456 CAUSE OF THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN 
I would not willingly believe, that the question is a 
hopeless one. The failure of past measures is no 
reason that future ones should not be more suc- 
cessful, especially when we consider, that all past 
efforts on behalf of the Aborigines have entirely 
overlooked the wrongs and injuries they are suffer- 
ing under from our mere presence in their country, 
whilst none have been adapted to meet the exi- 
gencies of the peculiar relations they are placed in 
with regard to the colonists. The grand error 
of all our past or present systems — the very forts 
et origo mali appears to me to consist in the fact, 
that we have not endeavoured to blend the interests 
of the settlers and Aborigines together ; and by 
making it the interest of both to live on terms of 
kindness and good feeling with each, bring about 
and cement that union and harmony which ought 
ever to subsist between people inhabiting the same 
country. So far, however, from our measures produ- 
cing this very desirable tendency, they have hitherto, 
unfortunately, had only a contrary effect. By our 
injustice and oppression towards the natives, we have 
provoked them to retaliation and revenge ; whilst by 
not affording security and protection to the settlers, 
we have driven them to protect themselves. 
Mutual distrusts and mutual misunderstandings 
have been the necessary consequence, and these, as 
must ever be the case, have but too often terminated 
in collisions or atrocities at which every right- 
thinking mind must shudder. To prevent these 
