Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-06


The events which are now in progress in Austria
la are fraug'It with more than ordinary Interest,"
The gold discoveries have been followed by large |
accession to the population, and from class of eo
pie distinguished for their activity enterprise and
intelligence With increase of population the ma
terial progress OF the country has been greatly pro-
NOTED. Wealth has been created rapidly COM
/ merce has been expanded, social habits have been
unsettled, new interests, diversified those of
older provinces have been created, and as matter
OF necessity, a legislative policy is demanded, which
involves important changes in the political structure
OF the government The cd colonial admins ration
have managed affairs to produce great popular
discomfort Worthless and incompetent men have
been appointed to enforce the laws. These haveac
ted almost unrestrAinedy; in soIn9 instances
through iavoritSIn allowing the greatest axity in
the laws, an IN others enforcing them in a way the
most preudical possible to the general interests
Neither do the local legislatures represent the opin-
ions OF the people being actually, from the way
some OF the electoral districts are arranged as in
Victoria the representatives of only one per cent
! OF the population The failure of the Colonial OG-
hce to devise constitutions suitable to the wants and
agreeable TO the wishes of the colonies caused the
adoption OF another plan-that of leaving it to the
colonies to make constitutions for themselves; the
! experiment has not resulted as favorably as ex-
| pected.
The resident government officials in the different
colonies have contrivedto get the ascendency, and
| the proposed new constitution IN South Australia
! provides for legislature composed of two cham
bers; the lower Of which shall be elective while the
upper house, corresponding to the English house Of
! Lords, is TO consist Of members nominated by the
executive. In New South Wales, the committee
not only recommend that the upper house shall be
nominated but propose the creation of titled he
redtary aristocracy which shall possess the right OF
| being summoned to the upper house, without NOM
ination by the crown election by the people That
twenty Of the first created Peers and their descen-
dants after them, shall possess for life in the
upper house, and that when the number of persons
to whom the titles shall be given descended ex-
ceeds fifty, the legislative Council as nominated by
the Governor, shall cease and new one be formed
| from the order of hereditary nobility who are to
m et and elect twenty Of their body who, with the
original patentees sitting in virtue Of their creation
are to compose the council The committee say
they have no wish to 'sow the seeds of the future
democracy, and do not feel inclined to hazard the
| experiment Of an upper house based on general
| elective franchise. Such franchise, once created
will be difficult to recall.
This proposition has been received with shout
Of derision by the inhabitants of New South Wales
| who have already nicknamed the proposed titled
and hereditary branch Of the government as the
"Botany Bay Peerage" deriving its noble descent
from the elons and outcasts Of the mother country
Out of this state of feeling have arisen two antago
nstlc forces the strong popular tendencies one
side and the utterly irresponsible nature of the gov
eminent on the other. These gradually ap-
preaching each other and the contact must produce
disturbances. The issue to which of them shall pre-
vail for upon that fact depends the future political
condition Of Australia From the tone of feeling
in both Australia and England, it is evident that
the project of hereditary aristocracy is regarded
with distavor in both countries. One looks upon it
insolent attempt to abridge the rigE IS and
liberties Of the people, and the aristocrdcy of Eng
land regard it as a ridiculous caricature of itself
At Bendigo the miners the point of resis-
lance to the Government ustifyng their position
by the democratic principle, that they will not sub
NIT TO taxation without representation prlnci-
pie, the maintenance Of which, caused the indie
pendence of the American colonies in 1776. The
British Government has exacted a license fee of
thirty shillngs per month from every digger in the
colony. The fee or fine has been enforced with
great rgor, the revenue police having, in many in
stances levied upon the miners goods and tools for
payment. The diggers have, in public meeting, re-
solved not to pay the tax, they were not repre-
scented in the Legislature Governor La Trobe re-
fused 20 receive interpolation from the meeting al
eging that the American settlers had nstigated the
! movement.
The miners have armed themselves. and resolved
to tender a ten shilings' Fee by way of compro-
mise, and that should it be refused no licenses
whatsoever should I'D taken out, and every tent on
the god-feld should bear an inscription to that eff
! feet As the Governor threatens them force a COL
lison is probable PHILADELPHIA Ledger