About Law.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 12, 2 September 1861, Page 1

About Law.

THE ENGLISH SYSTEM.

CHAPTER IV. Once upon a time, in England, as well as in New Zealand, the strong oppressed the weak. Prisoners taken in war were made slaves ; poor men were robbed and ill-treated, and got no redress. But the oppressed were many, and by joining together, caused laws to be enacted which should protect the poor man as well as the rich. Still, for many years, the Law was weak, and bad men were strong, and disregarded

it. Soon, however, even mighty men sought protection from the law against mightier than themselves. And so the Law being written in the hearts of many, waxed great and strong. Since those days, however, the Law has been improved. Year by year our fathers have placed some additional restriction on the powers of the great, and added some additional protection to the weak. We inherit these laws, (and through them, the security of our liberties, and our just rights, from our forefathers,) and it is an inheritance we have great reason to be proud of. And now all men are equal in the sight of the Law. When they do evil and cease to obey the law, the punishment is the same for all. Rich and poor, great and small, men cf all colours and all nations subject to the Queen, are alike protected while they obey, and alike punished when they break the law. But you will ask how comes it that the word of the mouth only is so strong that a few learned men, unassisted by warriors, are enabled to compel the millions of people, who dwell in the islands of Britain, to obey it. ? The answer is this—The Law is written in the hearts of the people, and when bad men offend against it they may try to escape, but they never try to resist, because they

know that every man's hand would be against them. Next to the Law of God then, the Queen's law is the greatest blessing Englishmen enjoy. Without it, tne land would have no rest; the orphan would be eaten up; and the widow's landmark would be violently removed. Brother would lift his hand against brother, and the earth would call out to God for vengeance on the oppressor. Such is not the case in the Queen's dominions. Men sleep in peace—the robber is an outlaw, and he fears the light of day ; good men have no fear but the fear of God before their eyes. Now let us see the effect of such assured peace and tranquility. In old times, men were occupied in wars and self defence. Many even of the Chiefs could neither read nor write; they neglected trade and agriculture, they were consequently poor and ill fed. Life was not so long as it is now, because doctors were unlearned and diseases were not cured. The Plague, a disease now unknown in Europe, visited England and destroyed thousands of people who lived in crowded and filthy hovels. Let us look at the difference now that men living under the shadow of the law, can devote all their energies to moral and social improvement.

In olden times, the people in England were comparatively few, great forests overspread the land in many places, and London was not larger than Sydney. Now the country is cultivated almost like a garden, and though England and Scotland are but little larger than New Zealand, they contain 250 times as many inhabitants. The city of London contains 3,000,000 inhabitants, which is 30 times as many as there are in all New Zealand, including both Maori and Pakeha, To tell you how many great mer-1 chant ships belong to England is more than 1 am able, they are countless, I and increase every year, and the Queen's Steam Ships of War are far more numerous than those of any other country in the world. Indeed the war ships of England and France are far more numerous than the war ships of all the rest of the nations'of earth. These are some of the blessings granted by our Almighty Father to his obedient children, and he will be equally gracious to all others who seek to obey his will, and in so doing obey laws made by wise men in the . old days for our good, which are

never in opposition to the Law of God.