MR. SAUNDERS AND CONFISCATION OF NATIVE LAND.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 623, 13 October 1863, Page 6

MR. SAUNDERS AND CONFISCATION OF NATIVE LAND.

(From the Colonist.) We differ from Mr. Saunders respecting his views of confiscation. We1; do not saythat confiscation may hot be legal and necessary, but are wiUin^.meanwhile to leave that an open question until wei obtain further information. From Mr. Saunders' summary disposal of the natives' right to the land we most certainly dissent. After declaring that he thought that " legal technicalities should be set aside in such a matter," he says: — "Whatever their (the natives) right to the land might be in law, it was very clear to him that in equity it should be taken from them." - Need we remind Mr. Saunders that it is only by, under, and according to law that property can be confiscated, or that the holder's title becomes attainted ? Grant the accuracy of his doctrine, and adopt his proposal, and "many errors by this same example would creep into the state." Waitara has an error of this kind—we seized on property not belonging solely to the pretended seller, and hence arose a collision. It was pressed forward—by whom the Blue : Books declare, and the war broke out. This was a result of setting aside legal technicalities and disregarding law. We should rigidly punish the rebels, and many will righteously lose their lands, but let their punishment be in accordance with law.