ABSTRACT
A public meeting at Adelaide was equally critical of the federal scheme-mainly, it appears, from fear of the convict taint and dislike of things American:1 but it strongly condemned the Upper Chamber of life nominees proposed by the nominee Legislative Council. The most noteworthy of all its resolutions, however, is the first, which commended the Bill as being in general 'a wise, liberal, and comprehensive measure'. 2
Long before Lord Grey had received this rare bouquet, the Bill had been introduced into Parliament again (8 February 1850), with a flourish of trumpets and a speech from Lord John Russell himself upon the general principles of colonial policy.3 The new Bill was in the main a replica of the old, the changes made in the course of the previous session being retained. It was however provided, to meet a criticism of Stanley, that the federal clauses should only apply to colonies that actually presented Addresses asking for the establishment of a General Assembly or, subsequently, for representation therein. As for the tariff, that was in the meantime left to the several colonial legislatures, except that discriminating duties were prohibited.
