THE PEACE PROCLAMATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 302, 31 October 1864, Page 4

THE PEACE PROCLAMATION.

To the Editor bf tlie Zealand HeraiS. Sib, —]n common, I .suppose, Vith ninety-nine out of every hundt'ed of whom the. news has yet readied, I was as much astonished as disgusted yesterday morning by the appearance in the newspapers of the so-called Amnesty,, by, which it is proposed to let loose.iipoa unhappy eolojiist3 tlie imbridled ferocity of our savage foes, >vithout ment for their past misdeeds, or security against the commission of new onos. ~ ; ?• . ■ . . •» For, what punishment,is the taking away pf afa old useless rivulets, or-wlial teciirit j is lo lie ibiroi j u on Oath of Allegiance from gentlemen with the lii»h tense of honor of the heroes at the Flight from Kawi.u. But my astonishment of the issue of the document itself, especially at a season when ire ought rather to be'entering oh aft active campaign for the final and eifective settlement of the War, -iras.a* nothing compared "(villi- that with.which I regarded the unblushing ineiidacity ivitli which the supporteiS of Sir George Grey's, policy (if lie tan be said to,lijve either friends or a policy) attempt to-throw dustiti the eyes of those who disagree with them; "VYhfcrS; Sir, is the shadow of a foundation to be discovered for the statement that this " vigorous" proceeding of the Governor's is to be supported by the overwhelming force of the Imperial troops at liis disposal. AY here is the dread tlirent. of Hie dire calamities thiit are to befal the recalcitrant jMabris in the event of their refusal to listen to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. I have looked through the X'roclamation three or four times very carcfullj. and have utterly foiled to find even a hint of any alternative to its seductive oilers. J> either is tlie most distant ailtisiou iuiule to tlie resumption of hostilities by Qucein's troops or toloniaj troops It is thealjj "Hour, sugar, and blanket " policy put into type, an-1 as these were found to -neigh so little with their recipients when given in the tangible form, we cau i easily prcdi( ate what will be their eflect when administered in the shape of big words. It is too childish to take, iii even the. simplest I suvage, and assuredly will only be laughed at by, oijt astute rebels, 'i here is only one way that I can eec . of accounting for its production, and that is by ; resorting to the before-started theory of the partial I insanity of itti concoctor. 'lhese remarks are not veiy J novel or striking, but if you choose to give them s publicity they will serve to show the genuine feelings of ■ An ArciLAUD Citizen: October 2Stii, 18C4.