eclared British subjects, they should, as
far as possible, be taught that the British laws are to supersede their
own, so that any native who is suffering under their own customs may have
the power of an appeal to those of Great Britain; or, to put this in its
true light, that all authorized persons should, in all instances, be
required to protect a native from the violence of his fellows, even
though they be in the execution of their own laws.

7. So long as this is not the case the older natives have at their
disposal the means of effectually preventing the civilization of any
individuals of their own tribe, and those among them who may be inclined
to adapt themselves to the European habits and mode of life will be
deterred from so doing by their fear of the consequences that the
displeasure of others may draw down upon them.

8. So much importance am I disposed to attach to this point that I do not
hesitate to assert my full conviction that, whilst those tribes which are
in communication with Europeans are allowed to execute their barbarous
laws and customs upon one another, so long will they remain hopelessly
immersed in their present state of barbarism: and, however unjust such a
proceeding might at first sight appear, I believe that the course pointed
out by true humanity would be to make them from the very commencement
amenable to the British laws, both as regards themselves and Europeans;
for I hold it to be imagining a contradiction to suppose that individuals
subject to savage and barbarous laws can rise into a state of
civilization which those laws have a manifest tendency to destroy and
overturn.

9. I have known many instances of natives who have been almost or quite
civilized being compelled by other natives to return to the bush; more
particularly girls who have been betrothed in their infancy and who, on
approaching the years of puberty, have been compelled by their husbands
to join them.

10. It is difficult to ascertain the exact effect the institutions of a
country produce upon the character of its inhabitants; but it may be
readily admitted that, if two savage races of equal mental endowments,
and with the same capacity for civilization, were subject to two distinct
sets of laws, the one mild and favourable to the development of
civilization, the other bloodthirsty and opposed to it, the former race
might gradually be brought to a knowledge of Christianity and
civilization, whilst precisely simil