PRESENT CRISIS OF THE COLONY. The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 8, 26 July 1845, Page 2

PRESENT CRISIS OF THE COLONY.

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends, thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

" Coming Events cast their shadows before." — The truth of this adage is confirmed by universal experience : and however unwilling we are to give implicit credence to all the r umours which common fame publishes concerning the intended policy of Government, in the present critical epoch of our history as a Colony, yet we cannot wholly assume an indifference which we do not. feel, and an incredulity which may prove fallacious. We have hitherto endeavoured, and we trust always shall be careful to avoid the absurd and unprofitable practice of indiscriminately condemning all the acts of the Local Government as mischievous, and puerile. Scurrilous invective, and lavish abuse will never promote the public good. Such a course is, in our estimation, a gross perversion of talent, and subversive of the end which every journalist should keep in view : the correction of abuses — the direction of public opinion — and the general improvement of society at large. We have been designated " the organ of Government," and perhaps the foregoing remarks may strengthen the supposition that such allegation is true : — so be it ; we are perfectly indifferent on this subject, and should consider it a waste of time to attempt to disprove it : the best answer we can give to such a charge is, — by our conformity to our motto we will be judged. We have already alluded to the fact, that rumours of the intended policy of Government are rife, and we would again disavow any implicit confidence in such rumours ; nevertheless, as these may perhaps be the " shadows " dimly pourtraying the yet unrevealed substance ■ — we may be allowed to assume them authentic, and upon that presumption, calmly and dispassionately canvass the merits of a policy, supposed to be contemplated. Tt is currently reported that Government considers the rebellion crushed, and that, consequently, arrangements will be made for the abandonment of further hostile measures. We would ask— is this repoit correct ? And, if so, — upon what data is the opinion, that the rebellion is crushed, founded ? These are important queries; and we think, that public confideW* should be preserved unshaken, by a full disclosm-e on the part of the Government of their intended |iroceedings. Let us now take it for granted that the Government entertain the opinion that the rebellion is crushed, and examine the grounds of such belief. Surely the evacuation of their pah by the rebels, will not be considered sufficient proof that the spirit of disaffection is quelled ! Had this retreat been the consequence of a decided advantage gained by the military, the fact

might be admitted as probable, though not, even then, certain ; but when this movement is eflbcte'd after ;v victory,— for, however we may represent the attempts to carry the pah by assault, the universally received opinion among the Natives, will be, that our troops were signally defeated. To suppose then, for one moment, under such: circumstances, that the insurrection is suppressed, betrays an al-, most inconceivable ignorance of the native character, and will, if acted upon, induce a system of supineness and false security in the Executive, which will only be aroused by the startling explosion of some future outbreak of rebellious violence, more destructive to the i prosperity, and more hopelessly repugnant to the ultimate peace of the Colony, than any of the preceding acts of daring destruction which have, up to this period, characterized our "strange eventful history." [ We are assured, moreover, on good authority that the building of the pah to which the, rebels, have now retired, was planned and commenced long before the assault of .our troops, and that the evacuation of the one now destroyed was only delayed, until that a.t Ikorangi was complete, and would have taken place, even though no assault had been made ; therefore, we cannot ascribe this flight, solely, to the impression made by the bravery of our daring, thouglii unsuccessful soldiers : it may have been accelerated, but has not been occasioned by our attack. We, therefore, de precate the fallacious , notion of the rebellion being crushed ; and we solemnly warn the authorities against the adoption of such an idea, from whatever source it may originate, or by whomsoever it may be supported. Conclusions, to be sound, must be founded upon sure premises ; and we are confident that, in the present case, the hope of a final cessation of hostilities, on the part of the insurgents, if indulged, will be eventually found resting on a false basis. If the preceding remarks should be allowed, by our rulers, to have due influence in their deliberations, and lead them to the adoption of such measures as will effectually disprove the rumour which we ,have been presuming to correct, there will be no necessity to dilate upon' the impolicy of abandoning hostile proceedings, — -for a negation of the idea of the rebellion being crushed would imply the continuance of active operations, when such prudent arrangements have been made as will warrant the expectation of .success : on the otlier hand, if the absurd notion that the rebels are tired of their rebellion, and that they will gradually disperse to resume their ordinary peaceful occupations, be received and acted upon, we should be wanting in our duty to the public, to the" vigilant oversight of the safety of our domestic and foreign relations as a Colony, and to the Government itself, if we refrained from recording our honest convictions of the dangerous consequences of such an opinion, and such a policy. Abandon active operations! — and thereby set our seal of authenticity to the vaunting assertions of the Natives throughout the Island, that we are incapable of contending with Native prowess ! — Impossible ! Folly itself could not sanction, nor the veriest weakness excuse, such a blind and self- destructive couise of conduct. We have heard much of the t( insurmountable difficulties" attendant upon military movements in New Zealand, and we are quite ready to give every due consideration to statements which are obviously true ; but we ask, are the necessary privations, and unavoidable difficulties, inseparable from active service in this country, to be advanced as sufficient apology for absolute and permanent inertion, while a whole Colony is tottering on the brink of an unfathomable precipice ? Such reasoning may pass current with some people, but we are persuaded that it will not find advocates amongst our veteran officers, nor amongst the ranks of our gallant privates, who are thirsting for an opportunity of avenging their loss, and establishing, beyond contradiction, their invincible superiority to the rebel foe. We are not ignorant of the native character — far from it ; and we are satisfied, both from our own observation, as well as from authentic sources of information, that as yet no impression has been made upon the Natives, excepting that which has been unfavorable to our interests. Our boasted power is now openly derided, and it only needs the retreat of our troops, and an entire cessation of hostilities on our part, to rivet the conviction that we are a discomfited people, and to weaken the few ! remaining ties which bind the loyal Natives — both those who have been actively engaged on our behalf, and those who, inhabiting other districts of the Colony, may be called passive, to our interests. We may not be believed : nevertheless we aro determined to place our decided opinion upon record, — and happy shall we be, if the future acts of our Government, or tlic developement of future events, prove it erroneous. If the policy, upon which we have been animadverting, is adopted — the prosperous and peaceful days of New Zealand are numbered ! The rebels will thank us for the breathing space allowed them for the recovery of their energies, and, when prepared, will reerect the standard of revolt, with enlarged resources, and purchased experience, for carrying out, more vigorously than ever, their revolutionary designs.