LETTER OF HIS EXCELLENCY TO THE NGATIWHAKAUE CHIEFS.
Auckland February 14, 1856. Friends, Chiefs of the Natiwhakaue. Solution. Listen. A murder has been committed on a Maori woman by an European. Aftercareful investigation, Marsden was found guilty of having committed this murder, and was sentenced to be hanged : but no man cari be hanged in New Zealand by thoQueen's law, until the Governor is satisfied that he is guilty.
I was in the South, but have returned to Auckland; and have been convinced that he was guilty and he has been hanged. Had he been a great English Chief, he would have been hanged ; for the Queen's law makes no distinction between high and low, rich and poor, native or European,; but administers justice equally to all. Had Mar&dcn been proved innocent of the Maori woman's blood, all the men of war in New Zealand should not have forced me to liui t a hair of his bead; but be was guilty, and has suffered the punishment of guilt. When I spoke to the Chiefs on my first arrival, I told them the Queen made no distinctions between her subjects, but directed that all should have equal justice. You did not believe me, which was not wise; foryou should know that the Queens representative would scorn to tell a lie. You have now seen with your eyes, and will believe in future what I say. My saying is Ibis:—Whoever is accused of an offence or a crime, let him be tried; but let him be treated as if he were innocent until twelve men have declared him guilty. If he is declared guilty, let him be punished according to the law; and let no man ask whether he is a Maori or an European, a Chief or a poor man. From your true friend (Signed) T. G. Browne, Governor of New Zealand.
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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 2, 29 February 1856, Page 15
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312LETTER OF HIS EXCELLENCY TO THE NGATIWHAKAUE CHIEFS. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 2, 29 February 1856, Page 15
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