1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1838 - Colonization and Aborigines, p 4-9

The authors of the scheme on which Mr. Coates animadverts partially developed their views, in a Pamphlet published a few months since; and they have latterly more fully explained themselves, in a Volume of upward of 100 pages. But we think, with Mr. Coates, that they have not yet afforded such explicit information on several important points, as to warrant the expectation, on their part, that their scheme will be received with approbation by the religious and philanthropic portion of the British Public.

The sad fact, of the deep injury resulting to the Aborigines of the countries where Colonization has hitherto been carried on, stands out so prominently, as to awaken just suspicion respecting the most specious colonizing plans which can now be devised. What has been the effect of all past Colonization? To pass by other nations--as we are too apt to dwell with complacency on our national devotion to the Cause of Religion and Humanity--we may ask, "What is the condition of the Aborigines of our own Colonies"?--What is the condition, do we say? Nay, in some instances, we must first ascertain where they are? Where, for instance, are the Charib People, who once inhabited our West-Indian Colonies? Where, the native inhabitants of Newfoundland; and the Indian possessors of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada? It may be answered, "We have very flourishing Colonies in those countries." That may be true; but the answer does not meet our question. We ask--But what have those rich and prosperous Colonies done for the original occupiers of the soil? Where, in fact, are they? Alas! to find any of the Aboriginal Race of the West Indies, we must not stop at the islands, but proceed to Honduras Bay, where the Wesleyan Missionary Society has had the honour of erecting a chapel for the remnants of this people--the first Place of Worship, we presume, ever built, for the Aborigines of our West-Indian Colonies: and to discover any of the former Indian occupants of British America, we must hasten from the shores of the Atlantic across the Continent, to the western boundary of Upper Canada, and there shall we discover them, retreating and melting away before the advancing tide of the white population. Missionary Efforts have, indeed, begun to check the

depopulating process; but, if the measures contemplated in certain quarters are to be carried into effect, the time may not, perhaps, be remotely distant, when it may prove as difficult to find an Indian of Upper Canada, as it is now to point to one of the Aborigines of Newfoundland.

As past Colonization has thus been so injurious to the Native Population, when the Christian Philanthropist is asked to give his sanction to a new colonizing scheme, he has a right to demand-- "What are the guarantees that the future shall not be as disastrous as the past?" The Association for Colonizing New Zealand professes to have in view the religious and temporal welfare of the Natives; and we do not, any more than Mr. Coates, call in question the sincerity of their professions; but it does not follow that their plans must necessarily accomplish this benevolent object. We think there is ground for fear, not only that they will fail to do this, but that they will prove positively injurious to the Natives. Let us look at their scheme, for the purpose of inquiring, in the first instance, whether it is likely to promote the welfare of the New Zealanders, by introducing among them the benefits of Religion and Civilization.

One of the principal recommendations of the proposed Colony is, that it shall be self-supporting. The lands, which the New Zealanders may cede, are to be sold to the Colonists; and the profit arising from the sale is to constitute the general fund, out of which all the Public Expenses of the Colony, Government, Public Buildings, Defence--"a Militia"--"Regulars"--and "a Marine," are to be met, as well as provision to be made for instructing the Natives in Religion and the Arts of civilized life. It certainly requires no more than ordinary sagacity to perceive, that a long time must, in the nature of things, elapse, before the necessary wants of the Colony will allow of the appropriation of any considerable sum for the instruction of the Aborigines.

But if we further examine the plan, the presumption will appear strong, that not only will it fail to benefit the Natives, but that it will inflict upon them a great positive injury, If the funds by which the Colony is to be supported are to arise out of the sale of lands purchased from the Natives; and these lands are to be resold to the Colonists, at perhaps not more than twelve shillings per acre; it is obvious, that the original purchase money to be paid to the Natives must be very trivial, if the difference between it and twelve shillings per acre is to constitute the revenue of this self-supporting Colony. Will the New Zealanders be willing to part with their lands for such a trifle? The Association says: "One of the bases or principles of the Association is, that the free, full, and perfectly-understanding, consent, and approval of the Native Tribes should be publicly given to every cession of their unoccupied lands for the purpose of settlement by Englishmen." We dare say, that the purchases of territory which have been made, for a few beads, by former Colonists were made with the consent and approval of the Native Tribes: but when the Natives became acquainted with the cheat which had been practised upon them, the spirit of revenge seized them, and immediately commenced those hostile collisions which, in too many instances, have ended in the extermination of the original proprietors of the soil. The New Zealanders will not be imposed on by beads and such trinkets: but it is certain, that they cannot, according to the proposed plan, receive more than a very insignificant price; and when they see what great advantages the Colonists derive from their land, is it likely that they will remain satisfied with the bargain which they have made--more especially when their eyes shall be open to the fact, that,

with their lands, they also parted with "their sovereign rights," for the purposes specified by the Association? Mr. Coates thinks not; and we see no reason to dissent from his opinion. It may, then, be fairly expected that disputes and animosities will arise; and sad as the others, will be the story of New-Zealand Colonization! The New Zealanders will be found to resemble the fierce Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, or the warlike Caffre, rather than the mild and submissive Indian of Upper Canada; and the battle-club and the musket will end the controversy.

If, after the awful failure of the past, Colonization is still to be pursued, the evils of the system require to be traced to their source, and carefully guarded against for the future. In short, Colonization ought no longer to be followed in the spirit of commercial enterprise. It is time that the subject were better understood; and that the British Government and Legislature were fully prepared to put a stop to all further Colonization, unless it be based upon such Christian and philanthropic principles as cannot fail, under the blessing of Heaven, to secure the religious and temporal welfare of the Aborigines equally with the interests of the Colonists. We most cordially recommend Mr. Coates's pamphlet to the notice of our readers.

We are not so confident as this Gentleman appears to be, that it is possible to conduct Colonization on such a plan as to ensure the welfare and advancement of the Natives. Were Colonization commenced and prosecuted from purely disinterested motives--were Colonizing Associations to be formed in the philanthropic spirit of Missionary Societies; and, like them, to aim solely at promoting the interests of the Natives, without seeking any other return or recompence than the satisfaction resulting from doing good--we might then indulge the hope that the results of our future Colonization would form a delightful contrast with the past. But the proposed plan for colonizing New Zealand, which Mr. Wakefield thinks is to give a totally new character to our National Colonization, is not formed on this principle.

He may be dissatisfied with Mr. Coates's statement, that "Gain is, in fact, the mainspring and ultimate end of the whole scheme;" but, however he may dwell on the disinterested motives of those to whom the direction of the Colony is to be committed, does he mean to say that the authors of the scheme have, in originating it, been primarily and principally actuated by philanthropy? He will not say this. The Book published by the Association shews that "gain" is the first and leading object; and, that the philanthropic part of the plan is only secondary and subordinate.

On their own shewing, then, we reach the conclusion--that the scheme of the Association will not redeem our national character, from the stain which our Colonization has affixed to it. If past experience is at all to be relied on, a clashing between the interests of the Colonists and those of the Natives will assuredly take place; and, if we at all understand human nature, the stronger principle will prevail, and the interests of the Natives must give away to those of the Colonists. If gain be the primary object-- if the desire of gain be the leading principle--sound philosophy teaches, that, when a collision takes place, that will triumph over the subordinate and weaker motive; namely, the desire to advance the welfare of the Natives.

Our conclusion, derived from a consideration of the principles on which the plan is formed, is strengthened by the vague and indefinite statements of the Association respecting the secondary, that is, philanthropic part of

their undertaking. They talk about the appointment of a Bishop, the employment of Missionaries, and the instruction of the Natives; but they furnish no statement by which it may be ascertained what is the scale on which instruction is to be provided--what number of agents shall be employed--what funds are available for the purpose--and when this part of the plan is to be introduced, whether at the commencement of the Colony or at some future indefinite period. Mr. Wakefield may possibly say, that these details of the plan cannot yet be arranged: then he must excuse us, and many others, if we withhold our approbation of the scheme until such matters are settled; for, although they may be secondary with the Association, with us they are questions of primary importance.

Mr. Wakefield dwells on the evils inflicted on the New Zealanders by runaway British Seamen and Convicts, and other Settlers; and, as this is the great argument employed in support of the plan of the Association, we bestow on it a remark.

Those evils we do not wish to underrate. They exist, and an adequate remedy is indispensably required; but it does not, we think, therefore, necessarily follow, that Colonization is the remedy, or that it should be resorted to before other means have been fairly and honestly tried. If it can be clearly and unanswerably demonstrated, that Great Britain has not the ability to interfere and restrain the excesses of her subjects in New Zealand, except by giving it up to Colonization, then will this sad conclusion inevitably follow, that our lawless, gain-hunting countrymen have only to single out and commence their depredations in any barbarous land which may suit their purposes, to compel this country to colonize it; and thus the doom of all the helpless Aboriginal Nations of the earth, which have possessions worth coveting, may, on this principle, be considered as sealed. The expression of our sympathy for the oppressed will, therefore, become a useless lament. The appointment of Parliamentary Committees, to inquire into and devise means for preventing our sailors and runaway convicts and others from injuring the Aborigines, will be no longer of any avail; for, on this principle, the evil must, by a kind of necessity, go on, until the work of Aboriginal Ruin shall be completed, and there be left no more defenceless islands or territories to tempt British Cupidity.

We shall only further add, that, in our judgment, the objections of Mr. Coates against New-Zealand Colonization remain unanswered.

We had occasion lately, in reviewing the evidence before the House of Commons' Aborigines Committee, to quote largely from Mr. Coates's testimony as to the efficacy of the Gospel in civilizing savages; of which the labours of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand afford one of the most striking instances on record. We can well imagine, that, us a Secretary of that admirable Institution, Mr. Coates would be peculiarly sensitive as to whatever might, by possibility, impede the blessed effects of the pious labours of his own and kindred Societies, which God has so manifestly prospered; and we allowed for this, in sifting his arguments: for if, upon the whole, New Zealand were benefitted--if Civilization, and Christianity, and the happiness of the Natives, would flourish more under the auspices of a powerful White Colony than through Missionary Labours we should not be jealous, nor, we are sure, would any Member or Officer of the Church Missionary Society, as to the instrumentality by which, through God's blessing, the good was effected.

But it is due to Mr. Coates, to say, that his arguments appear to us irresistible. There are few topics on which we have ourselves written more earnestly, during many years, than the wrongs of the Aborigines in the vicinity of European Colonies; and all that Mr. Coates so humanely, so philosophically, so historically advances upon this subject, has found a response in our deepest sympathies. We feel assured, from all past facts, and from all probable reasonings, that if the proposed Colony is formed in New Zealand, European encroachment will soon begin to press hard upon the Natives; who, after a course of injustice and oppression, will gradually retreat before the march of the powerful invader, and at length become exterminated.

Some infidel physiologists have accounted for the melting away of savages before civilized intruders, on the principle of inferior races yielding to superior; and have told us, that however much philanthropy may mourn over it, the "dark varieties of man" have not the high cerebral configuration of the Caucasian standard, which includes all the white nations; and are therefore destined to give way before them, as monkeys and lions are driven out before Hottentots and Caffres; and that, upon the whole, good comes of it, as "a more noble animal" is thus substituted. Philosophists who thus argue may enjoy their argument, for any refutation that we shall honour it with; but to those who believe that Negroes, North-American Indians, Otaheiteans, New-Zealanders, and all the dark not less than the light "varieties of man," have souls as well as bodies--that they were created by one common Father with ourselves, and redeemed by the same blood, and need to be regenerated by the same Spirit--it is enough to say, that a Nation of civilized Christian New-Zealanders, "clothed and in their right mind," would be a blessed spectacle, which ought not to be prevented by the encroaching incursions of European Domination.

Mr. Coates shews, by historical facts, that European Colonization has always produced the evils which we have described--that there is nothing to prevent a similar result in New Zealand--that the sovereignty of tracts of land cannot be obtained, except by force and bloodshed--that wrongs, aggressions, and warfare must inevitably occur--that the peaceable labours of Missionary Institutions will be thwarted, and their agents exposed to the vengeance of the incensed Natives--and that there will be an end at once to the auspicious hope of seeing a people pass from a savage to a civilized and Christian state, through the agency of Europeans, with the complete preservation of the aboriginal race and of their national independence. How must every Christian rejoice to see a flourishing branch of the Church which his Divine Lord purchased for His inheritance, springing up amidst the rocks and valleys of New Zealand!