Why Sir Charles Hotham would have at once
to appoint another Resident Commissioner in my place!" and concluded
with the eternal cant of all silver and gold lace, "I have a dooty to perform,
I know my duty, I must 'nolens volens' adhere to it."
In vain Mr. Black entered the pathetic; and expostulated with the Commissioner,
who had it in his power to prevent bloodshed.
Mr. Rede: "It is all nonsense to make me believe that the present agitation
is intended solely to abolish the licence. Do you really wish
to make me believe that the diggers of Ballaarat won't pay any longer
two pounds for three months? The licence is a mere cloak to cover
a democratic revolution."
Mr. Black acknowledged that the licence fee, and especially the disreputable
mode of collecting it at the point of the bayonet, were not the only grievances
the diggers complained of. They wanted to be represented in the
Legislative Council; they wanted to 'unlock the lands.'
Carboni Raffaello, who had yet not opened his mouth, said: "Mr. Rede,
I beg you would allow me to state, that the immediate object of the diggers
taking up arms, was to resist any further licence-hunting. I speak
for the foreign diggers whom I here represent.
