Page:A colonial autocracy, New South Wales under Governor Macquarie, 1810-1821.djvu/115

 ipso facto, on summary conviction before one magistrate on the oath of one credible witness, and even then would be liable to proceedings in the Criminal Court. The Proclamation ended with special provisions against unlawful combinations in restriction of the currency.

The Governor thus exercised complete control over all public discussion. No newspaper was printed except the official Gazette; the Government owned the only printing-press, and no meeting could take place without the Governor's consent, nor continue in session in the face of his prohibition. His official representative occupied the chair at all meetings. In fact it was the Governor who decided whether his Government should be criticised, and when, and by whom. Thus unfavourable criticism—which is healthy criticism—was choked and confined, and dissatisfaction found its only outlet in "midnight cabals" and factious resistance.