CHAPTER V.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA - SANDWICH ISLANDS - MEXICO - NEW ZEALAND.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.-Scheme of a Federal Union of British possessions in North America-Resolutions passed at a Conference of Delegates from the Provinces. SANDWICH ISLANDS.-Speech of the King at the Opening of his Convention or Parliament.

MEXICO. Proclamation of the Emperor on ascending the Mexican Throne.

NEW ZEALAND.--Cause and origin of the war with the natives of New Zealand-The Waitara purchase-Military operations-Letter from the chief, William King— Sir George Grey appointed Governor of the colony-Correspondence between him and the Duke of Newcastle-Abandonment of the Waitara purchase-Operations of our troops-Submission of the Tauranga natives-Resignation of the Colonial Ministry- Escape of native prisoners of war-Continuance of the war.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.

AN important movement, that may lead to consequences which no foresight can predict, took place this year amongst the dependencies of Great Britain in North America, with the full concurrence of the Imperial Government. This was the scheme of a Federal Union for all those provinces and colonies under the supremacy of the British Crown. A Conference of delegates from Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward's Island, was held at Quebec on the 10th of October, when Resolutions were passed of which the following are the most important:

That the best interests and present and future prosperity of British North America will be promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great Britain, provided such Union can be effected on principles just to the several provinces.

"That in the Federation of the British North American Provinces, the system of government best adapted under existing circumstances to protect the diversified interests of the several Provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony, and permanency in the working of the Union, would be a General Government charged with matters of common interest to the whole country, and local Governments for each of the Canadas, and for the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, charged with the control of local matters in their respective

sections, provision being made for the admission into the Union, on equitable terms, of Newfoundland, the North-West Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver.

"That in framing a Constitution for the general government, the Conference, with a view to the perpetuation of our connexion with the mother country, and to the promotion of the best interests of the people of these provinces, desire to follow the model of the British Constitution so far as our circumstances will permit.

"That the executive authority or government shall be vested in the Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and be administered, according to the well-understood principles of the British Constitution, by the Sovereign personally, or by representative duly authorized.

"That the Sovereign, or representative of the Sovereign, shall be Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval militia forces.

"That there shall be a General Legislature for the Federated Provinces, composed of a Legislative Council and House of Com

mons.

"That for the purpose of forming the Legislative Council, the Federated Provinces shall be considered as consisting of three divisions-1st, Upper Canada; 2nd, Lower Canada; 3rd, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, with equal representation in the Legislative Council.

"That Upper Canada be represented in the Legislative Council by 24 members, Lower Canada by 24 members, and the three maritime Provinces by 24 members, of which Nova Scotia shall have 10, New Brunswick 10, and Prince Edward's Island 4 members.

"That the colony of Newfoundland shall be entitled to enter the proposed Union, with a representation in the Legislative Council of 4 members.

"The North-West Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver shall be admitted into the Union on such terms and conditions as Parliament shall deem equitable, and as shall receive the assent of Her Majesty; and, in the case of the Province of British Columbia or Vancouver, as shall be agreed to by the Legislature of such Province.

"The General Government and Legislature shall have all powers necessary or proper for performing the obligations of the Province, as part of the British Empire, to foreign countries, arising under treaties between Great Britain and such countries. . .

"The local Government and Legislature of each Province shall be constructed in such manner as the existing Legislature of such Province shall provide in the Act consenting to the Union.....

"That in regard to all subjects over which jurisdiction belongs to both the General and the local Governments, the laws of the Federal Parliament shall control and supersede those made by the local Legislature, and the latter shall be void so far as they are repugnant to or inconsistent with the former.

"That both the English and French languages may be employed in the General Legislature and in its proceedings, and also in the local Legislature of Lower Canada, and in the Federal and local Courts of Lower Canada. . .

"The Confederation shall assume all the debts and liabilities of each Province. . .

"All engagements that may be entered into with the Imperial Government for the defence of the country shall be assumed by the Confederation,"

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

As a curiosity in the history of constitutional governments, we give the following speech of the King of the Sandwich Islands, delivered at the opening of his Convention or Parliament, in the course of the present year.

"Nobles and Delegates of the people,-It has pleased God Almighty to call hence to a better world my brother, Kamehameha IV., whose death has filled the nation with mourning, and my own heart with profound grief. The sudden and unexpected demise of this Sovereign, whose love you have all experienced, and whose time and talent were devoted to your good, is indeed a national loss. This deplorable instance of the uncertainty of life warns me of the necessity of earnestly and diligently trying to do what I can for the benefit of my people.

"It has been the traditional policy of my predecessors, to whom the kingdom is indebted for the liberal reforms that have been made, to lead the nation forward, and to watch over its welfare. My subjects will find in me, as they did in them, a jealous guardian of their liberties, and an earnest promoter of all measures calculated to increase their happiness, and to check the evils that tend to their destruction.

"I return to you, nobles and delegates of the people, my thanks for the prompt answer to the appeal I have made to your loyalty and patriotism. You have discarded certain assertions impugning my motives and my intentions, and this confidence indicates that you now meet me with the same spirit and sentiments which animated me in my appeal to you.

"During the course of the last twelve years the weak points of the Constitution of 1852 have been made apparent to all. The wisdom of the rulers and of the people combined have smoothed down its defects, but have not, however, succeeded in removing them. Difficult as the task we are about to undertake might have been a few years ago, time has succeeded in making it

easier, and I think that now these modifications can be discussed by us with adequate knowledge, and with the authority of expe

rience.

"Several articles of the Constitution are so loosely worded as to leave room for doubts and uncertainty; these I shall successively point out to you in the course of our meetings. The order of succession to the Throne should be more fully established, and a clause making the marriages of the Royal family subservient to the public good might properly be inserted in the Constitution. The article providing for the alienation of the kingdom, although perhaps dictated at the time by peculiar circumstances, is one which, I think, ought to be erased from our Organic Law. Such a provision can do no good, and may do harm, and is repugnant to the feelings of all loyal men.

"The institution of the Kuhina Nui originated, in my opinion, in a wrong conception of our past history, and is an unnecessary check upon the Legislature in giving to this officer an absolute control over the acts of a body of which he himself is a member, and in which he has a vote. A provision for a Council of Regency, in case of minority of the heir to the Throne, would be in accordance with all monarchical customs.

"The protracted sittings of the Legislature have been caused, in many instances, by the absence of all direct intercourse between the House of Representatives and the Executive. I think the presence in this branch of the Legislature of one or two of the members of the Cabinet would be conducive to the prompt despatch of business.

"I am of opinion that the representation of the people ought to be apportioned and regulated according to the population by districts, and I would suggest the adoption of such an apportionment as would leave the number of representatives equal to what it is now.

Experience has proved to my satisfaction, and I hope to yours, that a property qualification for the House of Representatives would have the effect of promoting industry and perseverance among my people, by making a seat in the House an object of ambition and a test of respectability. I am of opinion that this property qualification should be made so low as to bring this honour within the reach of every industrious man.

"The number and the importance of these modifications have induced me to call this Convention, in which the people being represented by you, gentlemen, their freely-elected delegates, you, my nobles, sitting for yourselves, and I for myself, all the constituting powers of this realm are concentrated. I hope that every noble and delegate will exercise freely the right of suggesting any provision on which he may have maturely reflected, with the assurance that such suggestions will be listened to, on my part, with the same consideration which I expect for my own. At the same time I shall claim for myself, or others speaking by

my authority, in my name, and in my presence, the same right of debate that I freely accord to each noble and delegate.

"May God, in His divine mercy, enlighten us in the course of our deliberations, and inspire all of us with the wisdom necessary to prosecute in mutual accord objects so dear to my heart as the welfare and the prosperity of the people upon whom He has called me to rule.

"And I do now declare this Convention opened."

MEXICO.

The following proclamation was issued at Vera Cruz, by the new Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian, to the Mexican people, on the 28th of May:

Mexicans,-You have called me among you. Your noble country, by the spontaneous expression of the wishes of the majority, has chosen me to watch over its future destinies. I answer the appeal with joy.

"However painful it may have been to bid a last farewell to my native country and those most dear to me, I have done so, persuaded that the Almighty has confided to me the noble mission of consecrating my life to a people weary of strife, anxious for peace and repose-to a people who, after having gloriously secured its independence, would wish to enjoy the blessings of civilization and true progress.

"That feeling of mutual confidence which animates us will be fruitful in brilliant results if we remain united and resolutely defend those great principles which form the true and durable bases of modern society-principles from which flow justice inviolable, equality before the law, opportunities for all to rise to high civil positions, individual liberty in unison with the protection of persons and property, the development of national wealth, the improvement of agriculture, of the working of mines, and industry generally, the creation of means of communication adapted to the extension of commerce, and, in fine, the development of intelligence in all that relates to the public good.

"With the blessing of God, progress and liberty will not fail us if all parties, guided by a strong and loyal Government, and preserving that religious sentiment which has distinguished our country from the most remote periods, unite to obtain the ends I have pointed out.

"The civilizing flag of France, raised so high by its noble Emperor, to which you are indebted for the return of peace and order, represents the same principles. It is what was told you some months back, in a language sincere and disinterested, by the