CHAPTER XXV.
ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
SYNOPSIS:— Qualification of Electors. —Rev. Dr. Lang. —His Religious Fanaticism. —The First District Election. —The Candidates. —The First Melbourne Election. —Party War Cries. —"Orange" and "Green." —Condell's Beer "Boycotted." —Judge Willis a Political Canvasser. —"See the Conquering Hero Comes." —The Polling Day. —Mayor Condell First Parliamentary Member. —Curr's Defeat. —Major St. John, Suaviter in modo, et Fortiter in re. —The "Riot Act" Read. —"Light-weight Davey." —Attack on the Imperial Inn. —Greene's Auction Mart Cannonaded. —The Mob Fired On. —Greene's Apprehension. —Greene, Greenaway and Martin, Discharged from Custody. —Mr. Edward Curr's Sectarianism. —Condell's Resignation. —Mr. Joseph Phelps Robinson his Successor. —Resignation of Messrs. Ebden and Thomson. —Election of Sir Thomas Mitchell and Mr. Adolphus William Young. —Resignation of Sir Thomas Mitchell. — Mr. Benjamin Boyd his Successor. —Resignation of Messrs. Walker and Young. —Captain O'Connell and Mr. T.E. Boyd their Successors. —Mr. Benjamin Boyd Resigns his Seat. —Mr. Edward Curr's Election. —Mr. T. E. Boyd Resigns his Seat. —Mr. E.J. Brewster's Return. —Mr. Edward Curr's Resignation. —Election of Mr. John Leslie Foster. —Resignation of Dr. Lang. —Mr. John Moore Airey's Election. —Mr. Brewster's Resignation. —Election of Mr. C. H. Ebden. —The General Elections of July, 1848. —A Political Coup de Maitre. —Memorial to the Secretary of State. —Election of Earl Grey as Member for Melbourne. —The Duke of Wellington, Lord Brougham, Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston, and Sir Robert Peel, Nominated for the District. —Election of Messrs. McKinnon, Williamson, Dixon, Palmer, and Curr. —Mr. Williamson's Resignation in 1849. —Mr. William McArthur his Successor. —Nomination and Defeat of the Duke of Wellington. —Mr. Edward Curr's Resignation. —Mr. J. L. Foster his Successor. —Dr. Palmer's Resignation. —Mr. Henry Moor Succeeds to the Vacancy. —Mr. McKinnon's Resignation. —The "Iron Duke" again Defeated. —Mr. McKinnon Re-elected, 1849. —Messrs. Foster and McKinnon's Resignations in 1850. —Election of Messrs. Ebden and Mercer. —Resignation of Earl Grey. —Election of Mr. William Westgarth.
THE colony of New South Wales (including, of course, the district of Port Phillip) was governed by a Nominee Council until the enactment 5 and 6 Vict, C. 76 (30th July, 1842), when the first concession of anything approaching Representative Government was granted. By this it was ordained that a Legislative Council should be constituted, consisting of 36 members — 24 to be elective, and 12 nominated by the Crown. Of the former, Port Phillip was to return a fourth, i.e., one for the town of Melbourne, and five for the district. The qualification of electors was an estate of freehold in possession, of lands or tenements in own right within the district for which the vote was given, of the clear value of £200 at least, above all charges and incumbrances; or a householder occupying a dwelling of a clear annual value of £20 at least; the voter to be 21 years of age, either a natural born subject, or naturalized, or the holder of letters of denizenship according to law, and an occupier for six months prior to issue of the writ of election; but persons attainted or convicted of treason, felony or infamous offence, could not vote unless pardoned or had undergone sentence or punishment. No person was eligible to serve as a member unless a subject or naturalized, 21 years old, and possessing for his own use and benefit freehold estate in New South Wales, of lands or tenements, of the yearly value of £100 , or worth £2000, above all charges and incumbrances. The Council was to continue for five years; but the Governor had power to dissolve it sooner. The Act came into operation in 1843, and the people grew excited over the novelty, and determined that the first elections, at all events, should be carried on with no lack of public spirit. As a consequence there was a great deal of preliminary agitation and canvassing. Election meetings were held, money was melted, liquor drank, and bad blood engendered. It was announced that the Reverend Dr. Lang was coming from Sydney to offer himself as a candidate; and this intensified the excitement, because of his past writing and speaking against, and his extremely intolerant views respecting, the Irish Roman Catholics. A Papist was Dr. Lang's earthly abomination, and the mere name of one of that benighted creed had much the same quieting effect upon him as the shaking of a red
