An official meeting on the 5^th December in support of Lieutenant Governor Hotham was taken over and resolutions were passed condemning the Government and calling for the immediate dismissal of Colonial Secretary Foster. On the same day the Legislative Council met and passed a motion, unanimously, approving the conduct of the troops.

On the 6^th December a meeting of 6,000 gathered at St Paul’s Church and protested the actions of the government and the Ballarat authorities. The attack by the troops was described as illegal and murderous. One speaker described the day (6^th December) as a ‘proud day for Victoria …the beginning of the history of the colony’. This meeting marked the emergence, at last, of the popular democratic movement. Hotham had placed 300 police, 100  gaol warders, 100 volunteers and all available marines in neighbouring streets and government buildings in case of riots.

Meanwhile the diggers were seething with resentment.

At the trial for treason on 23 February, the jury of Melbourne citizens, acquitted all the diggers and they became popular heroes. Before long the licence fee was abolished and diggers were given the vote.