The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-28 00:00:00

ready acquiescence in extreme measures?, on the
other. Without directly opposing the colonial
statute, he had endeavoured to restrain its action
within just and reasonable limits by his instructions
to the Governor. The views which he expressed
were such as are likely to secure the concurrence of
the public. They included the maintenance of the
Governor's authority, the chastisement of the guilty,
the demand for a reasonable indemnity, and after
the due amount of chastisement should have been
inflicted, the publication of an amnesty to all not
personally concerned in heinous offences, such as
murder in cold blood, &c. It is also suggested that
sundry precautions should be taken with a view to
preventing injustice, or too great severity. No
confiscation is to take place without the personal
concurrence of the Governer, and there is to be an
open commission for the investigation of any case in
which confiscation is intended. It will thus be
seen that the authority of the Governor is fully
maintained, while due regard is had to the claims
of justice and mercy. Tne Home Government has
certainly every right to make these suggestions,
since it has taken a more than nominal part in
assisting the colonists. It has, as Mr. CARDWELL
reminded the House, sent 10,000 troops for their
protection, as well as giving then " an able and a
distinguished General," for the immediate direction
of affairs. Most of the substuent speakers ex-
pressed themselves fully satisfied with the state-
ment of the Colonial Secretary, although conside-
rable difference of opinion existed as to the origin
of the war, some attributing it to the disputes about
the possession of land, others to the Maori King
movement, and others, again, to the deliberate put•
pose of the natives in the northern island to exter-
minate the settlers. The difficulties attending the
whole subject are undoubtedly very great, and they
were shown by the conflicting opinions in the de
bate of the other evening. One trouble is, that
those who uphold the cause of the natives, do so
without any regard for the feelings or risk of the
colonists, and, consequently, their eloquent denun-
ciations of the inhumanity and injustice of the
British fall powerless on the oars of those who
have been listening to tales of plundered farms, of
burning cottages, and old men and children mas-
sacred by the wayside. After Mr. Minns's tem-
perate but decided advocacy of the Maori cause,
and Mr. BUXTON'S more vehement language on the
same side, Mr. CARDWELL did well to remind the
House that this present war had its origin in the
barbarous murder of the officers and men who
formed part of an inoffensive convoy. Sir GEORGE
GREY wrote home to the effect that there was rea-
son to apprehend a general rising of the Northern
natives with a view to the total expulsion of the
whites, and having grounds for such an apprehen-
sion the Governor did well to prosecute the war
with all vigour and promptness. All must be
unanimous in wishing for the conclusion of the
lamentable struggle which is desolating the flourish-
ing colony, but we may be assured that whatever
the successes of our arms, it will need a careful ad•
mixture of generosity and justice, of firmness and
conciliation, to maintain peace and plenty in our
settlements without being driven to a policy of ex-
termination.