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Leader (1850-1860), 22nd May 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 485, Untitled Article

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      sideration than he had been yet able to give to the subject ; and Mr . Grog . vk withdrew the motion . WEIGHTS AND SIEASUKKS BILL . On the order for the second reading of this bill , moved ly Mr . Joiis Locke , Mr . IIorsfall . moved to defer it for six months , observing that the change proposed by the bill would produce a complete revolution . —The amendment was seconded by Mr . Pagkt . —The bill u-. is opposed by Mr . Adams , Mr . M'Cann , and Mr . Kirk , and supported by Mr . Bass , and Sir Jonx Shkixky . — Mr . Henlicy advised the House not to go on vatli the bill , which would not secure uniformity , while the attempt to settle the details would be most embarrassing . Mr . ' Locke defended the bill ; but , on . a-division , the amendment was carried by 02 to ' -S-I , and the bill was lost .

      The Stamp Duty os Passpout . s Bill was read a third time , and passed ; and the House adjourned .-at five minutes to one " o ' clock . Tliursdvij , MayU ) tU . rUOGHBSS OF BUSINESS . In the Housk of Loiids , the Pkoticction of Fkmai-k Children Bill , the Consolidated Fund ( 11 , 000 , 000 ^ . ) Bill , and the ' Stamp 1 > uty on Dkafts Bill , were read a third time , and passed . I . OUD CANyMJO ' S PROCLAMATION . The Earl of Dekhy announced that important despatches had that morning been received from India , including Sir James Out . ramV- recommendations in reference to the Proclamation in Oude which liad been the subject of so much discussion ; and also

      Lord Canning ' s reasons for issuing the Proclamation in the form in which it appeared . Under ordinary circumstances , he should have thought it doubtful whether papers containing a discussion between two high officers of the Crown in India on matters of policy should at present be communicated to Parliament ; ' but , as the despatches had already been laid before the Court of Directors , and as the course taken by Lord Canning had excited great comment , it would be most unjust to him not to place before Parliament , in his own language , the reasons that induced him to issue the : 'Proclamation . The papers- vo . uld . be laid on the table the following day . His Lordship subsequently made the formal motion for their production ; which was agreed to , and their Lordships adjourned .

      In the House of Commons , in reply to Sir Deniiam ITorreys , Mr . Vernojc-Smith said the late Government had not determined on the line of policy to be pursued towards tlie landowners of Oude .

      NEn ZKAUSI ) . Lord A . Churciiim . asked the Secretary for the Colonies -whether it was true that the Governor of New Zealand had repealed the Arms , Ordnance , and Importation Acts :,- as framed by Sir George Grey , to prevent the natives procuring arms and ammunition , and whether such repeal met ' with the approval of her Majesty ' s Government . —Lord Stanley stated that it -was not the case that tlie Governor of New Zealand had repealed the act in question . Its severity bad been in-some degree mitigated , but that was all . THE BOMBAY NATIYK INFANTRY . In answer to an inquiry by . Mr . Diixwyx , Mr . Baillus read a despatch relative to the suppression of the mutiny and disarming of the 21 st lic-ijiment of Bombay Native Infantry at Kuirachoe in September , 1857 . "

      STATUTE CONSOLIDATION' . The Attornky-Genicral gave notice that , on Thursday , the 3 d of June , he should move for leave ( o bring in a bill to consolidate , the statute law of England relating to offences against the person , and six other consolidation measures , and in the event of their being read a first time , he should move that they should bo referred to a select committee 1 , with instructions to report upon the bills , and as to the practicability of combining amendment with consolidation of the law . On the . same day he . should movu for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the wills of British subjects domiciled abroad ; also a bill to enable persons to establish legitimacy and naturalization ' by the judgment of u court ; and also to extend the jurisdiction of the Divorce and Matrimonial Court . LETTKRH OV TUB GOVEUNOK-OK . NKK . U , OK INDIA TO

      'i'UK itOAUD OF CONTROL . Lord Palmkiwtojj requested the indulgence of the Mouse while , he made a . statement in reference to tlio letters of the Governor-General of India to the Board of Control , lie was prepared to rend to the House mi extract from the letter which had been so often alluded to —an extract from that part , relating to the Proclamation . It would bo necessary , however , dm of all , that ho should rend < i paragraph IVotn a previous letter . That letter

      was duted Alluhabad , February 20 th , and Lord Canning , after having stated his opinion us to the course that ought to be pursued in regard to the mutineer * , went on to suy that the talooUdar .-., landowner . - * , and ineir followers— . men , who have , not eaten our suit , who owe uh nothing , and who think thcm . s < : lv «»> , not unreasonably , wronged by us—are in a very iliflcrent category , and that lu > would proclaim for them a lnr # u measure of m <; ray and indulgence , after Luck now is ourn , out that , until thnt happens , or at least till Sir Colin

      Campbell ' s guns had opened on the city , any measure of mercy would be taken as sign of our weakness . In the letter of the 6 th of March , Lord Canning said : — "My letter by the last mail mentioned a Proclamation , which I intend to address to the Oude chiefs and landowners : it goes to-you officially by tiiis mail . I hoped that it would he accompanied by an explanatory despatch , showing why it Is in some respects so sweeping , and in others so indulgent , and defending by anticipation other points which are sure to b « attacked ; but I have had matters pressing Upon me during the last week which have prevented it . You will not , of course , print it till it is acted upon . " Those were the passages in Lord Canning ' s letters to his right hon . friend ; -but , knowing that Lord Canning was . also in correspondence with Lord Granvillc , he had thought it desirable to learn from Lord Granville whether he had

      received any < onnnunication touching this Proclamation , and , if so , whether he considered it of sufficient importance to communicate it to the House . Lord Granville ' s reply lie had received that day . He said : — " In reply to your questions respecting my correspondence with Lord Canning since the change of Ministry , 1 beg to inform you that the only letter of political importance which I received was one on the 19 th of April , of which I read the greater part to Lord Ellenborough on the 20 th of April . I did not read tlie whole of it for reasons which l-. have stated in public , and which there is to reason to repeat ; but nothing of real importance was omitted , and every word relating to the Proclamation was Tend , including the fact that

      General Outram had objected to its severity , and that Lord Canning had , in consequence , added a sentence to the Proclamation , whicli would make it clear that confiscation of proprietary right in the soil is not a general penalty , and that restitution is the reward for coming in . Lord Ellenborou ^ U has kindly referred to papers , and read to me a memorandum to the effect that the secret despatch was written on the 18 th , dated the 19 th , and sent on the 2 Gth of April , and has intimated that no explanation or announcement of explanation would have altered his view of writing and sending this secret despatch . I have submitted this letter to Lord ' -Ellenborough , who thinks that what I have written to you is quite correct . "

      Mr . Bright . asked whether the two letters were all that had been received from Lord Canning by either Mr . Vernon Smith or Lord ^ Palmerston concerning public affairs ' relating * to India . —Lord Palmerston replied that four-letters , had been received , of the respective dates of the 5 th ' and 20 th of February , and the Gth and , 17 th of . March . The Cosiaibx Law PR . ocicnun . rc Act ASiendmknt Bill was read a . second time ; and the Chancery Amendment Bill was read a third time , and passed .

      CONFISCATION' I . \ OUDE . Mr . Milner Gibsox presented a petition from an Indian gentleman , stating that his daughter was a landowner in Oude , and complaining that the confiscation of lands announced by the Proclamation of the Governor-General would aiVeet her interests , though she had never taken any part in the rebellion , or been concerned in any plot against her Mnjestj-.

      THE VOTE Of CISXSUUE . — -ADJOURNED DEBATE . The debate was Tesunved by Lord Gomuucii , who supported the original motion , reserved his opinion on the Proclamation until all the facts were before him , and strongly condemned Lord EllenborougVs despatch . —He was followed liy Air . Bright , , after stating that there had been no arrangement between him and the Secretary of the Indian Board with regard to the question he had asked , condemned the motion of Mr . Cardwoll as disingenuous , and as evading the real question . Lord Canning ' s Proclamation would produce , not a political , but a social revolution in Oude . The extinction of the proprietary right in the soil would apply to more than forty thousand large landholders . Our

      blade , wet and bloody , had broken in our grasp , leaving us humiliated and rebuked . ( " Oh , ok / " ) We stand humiliated and rebuked before the eyes of civilized Europe . But we have still another chance . If we refuse that , we may bring our country to ruin , and involve our name in everlasting disgrace . Mr . Collier accused "Mr . Bright of evading the real question , viz . whether the Government had not condemned Lord Canning without a hearing . If the House affirmed the policy of Lord EllenboroughV despatch , our

      Indian Empire would not be worth ten years' purchase . —Sir W . Eraser condemned the Proclamation , and recommended a policy in-India of leniency , firmness , and , above all , good faith . —Captain Vivian supported the original motion , and Mr . Ker Seymer opposed it . —Sir Arthur Hae . l , am : Elton condemned the policy of Lord Canning , and thought the despatch substantially right , though deficient in courtesy . —Lord Bury was averse to letting the people of India suppose that their ruler had been censured bv the Home Government . —Mr . G ilfk

      said lie should vote against the original motion , because he believed he should thereby vote in favour of the principles of justice and the rights of humanity . —Mr . Labouchere conceived that Parliament was bound to censure the conduct of the Government with respect to India , where they had disturbed the harmony and unity of action which ought to subsist between Ministers at home and those abroad . Sir James Graham said that , as his sympathies were all with the Liberal party , it gave him pain to be obliged to oppose Mr . Gardwell ' s motion ; but he must do so . He regarded the Proclamation as impolitic ; but the despatch censuring it was , no doubt , harsh and uw J ustifiable in its language . The publication of the despatch

      was an indiscretion ; but it was nothing more , and it had been atoned for by the resignation of Lord Elleaborough . Lord Canning had been introduced into public life by Lord Aberdeen , who is no fair-weather or lukewarm friend , and who regards Lord Canning with parental affection . If Lord Aberdeen thought that anything was due to the - . honour-of Lord Canning , he would willingly concur in censuring the conduct of the Government ; but from the moment Lord Ellenborough withdrew from the Cabinet , Lord Aberdeen , felt that all that was due to the honour of Lord Canning had been achieved ; and , when pressed by a friend of Lord Canning : —an old friend and colleague of his own—to concur in the vote of censure in the other House , Lord Aberdeen positively refused , and d eclared that he was not prepared to take part in a faction fight . The late

      Government had behaved unfairly to the present Government in withholding letters , " it had been stated that Sir James-Outram' . and . Sir John Lawrence objected to the Proclamation , and he had reason to know that General Mansfield , Chief of the Staff to the Commaiiderin-Chief in India , expressed his disapprobation of its policy . He believed , also , that General Franks was of opinion that the Proclamation was au unfortunate act . Considering the conflict of opinion between the military and the civil authorities , he feared that Lord Canning had lent his judgment to the influence of civilians . The policy of confiscation is injudicious , and the Proclamation appeared to promulgate a sentenee of condemnation against a whole people . The error of the Proclamation was in its essence ; that of the despatch only in its form .

      Sir Richard Buthell argued at great length in favour of the Proclamation ; asserted the joint responsibility of the whole Cabinet * , and protested against the people of India being told that they had been wronged and were under the dominion of a sovereign not entitled to their allegiance . —On the motion that the debate be adjourned , Lord Jons Kussell complained that an attack had been made upon his personal conduct by Mr . Bright , and stated that he should take an opportunity on the following day , when Mr . Bright was present , to make some reference to hU remarks . —After a brief desultory discussion , the debate was adjourned . The Chancellor ok tiik Exchicquer brought up further papers on . tlie subject of the debate . The House adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock .

      pecuniary dealings with Oude had already been such that he . besought tho House to pause before it filled up the cup of injury which had been presented to the people of that country . It" the question were between hurtiii " - the feelings of Lord Canning and sanctioning this Proclamation , hi « . should lmve no hesitation as to his choice . Mr . Bright then diverged into some sarcastic and biting remarks on the incongruity of Lord John Uussell , who had written letters lull of invective on several public occasions , objecting on that ground to Lord Ellenborougli ' s despatch ; on the intrigues of the Whigs to get back to power ; on the illiberal character of the Palmerston Ciovvriuncnt ( than which lie regarded the present

      Ministry as being ; more truly progres live ) ; and on the bad policy of subjecting the country to the turmoil of a general election just alter it had recovered from the greatest < : oinmei < : ijil crisis it had ever paused through . ll « was as auxiou * for a Liberal Government as any emu in that House ; but lie could not for the . life of him believe that , in tin : present position of aflnirw , a solid Liberal Administration could bo formed . He was terrified when ho loohed to the . future of India , and thought of the slaughterings that , au- going on ; for ho . had seen , in a letter from a missionary to a weekl y paper in London , ( lint il was estimated that ton thousand persona had been put to dealli l . y us , by linnguig alone , since th « rising commenced . We had tried the sword , and the

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      THE ORIENT . CHINA . Aitjch nil , it seems Yeh has not been degraded by the lCmperor . Tlie Special Chinese correspondent of the ' J'iincs , who has followed the ex-Connnissioncr to Calcutta , Hays ( writing on April iOth ) : — " The decree requires some consideration . It is much milder than was anticipated—much milder than the translation which went to Europe would le . ul us to think , for the translator lifts interpolated some , words of censure , not In tht Chinese . It does nut appear that , although Vch is removed from bin government , he is degraded from hi * rank , or from his post as G rtmil Councillor , lit ) read it . so ; for lie remarked , ' Henceforward then 1 have nothing to do with foreign luTair . s , ' ' Your Excellency must bo glad to have escaped from so troublesome a post V ' 1 am neither glad nor sorry . It was at the Emperor ' s command I took them up , and ul , his command 1 lay them down . ' Yeh has been tenderly dealt with He has evidently some great protecting interest in Pekin , and will nrobably become ugaiu a great Power

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      No . 426 , Mil 22 , 1858 . J THE LEADEB , 485 ' " . -

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 22, 1858, page 485, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2243/page/5/