The New York herald., 1864-11-10

United States, and George B. Mcclellan ID still
. major general in the United States Army,
brave, trus ~ and loyal soldier.
Another Engiish Colonial auddls- The
Australian ARitsstea.
Australia is one Of the greatest possessions
of the British crown. Its northern shores are
about ten degrees south Of the equator, and Its
southern thirty degrees. Its breadth is thirty
eight degrees of east longitude In miles 1t is
estimated to be two thousand four hundred in
length and In breadth two thousand. 1t there
fore has continental proportions. It's colonial
divisions at present are Western Australia,
North Australia, South Australia, New South
Wales, Queensland and Victoria, which faces
Tasmania or Van Diemsn's Land, and is sepa-
rated from it by Bass Strait.
The local governments are carried on by
governors appointed in England, and councils
and legislative assemblies, or parlisments. Uni
versal suffrage prevails, aud the ballot is in use
at elections. The prevalent tendency of the
people is towards radical democracy, with
strong party, however, of more moderate
feeling. The late Duke Of Newcastle, at the
Australian anniversary dinner in London, 1862,
said Of it.. when reviewing its political condi-
tion, I'VE have now no discontentsd colonies"
Before his death he had reason to change his
opinion, especially Of Australia. These colo
nies have fourshed owing to their great mine
raj wealth, and have already large popula-
ton and some fourishing and beautiful cities
The population has principally been in
creased in numbers by the constant introduo-
tion Of convicts from the mother country-a
system which, from the first was much depre-
Gated by the most eminent British writers, and
which is at length producing very serious diff
culties. Our latest advices are that majority
Of the colonies in Australia have become furious
ly irritated by the continuance of this trans
portation OF criminals to their country. The
Inhabitants of Victoria declare ''it is better to
be shot" "a singular alternative, we confess)
than to submit any longer to sthe practice. AS
these convicts are usually landed in Western Aus
tralia, which is least advanced, and where there
is more need Of labor than in the other colonies,
it Is proposed by the latter to proclaim non-in-
tercourse with it, the discontnuance Of the
present postal connections, and to withdraw
their subsidy (about slsO,OOO) from the line of
steamers. The Secretary Of the Colony OF Vic
toria has informed the government at home
that, as it is deaf to the remonstrances of the
Australians, it now only remains for them "to
act" The Australian press is warm and in
dignant on the subject, and very late official
despatch from Melbourne to the British Colo
nial Secretary is considered in England as ian
informal declaration Of Independence" There
being NO federation of the colonies in Austria
lia, the particular action Of Victoria and the
other demonstrators is considered by the home
authorities not only reprehensible, but officious
and impertinent For the other colonies to
unto in deprving Western Australia of her po-
litical and commercial connec tions is declared
to be in contempt Of their obligations to the
British Crown.
Be ibis as 1t may, the government has either
to give up the transportation Of convicts to
Australia or loose the colonies there. These
find that their security and prosperity are en-
dangered by the presence of so many thousand
criminals. Public mora ais are corrupted, crime
Is on the increase. Juries no longer convict
being made up Of tho dangerous classes; JUS
tce is not administered. the public offices are
falling into unfit hands, property and life are
insecure, and society is in danger Of dropping
to pieces. The Australians have, therefore
resolved to put an end to these disorders, or
put an end to the authority Of the imperial
Parliament; and the British Ministry, in despair
at the difficulties it is continually having in
that part Of the world, appears ready and will
ing to let them 60. India, which has no legis-
lation of its own, and Is strictly under govern
ment control, brings more money into the
British treasury than all the other colonial
possessions, and will be held where it is; but
the dependencies in Asia and North America
are told they may take themselves of when
ever they like, "and good riddance." Aus.
tralia and the Cauadas are both In the cate
CORY Of costing their mistress "more than they
come to-" and the best thing they can both d %
is to quietly take their departure before they
are thrust out Of doors.
The truth Is that very large distant colonies,
with any legislative freedom and material
strength are better able to walk alone than to
lean on any old friend who requires crutches
himself.
The DEFEAT OF FERNANDO WooD.-Ths crush
ing defeat Of Fernando Wood In tho Ninth
Congressional District extinguishes the copper
heads in this city. It also extinguishes Mr..
Wood Brother Ben.'s organ, the Daily Ne,os,
has nothing to say about this defeat Indeed,
it has nothing to say about the elections ren.