The republic., 1851-10-29


would be the case if Cuba were obtained. Be
sides, there are other considerations which
would wholly prevent the British government
from venturing upon such an experiment.
The Gold Discoveries OF Australia-British
Colonial Policy.
The tidings from the aurlferous region of
Australia continue to present wonders as great
as those which startled mems minds at the
outset of the California discoveries; and the
results upon the social organization of the col
ony are the same. Credible accounts concur
in describing the earnings of the miners as ave-
raging from three to five dollars day, clear of
all expenses for living. These are not insig-
nifcant, if we can form an opinion from the
fact that, in the gold district, flour is quoted at
$500 per ton, and that other necessaries are
in proportion. The rush of eager hunters
after wealth continues from all the towns;
and the intelligence having penetrated into
the deep solitude of the bush, is producing
the desertion of the laborers engaged in
pastoral pursuits, and the neglect of all the
ordinary avocations of the farmer This cir
cumstance is ruinous to the whole race of flock
owners, who have hitherto been the million
aires of the country. Their immense fiocks,
left by the shepherds to be devoured by wild
dogs, are being killed by thousands, and boiled
down for tallow. Many proprietors, it is stated /,
have been compelled to dispose of twenty thou
sand sheep in this way. AS wool has hitherto
been the great staple of the colony-the main
reliance of the majority of settlers, and an art-
Gle on which merchants have been accustomed
to make large advances-there,ar not wanting
writer's who draw gloomy pictures of the ruin
which will in their Judgment follow this infrac-
tion of the ordinary course of affairs.
The authorities Of the parent country are be-
ginning to be uneasy at the possible result of
all these things. They hear of the departure
of experienced miners from Calfornia-they
witness the freiglffng of fleets of emigrant
ships from their own ports, bound for the new
FL Dorado--and they cannot forget the fact
that Sydney. and other places on the Austria
lan continent, are replete with roguery and
rufianism of every degree, ready at few
days. notice to be transferred to the "diggings"
| The London journals speculate on these points,
and on the probability they present of social de-
rangement, and they are urging upon the Sec
retary for the Colonies the dnty of Immediately
sending out large reinforcements of troops to
enforce the governors proclamations, and TO
strengthen the various garrsons, which are in
danger of being deserted. 1t is thought that
Earl GREY will comply with the appeal, al
though at direct variance with the present CO
lonial policy of Britain, which has insisted
upon the necessity of reduction in the militia
ry expenditure of the colonies, and has thrown
upon the coonsts the alternative of dispensing
with troops or of paying for them.
1t may be assumed that the latter alternative
will be accepted, so far as it may be necessary
to maintain social order. But the question
most worthy of consideration is, whether the
colonists will pay for troops to enforce the gov
ernor's orders as against themselves, and whe-
ther they will submit 10 those orders, though
backed by imperial bayonets? 1t may be re-
membered that, by law acknowledged by
| Britain and other old nations, "royaties," OF
per ceGtage on all minerals found in the earth
have been vigorously eyacted The system
originated in feudal times, and might be then
very good as an acknowledgment of suzerainty
in the king, baron, or lord Of the manor; il
is in operation at this day in England, where all
minerals pay this feuda impost; it is there
regarded as a time honored custom, and is held
to be as essential to the maintenance of the
! constitution as the national debt. In this coun-
| try, however, and in all new countries, such
claim is deemed ridiculous, and could not be
enforced Will the people of New South
! Wales submit TO lis Introduction there The
governor, we know, has proclaimed his inten-
| tion 10 enforce the right, but what is he TO dc
if his troops desert their posts, and if-as il
most likely--the people at the dlggings refuse
to pay the required per centage7 The Sydney
gentry will hardly hesitate to break law
which cannot be enforced and the immigrant,
from California can scarcely be expected to
| reverence tax unjust in itself, and quite con-
trary to all their notions of working peoples
rights.
Apart from all the causes Of trouble and de-
rangement flowing out of the sudden change
in the current Of labor, this question of "roy-
alties" may be expected to furnish no little
difficulty If the imperial government aban-
don the claim, they give up what in England
has been, and still is, regarded as neces
sary part of the monarchIcal system. II they
attempt to enforce it, the squabble already GO
ing on between the colony and the mother
country will be greatly aggravated, and will
assuredly lead to their final separation.
The London Nautical Standard speculstes
boldly on this point. It says: