Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/35

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14
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

"We would respectfully urge that this colony is not in a position to recede from the policy it has adopted. It does not insist that other colonies should be guided by its political views; and we submit to your Majesty that it is unreasonable to delay our enfranchisement until other colonies have had afforded to them by the Imperial Government an opportunity of changing constitutions based on more narrow principles, if they have chosen such for themselves.

"In the rapid, unprecedented, and continuous growth of Victoria, nothing is more required than a vigorous Government Such a Government can only be permanently secured by a full and free representation of all classes; and we would earnestly urge on your Majesty's consideration, that it is at once impolitic and unfair to the Government and to the existing Legislature of this colony to leave us longer in the state of abeyance in which we are now placed—inasmuch as, by the Bill alluded to, we have, in fact, declared to the people of this colony that the present system of representation is imperfect; and it may naturally be urged against us, that we are thus without the full measure of confidence which it is most essential to the advancement of tranquillity of any country should be felt by all classes of the people in the Legislature and Executive Government.

"If, therefore, it should seem good to your Majesty to remit, for further consideration, any of the pro-