The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-11 00:00:00

LONDON,

on a small scale, had excited the attention of ell the in

" SII.`•IIrIARY FOR THE WEEK.

-' fhe events of this week are of a checkered character
—the dark squares, however, having greatly the predo-
ininaece. Two more co'tonists have been murdered by
Hottentot bandits, and a third seriously wounded. One
of them, an Englishman, was waylaid in Oliphant's
Hook, stripped naked, and had his brains beaten out
with a bludgeon. The other, a man of colour, was shot
dead whilst resting in his own cottage in fancied secu-
rity after his day's toil. The wounded man was return-
ing to his home, and was shot from an ambuscade, but
may, possibly, escape with life.
" It the information from Uitenhage be correct, which
computes the rebel banditti in the Zuurherg at from 250
to 300 strong, then it follows that the main body of the
Hottentot rebels on the Buffalo must have been when
attacked by Colonel Eyre and the gallant men of the 43d,
weaker than usual, though then estimated at from 500 to
600 men. Should this be so, then it very plainly marks
the formidable character of the rebellion, and the im-
portance of the whole country being aroused to a sense
of the necessity of the immediate and effectual suppres-
sion of the insurrection. It this be not done with a
strong hand, the safety of the whole colony will be
jeopardized, and the most disastrous consequences may
ensue-
" The spirited attack on the rebel camp on the
Buffalo, by Colonel Eyre and the 43d Regiment relieves
the, dark features of the piceire, and by exciting hope
affords matter for congratulation. The attack was well
designed, and would, there can bo no doubt, hod the dif-
ferent celumns arrived at the concerted time, have been
eminently successful. But in this country, to insure ac-
curate time in a night march from different points, is a
movement of extraordinary difficulty, and especially
where there are men who would consider it as a initfor-
tune to be last, and indeed a reproach not to be first, in
the presence of the enemy."
The Cape Town Mail, in a leading article, says :
" Peace, accompanied by such security from danger to
life and property as is consistent with residence upon a
barbarian border, is all that is hoped for by a large
body of the colonists from the present unhappy
hostilities. Such is also the sole aim of the
British Government, who, on the colony's behalf, are
at this time incurring the vast expense of these hos-
tilities. Both bodies, the Imperial Government
and the colony, have to co-operate in endeavouring to
attain this object. Without their perfect 00-operation it
seems impossible that anything final can be done; and
before they can co-operate cordially, each must know
the policy which guides the conduct of the other, and
both must see clearly what measures are best to be
adopted before the great end in view can be attained.
‘• How, then, are they to work together under present
circumstances? How can the British Government com-
municate with the colonists? War was declared, and
the Qeeen's representative called on the colonists to rise
en masse, and *xterminate' the enemy. From the very
manner in which the object of the war was stated doubts
arose. Was it right to exterminate the Kafirs, in the
ordinary sense of the word used in the proclamation? If
they deserved such a fate,
was it necessary? Or, to
propose a third view, was it necessary but not right? if,
indeed, God will ever permit human beings to argue
anything to be necessary that is not right.
" What the war arose from is of less importance than
the question—how must it end? The intended exter-
mination, originally proclaimed, of the enemy, has since
been diminished to his banishment beyond the Kei. Is
this indispensable? If indispensable to the extent of
security which we think to be necessary, has it been
rightly earned by the Kafir people at our hands? If
indispensable for our present security, if just, is it safe
for the future? Will not the new colony between the
Fish River and the Kei—for the country between the
Fish River and the Keiskamma, although nominally a
colonial district since 1848, is scarcely in a different
position from British Kafraria, in fact—will not this
new territory in future years suffer as fearfully from the
tribes who then will border on the Europeans, as Albany
and Somerset do now from their present neighbours?
If, again, it be alike indispensable for the present in-
terests of the colony, safe for its future interests, and
right as far as the Kafirs are concerned, is it possible to
exterminate' them from their present homes, and com-
pel them to emigrate beyond the Kei? The colonists
alone, even if they were agreed upon answering all the
questions above in the affirmative, cannot do it. A large
Bypuer
,srt
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tehhyaemhl f
Ga,
osadanbii
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eaehdnanyvtaerityeihowing
int,hfeertvro
oetmno
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butpinthis
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eel
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has lately seemed to gain ground. It is said that General
Cathcart wishes only to expel the individual Kafirs, if
they can be singled out, or the individual chiefs, who
have taken part in the war. But will this be politic, or
even possible, in the case of a people holding their chiefs
in so much honour? The war arose scarcely so much,
as Bishop Gray is said to have stated in England, from
the incurable cattle-stealing propensities of the Kafirs,
as from the partisanship of the people with their chiefs,
whose power it was the avowed policy of our Government
to endeavour to undermine and destroy. We established
British rule din Kafraria, and persuaded ourselves that
the people were more contented and prosperous under
that rule, than under their former native institutions of
government. So, perhaps, they May have been for a
time. The Government of the day persuaded itself also
that the colony was more free from cattle-stealing visits,
tted more safe from a chance of their recurrence. So
stated Sir 11. Smith's dispatches and public declarations,
repeatedly and positively. When rumours of war came
Sir H. Smith summoned one of the former chiefs before
him. The chief set the newly-sstablished authority in
his country at defiance. The people chose the side
of their natural sovereign rather than that of the
foreigner. We have tr tempted in vain, during 18
mouths past, to bring these alleged rebels to submission.
If this be the history of the war, and if it be trite that a
national feeling unites the Kafir people, even though
they were for a time happy and contented under our
rule, to resist any intrusion upon them of what they
must needs think a foreign yoke,—are not the questions
respecting their expulsion, extermination, destruction,
and so forth, which we have described above, such as
must naturally suggest themeelves to the mind of every
man of civilized feeling? At present there are no suffi-
cient means of thoroughly ascertaining public opinion
in the colony on a subject of such intricacy and difficulty.
Whenever the colonists meet in an organised represen-
tative Legislature, they can say fur themselves what they
mink is best to be done for the attainment of the sole
object of the present, as of all wars,—peace, They will
deliberately judge, and will consult wtth the authorized
servants of the Queen's Government, what evils which
may now be allayed have caused alike the Kafir war and
the Hottentot rebellion ; and what can be done to lessen
or remove these evils. Until then all parties continue
in the dark, and tne solo sounds which relieve the ge-
neral ignorance of the real object of the contest, and
the real grounds of the war, aro heard from our injured
border-colonists, whose many sufferings naturally prompt
them to think of the enemy as mere bloodthirsty mis-
creants, delighting in ravage and murder; but who in
this judgment may be wrong.
The enemy, Kafiri' aad
" These very views of the nature of our enemy—the
notion that nothing less than their utter annihilation
gain, that they
could restore peace, and that they do not deserve to
exist—the proclamation that the object of the war was
th-ir extermination—have retarded the close of the con-
test
emeenontlet'ohhoaetnat nraeitiYee tghairilegsaiesntldsaena.ce and their destruction.
Ihleot t. must choose
more
aatiaßritain
Yet if comparative peace, not the safety of London and
York, but such comparative peace as borderers must be
satisfied with, can be attained by anything less than Sir
Harry Smith's proclaimed object at the opening of the
war, neither Britain nor the colony has any true interestwhieh
in seeking that object; and, to say the least, it is far
tfromhan
icte
possessesrtain that
theeit hienrtmeorfiegtshtte them
have
es thesav e
d right,ure
" A commission of inquiry into all the causes of con.
test, sent out lust year,
many thousands of pounds. A similar commission, even
"l
Advertiser
now, would be of the highest value. The establishment,
in addition, as speedily as possible, of representative in-
atitutions, having public confidence, and through
of
lastthe
year
the real opinion of the colony could be clearly heard,
best
restoration
binoeantdbho,le; all the parties concerned to understand
each other perfectly—to decide clearly upon what Was
done—e.eand
,ontAoaferopiceoarpnineracantoeehmstimnhecarescriseia.ly to wards the
ooinnagl Sons oaot
we extract the following :
" Though General Cathcart has not been remiss
dur-
ing the past mouth, his dispatches by the present
cWhiellgeuaerrr.y e
His eon
predecessor,so consolation tsoirthcehCarhlttenacvvellooort
asked only 300,000/. for the Kafir war, under an im
sten that the contest Was drawing to a closem,
reeli now (April 30) requests an additional
according2oo,
o 001,
But Sir Charles Wood thought the Right Hon. IG,see'•
tleman would find himself very much disappointed in one.
estimate which he had formed of the probable expense -
of the Kafir war. The probability was that the 460000/
which he had first named would be pretty nearly
The prospect of its drawing to
onMthrs. Pphse.
rate ex-
pendedof almostbythe Istso ,000 f
011 Bar c h
month.'and it was
Four
tvvohtihlee
the state of the war is pretty nearly what it was on the
elapsedestimate,
account el us ut to forf litahrec h
which,additional
a close has not improved, and the necessary arrange.
weuts in progress tor the protectfon.of the colony and
Ist of January, 1850.
the annoyance of the enemy imply an increasing
rate of expenditure. Higher motives than mere
economy no doubt inspire all parties
with an
ardent desire to bring this savage conflict to
an end; but even economy alone is a sufficient reason
or demanding of Ministers something more
than
just enough to maintain the honour of her mat
jesty's, arms.' Nothing more has yet been accomplished.
There ate Kafir camps, and rebel binds within the
boundaries of the colony. Beyond it, nothing is held
safe that is not within the range of musketry or eennon.
Sitnely to ' maintain the honour of her Majesty's areas,
for te months against the border tribe
s.has *test, accord-
ing to Sir C. Wood's estimate, about 960,0001., with
the
loss of many brave officers and men. The losses of the
colony in life, property, and time are not less appalling.
It is a most ruinous affair.
A summery of events and operations during the
month is given elsewhere. But ,he details of tissaults,
robberies, murders, eursuit''' skirmishes, ant. personal
exploits, in which colonists have been distinguished
ac, ors or suff. rers, would fill many more columns Die_
order and danger, well as actual war, have become
familiar fir 50'miles or more tat both sides of a border
line some 100 o. 150 miles in length. The latest re-
ports give reason to fear that strong parties of active
ineratelers have already established themselves among
the mountains and for,- s not far from the towns of
Uitenhage and Port Etiz:bteth.
" Such is the field which General Cathcart has to
contemplate and operate upon, against an enemy adroit,
active, desperate, and well armed.
" After removing headquarters to Fort Beaufort, he
made to visit to Grahavai 'Town, • once of
couseq