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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 10

Letter I

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Letter I.

Auckland, New Zealand,

My dear George,—

I have your letter of the 19th September, and am glad to find that you still "believe that the acts of the New-Zealand Government are just and humane—punishment of murderers, confiscation of rebel territory, but pardon of vanquished foes, and a settlement of land to each of them." You give in this sentence a correct summary of the policy of the Government of which I have been a member for the last thirteen months, and which has just resigned, because Governor Grey, acting, or rather professing to act, on instructions given by the Colonial Office in England, has backed out of the policy which he endorsed a year ago, and is now endeavouring to patch up a hollow peace on terms which afford no prospect of permanence or stability.

You say that our actions have been misinterpreted by some good people at home, and you enclose me a note from your friend, the Rev. Mr. Tait, of Rugby, which, though couched in language most kind and respectful myself, shews that he participates in the belief that his fellow-countrymen in the colony have been more or guilty in this matter. You may be sure that we have been deeply grieved, and that our indignation has been greatly roused, by the cruel and false aspersions which have been cast upon us in Parliament and by portions of the English press, and more particularly by what I can call nothing else than the shameless libels which have been circulated in page 8 letters received at home from military and naval officers in the colony. The friends of these writers, speaking on their authority, do not hesitate to describe the attempt which we have made to defend ourselves against an unprovoked assault by a savage and warlike enemy, as "a reckless and unrighteous war, carried on for the benefit of sordid persons, and waged with cruelty and injustice." These are the words of a colonel in Her Majesty's service, in a letter addressed to the "Times" in which he sums up the contents of letters received from officers in the colony; and they are a mild specimen of charges which have been made against us in Parliament, and in the columns of the leading London papers. Had the persons who have made each charges been better informed, they would have known that the war was commenced by the Natives, after months of preparation and organization, and that the hostilities on our side were the deliberate act of the Governor, Sir George Grey, in his capacity of representative of the Imperial Government; that not a soldier nor sailor could have been employed but by his order; that active operations could not have continued an hour without his permission; that he has reported to the Home Government that the war was forced upon him as one of self-defence, and that it must be persisted in till those who commenced it have been fully subjugated and made obedient to law. All this is ignored by those who have brought such cruel charges against the colonists, although they have within their reach Parliamentary papers, and other sources of information, containing ample proof of these facts.

If there were any truth in the statements which have been referred to, I should, as a New-Zealand colonist, be ashamed ever again to shew my face in England. I know that my friends will not believe, of me personally the charges which have been brought against the colonists as a body; but must either believe them of me, or refuse to believe them of the colonists as a body; for I have been in this matter, in my political and official capacity of Colonial Secretary, "a representative, man," and as fully committed to the page 9 policy which has been denounced as any man in the colony. I feel, therefore, that it is desirable to give you the means of refuting these aspersions on the colonists, of whom I am one, in order that the many friends whose good opinion I value may understand and appreciate the merits of the case, and have before them proof that this war was forced upon us as one of self-defence, and that we have had no other object in engaging in it than the security of our lives and property, and the future peaceful occupation of the country, under just and equal laws, by the two races to which Providence has given it as a common heritage.

I shall throw my statements into the shape of a few letters, in which I shall endeavour to give you the leading facts of the case, abstaining from any discursive or debateable matter, which might prevent your following the thread of what is really a very simple and intelligible translation. So let this go for Letter I.

From your affectionate brother,

William Fox.