　His　Excellency　to　give　James　M‘Gill　his　liberty　will　increase　sufficiently　strong　to　unbar　the　prison…doors；　and　set　the　state　captives　free；　that　they　may　be　restored　to　their　homes；　their　sorrowing　families；　and　sympathising　countrymen。　　By　such　an　act；　the　Lieutenant…Governor　will　secure　the　peace　of　society；　and　the　respect　and　support　of　the　people；　and　be　carrying　out　the　glorious　principle　he　has　proclaimed　of　'Equal　Justice　to　All。'

J。　BASSON　HUMFFRAY；　C。　F。　NICHOLLS；　（of　Ballaarat。）　Melbourne；　23rd　January；　1855。




Chapter　LXXVI。



Quid　Sum　Miser；　Nunc　Dicturus。


At　Bacchus　Marsh　we　were　thrown　into　a　dark　lockup；　by　far　cleaner　than　the　lousy　one　of　Ballaarat。　　Captain　Thomas；　who　must　have　acknowledged　that　we　had　behaved　as　men；　sent　us　a　gallon　of　porter；　and　plenty　of　damper；　he　had　no　occasion　to　shoot　down　any　of　us。　　I　write　now　this　his　kindness　with　thanks。

At　last；　after　a　long；　long　day；　smothered　with　dust；　burning　with　thirst；　such　that　the　man　in　the　garb　of　a　digger　had　compassion　on　us；　and　shouted　a　welcome　glass　of　ale　to　all　of　uswe　arrived　before　the　Melbourne　gaol　at　eight　o'clock　at　night。

From　the　tender　mercies　of　our　troopers；　we　were　given　up　to　the　gentle　grasp　of　the　turnkeys。　　The　man　in　the　garb　of　a　digger　introduced　us　to　the　governor；　giving　such　a　go