Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 147, 27 October 1847, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sin,— ln a recent number of your valuable journa' you have done me the honor to Review a Pamphlet which I lately wrote in the native language, on the subject of War. 1 thank you ior the terms in which you have mentioned the work, and for the hint you have given relative to the "periodical assembly of native chiefs." I quite agree with you that my " illustratione, drawn from the British Parliament, &c, are not the best," and that " our Municipal Bodies or County Courts would have better illustrated my meaning ;" and if the little work should ever be required to pass through a second edition, that oversight shall be rectified. The error arose out of the rapidity with which I was obliged to write, and the want of subsequent opportunity to correctly M.S. The strain of the book throughout will, * however, effectually prevent" fcny" evil resulting from the error alluded to. But my object in writing to you now is to make known my decision on the important question, which, as you suggest, arises out of the fact, that, on the subject of the native's land, '* The book, and the doctrine put forth in the despatches (of Earl Grey), are in direct contradiction," and the question is as you express it— " How can he allow the continued distribution of his book, so long as those despatches containing such a doctrine are unrepudiated?" And with regard to my brethren of the Missionary Society, you ask " Hoiv can tliey safely distribute a book containing statements that may, at some future period, be contradicted by the acts of their own country ? I have deliberately considered this question, and shall at present, answer for myself only.jhoping however, soon to know, that my brethren think with me in this matter, and are willing to take their stand with me on ground which 1 think may be maintained. And I would observe, first— That long before the book was written, the assurances it contains of honourable conduct, on the part of our country, had been verbally given to the natives on every possible occasion, in every possible variety of form, and with every possible manifestation of sincerity on our part, both by myself and brethren. We were not all engaged in, recommending' the Chiefs to sign the Waitangi Treaty, but we have all given the assurances referred to, and «re all consequently involved. 2. We have given these assurances because we had " the highest possible authority in the Realm," for so doing, because we believed in the honesty of our beloved country, and because we saw that unless the fears and jealousies of ihe natives were quieted on this subject, the evils of rebellion would spread far and wide. But for these assurances, New Zealand would not now ' have been in the state of comparative tranquility it is. 8. The book was printed, and many copies of it were distributed long before the arrival of Earl Grey's despatch. , 4. Thus are we "already committed," and "as deeply involved as we can be," so that to suppress the publication, would not mend our case in the least. But while no good would result from its suppression, I think the distribution of it might secure some im- . portant advantages, viz.:— (1.) It may prove a valuable means of self defence at a future day. After the assurances which have been given of honourable dealing on the part of our country not merely by the Missionaries, but by the highest official authorities, and after those assurances have been recognised and applauded by our Home Government as they have been, 1 regard it not only as most surprising, but also as a most alarming atid'suspicious circnmst&nce that such sentiments as Earl Grey's should be allowed to be sent out! If England can allow such sentiments to appear in the despatch of a Secretary of State, the next thing will lie she will allow them to be acted upon ! And what then ? Why then, I will tell the natives that all my former assurances were made in the honesty of my heart— l'will fall back upon my pamphlet as proof •f this. I will tell them that I was so confident of my country's honesty, that I recorded it in a book to convince them of it — that thisbtok is the standing monument that\lhave wither part nor lot in thi unrighteous sclieme, that I utterly repudiate the act of the country which gave roe birth, and while I tremble to think of the sweeping ruin which[must result from so foul a breach of national faith — I will trust to Providence and to the discrimination of the New Zealand Patriots, to distinguish between the honest man and his faith breaking country. (2.) It will livid to quiet the suspicions and jealousies of the natives. If the scheme is never carried out, then the less the natives hear of it the better— let them never know that such a despatch has existed— and as we hope that it will never be acted upon, by all means convince the natives that their jealousies are without occasion. Suspicion and jealousy of our country's intentions have been the cause of former wars and rebellions quite as much as avarice and cupidity, even before the despatch arrived. And if on the other hand the theory of Earl Grey is to be carried into practice, <atid the natives are to be unjustly dispossessed of their 1 lands after all our pretensions to the contrary, why then, I say, the less prepared they are to resist it, the better. Resist it they will, and that to in a way and to a degree which would prove very embarrassing to a far greater number of troops than New Zealand has ever yet seen, But of what availjwould that be ultimately ? Thousands of lives would be sacrificed, and the hoirors of war would be realised in all the length and breadth of the land— but as British power must ultimately prevail therefore the less physical resistance the natives offer the less will be the amount of evil. I would, therefore, by all means, endeavour to convince them that resistance would be useless— worse, than useless— and in every lawful way I would seek to disarm them, — to tender them utterly unable to prevent opposition, and to convince them that opposition -would be ruinous. And as I believe that we shall succeed in getting the sentiments of Earl Grey repudiated by our country and by our government, I can very honestlj distribute my book as a means of quieting their suspicions, and convincing them that opposition to British power is a hopeless contest. But this leads me further to observe that I will continue the distribution of my book. (3.) Because it will serve as a stimulus to exertion in order to get the doctrine of the despatch repudiated; and while I thus seek to promote peace and quietness on pne hand, on the other I shall be seeking to put a power yx motion which will not be dtspised. The .position I occupy in connection with my brother Missionaries, justifies this assertion. You say " the Missionaries have a right to be heard on this subject," and we shall be heard ; and the British public and the British Government I think will not be deaf to whatwe have to say. If I sought to lull the natives into a false security by telling them as I do in my book, that England is honest and honourable, and at the same time sat down quietly myself while such a proposition for the violation of national faith remains, as the standing rule to wbich pur Governor is " to look as the foundation of his future policy," I should Fbe acting the part of a traitor, not only to the New Zealanders, but also to the colonists and to my country I No— l am pledged— already pledged, and I will continue to pledge myseif o the utmost" extent— by distributing my b»ok with tboth hands, far and wide — I say lam thus plciged to exertion to every exertion, in connection with others, in

order to " p rocure from the British Parliament an open disavowal of all intention to break the Treaty." And I rejoice that I am not alone in this effort. Every Missionary in the land, every right-minded colonist— the great majority of the British public is, or will be on our side, And though there may at this time, be a strong power in Parliament to support Lord Grey and his faithless theory— yet let the British nation but once see the thing as it is, and I will never believe that the British public and the British Parliament will bear to be told that we have given such assurances and distributed such books, (and that too, not only Jon the authority of British honesty, but on the " highest authority of the realm," asset forth in the instructions tethe late Captain Hobson), that the "Northern Hero," Missionary Walker, and his Missionary people, have been risking their lives in supporting British authority, on the strength of such assurances. I say, I willnever believe that they will bear to be told these things without at once and for ever wiping off this foul blot from our national honour t You justly say this " subject not only affects the Missionaries, but it affectsev cry person in the colony," and all ought to exert themselves in this matter. We have every encouragement ; is not our Governor on our side ? are not the highest authorities in the land on our side ? And surely when we think of the threatening consequences there cannot be two opinions on the impolicy of the scheme which we seek to overthrow. But we must move quietly. As there is great unanimity, there is the less need for discussion, and its consequent excitement. Let all do their part in their own proper sphere, and without noise and confusion, and we must prevail. Hitherto I have not spoken to a single native on the subject, nor has a single native in my hearing alluded to it. I pray God, there may never be any neces sityj I cling to the hope that we may not have occasion to call in their aid ; but if it should come t* that,— if Britain should turn a deaf ear to the remonstrance and warning of her own children, then, I for one, shall not hesitate to act according to circumstances ; and while I will ever discountenance every manifestation ofphyical hostility as worse than useless, I shall not hesitate to tell the natives that they too are British subjects,— that they too have a right to British protection,— that they too must appeal to British honour, and that every individual from one end oi the country to the other, must put his name to a petition praying the British Queen to throw around her defenceless subjects the shield of her protection. And if after all, our efforts to uphold our country's honour, we should fail to do so, and it should ever be my misfortune to live to see the land of my nativity sink under the curse of the God of Nations, for her perfidy and guilt, I shall rejoice nevertheless in the recollection of the good she has achieved in the world, and still sing with the poet— " England— with all thy faults, I love thee still." For the above reasons, Sir, I shall continue the distribution of my pamphlet ; for the above reasons, 1 would recommend it, without affectation, lor distribution to every friend of the colony, and of his country ; and for the above reasons, I beg you will advertise it for sale, what may remain of ttie first ten thousand, at the lowest possible price. I remain Sir, with respect, A True Son of Britain, JOHN WHITELEY. Kawhia, Sept 27, 18*7.