The Press. — London, England, 1858-05-22 00:00:00

498 delay all Indian legislation till next year, and to delay all discussion on the subject of Reform until the year after? But, above all, are they willing to take upon themselves the responsibility which will attach to them if they avow the policy of that proclamation? You are asked upon this question to overturn the Govern ment. Why, the Government policy on this question was cheered on this side when it was first announced. It is a policy of mercy—a policy of conciliation. But the blunder ing leaders of party on this side would lead us, contrary to all our associations and principles, to support an opposite policy. I am willing to avow that I am in favour of justice and conciliation—justice and the law of kindness. Justice and mercy are the prime attributes of that perfection which we call Deity ; but all men, everywhere, comprehend them. There is no speech nor language in which their voice is not heard ; and they do not appeal in vain to the docile and intelligent Millions of India. You have to choose. You have tried the sword, and it now lies broken in your grasp, and you now stand humbled and rebuked before the eye of civilized Europe. You may have another chance; you may have by possibility another opportunity of governing India. If you have, I beseech you to make the best use of it. Do not let us pursue a policy which many men in India and some in England have advocated, which you will hereafter have to regret, which can only end in something approaching to ruin, and which must, if it be successful, involve our /lame and nation in an ever lasting disgrace. Mr. COLLIER observed that Mr. Bright, whose opinions upon subjects connected with peace and war were peculiar, had evaded the question before the house, which was whether the Government had not condemned Lord Canning without a hearing, and not for what he had done, but for what he had not done, since, up to that moment, it was not known what proclamation had been issued by hint. He contended that the despatch was intended to wound and insult Lord Canning, and that, if the Govern ment were not answerable for its publication, they must abide by the writing of it, although it stigma tized the annexation of Oude as an act of treachery. If the house affirmed the policy of the despatch our Indian empire would not, in his opinion, bo worth ten years' purchase. Sir W. FRASER pointed out the effect which con fiscation must work upon people who, like those o India, were so passionately attached to the trans mission of real property to their heirs. He recom mended a policy in India of len:ency, firmness, and, above all, good faith. Captain VIVIAN supporteil the original motion, con sideriog that the Government had been guilty of indiscretion, which rendered them unworthy of con fidence. Mr. K. SEYMER regretted that a question of Indian policy should be made, as he said, in both Houses of Parliament the occasion of a party attack upon the Government. He asked independent Liberal mem. hers whether they approved the policy of confisca tion ; if not, let them place themselves in the posi tion of her Majesty's Ministers at the time they received Lord CanLing's proclamation. He should vote against the resolution. Sir A. ELTON said, in his opinion, the simple cities. tion was whether the proclamation was substantially wrong and the despatch substantially right. He grounded his objection to the proclamation upon the last two paragraphs, which authorized, he said, a wholesale appropriation of people's rights. The despatch, though deficient in courtesy, was, be thought, substantially right. Lord BURY said the question was whether the pro clamation would do more harm in India than the publication of the despatch. In his opinion the procla mation would do less harm than allowing the people of India to suppose that their Government was un supported at home. Mr. GILPIN said he should argue the motion upon its merits, as far as he could find any in it. The house was called upon to pronounce a decided opi nion upon a document emanating from the Board of Control, and carefully to refrain from expressing any opinion upon the document which gave rise to it. By so doing the house would put itself in a most absurd position. When he considered how it happened that Lord Canning had come to issue a proclamation so unjust and immoral, and reflected upon the howl of execration that had reached him from the residents of British India because of his merciful tendencies, he believed that this influence had been brought to bear upon him to such an extent as to compel him to do what his sober judgment disapproved. He should vote against the original motion, because he believed he was thereby voting in favour of ti e prin ciples of justice and the rights of humanity. Mr. LABOUCHEPE protested against the impute. tion of party motives in this discussion, declaring that, if he knew his own feelings in voting for the motion, he should give as conscientious a vote as he ever gave. lie held the Government justly and deeply censurable for the state of affairs in India, for disturbing the harmony and unity of action which ought to subsist between the Government at home and that abroad. He considered this state of things to be traceeble directly to the conduct of the Go- THE PRESS, MAY 22, 1858. vemment, and that Parliament was bound to express its opinion of that conduct. Sir JAMES GRAHAM, after alluding to his own infirm health, which would have prevented his taking any part in the present discussion, but for the strong sense he entertained of the impolicy of the procla mation, declared that all his sympathies were enlisted on the side of the Liberal party. In the present case, however, he could not vote for the motion brought forward by the Opposition. Lord Canning Lad acted most judiciously, at all events up to the moment of issuing his proclamation, and deserved to be supported by the Government and the Legisla ture at home. The terms of the despatch were, he thought, harsh, but, as against the Governor-Gene ral, the offence was purged by the resignation of Lord Ellenborough, and the Earl of Aberdeen, by whom Lord Canning had been introduced into public life, concurring i❑ this view, had subsequently re fused to co-operate in any vote of censure upon the Cabinet as a whole. Neither for the despatch itself, nor its publication, could any remaining member of the Government be charged with a worse offence than simple indiscretion. To punish the whole Adminis tration, under such circumstances, would be to strain the principle of conjoint liability almost to the point of absurdity. Adverting to the proclamation, he maintained that it was both impolitic in substance and adverse to the spirit of the instructions sent out by Ministers at home several months since. The manifesto was directly blamed by Sir J. Outram, Sir .T. Lawrence, and other high authorities on the spot. It had been alleged that the document did not announce confiscation in the ordinary meaning of the word; but the question was, how it would be understood in India, and all the journals from that country gave the widest acceptation to the term of " proprietary rights." No former conqueror of Hin dostan bad ever attempted to confiscate the property of individuals. The precedent set by Lord Canning in this respect was most dangerous and ill-omened. The despatch in reference to it could not be deemed unjustly severe. It did not recall Lord Canning, and contained no other order than an injunction to miti gate his confiscatory edict when carrying it into effect. He thought the proclamation substantially wrong, and the despatch substantially right. In its effect upon parties in this country he could not concur in a vote which would replace in power a Government who were ejected from office only three months since for a gross fault of policy. Sir R. BETHEL", amid much interruption, made a vehement assault upon the Treasury bench, re proaching the present Government with want of gratitude for assistance rendered and forbearance shown by their opponents. The despatch, he said, consisted of two parts, one relating to the proclama Lion of Lord Canning, the other relating to the Im perial title to the kingdom of Oude. The latter part charged the Imperial Government with injustice and robbery, and it contained passages which a few years ago would have afforded matter for the impeachment of its authors. Of this despatch the language must, he contended, be held to be that of the united Cabinet, and the publication of the document was not the sole unauthorized act of Lord Ellenborough, but the deliberate and well-considered act of the Government at large ; and the consequence was that, as they were the accomplices of Lord Ellenborough, they should share his fate. He contended that the argument of the Solicitor. General against the proclamation was entirely beside the admitted facts of the case. Lord Canning was bound to have regard to the rights of dominion of his Sovereign, and to treat Oude upon the principles of public law applicable to a state of rebellion, however those principles might be ino. d,?.rated in practice. He could, therefore, be said, have issued no other proclamation consistent with his duty to maintain inviolate the rights of his Sovereign. When a policy of mercy was spoken of, such a policy should be one that would bring the country most, speedily into a state of peace and tran quillity ; but this result would not be obtained by telling the people that they had been wronged, and that they were under the dominion of a Sovereign not entitled to their allegiance. On the motion that the debate be adjourned, Lord J. RUSSELL complained that an attack bad been made upon his personal conduct by Mr. Bright, and stated that he should take an opportunity, when Mr. Bright was present, to make some reference to his remarks. After some discussion, the debate was adjourned. The CHANCELLoa of the EXCHEQUER br,:ught up further papers on the subject of the debate. The remaining business having been disposed of, the house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock. Mn. II tir. has retired from the contest at Limerick ; Mr. Spaight will therefore be returned without oppo sition. Mr. Ball was the I'almerstonian candidate. Mr. Spaight is, we believe, a Liberal Conservative, and a probable supporter of Lord Derby. INDIA. The following telegram, dated Malta, was received at the East India House on Saturday, May 15, 7.37 p.m.:— TO MR. J. D. DICKINSON, EAST INDIA ROUSE, LONDON. Sir 11. Rose's alvance on Calpee has been dela3ed by the fear that the Kotah rebels will fall on Jhansi. Order s have been issued to General Roberta to advance to Kota)), to cooperate with Sir H. Rose. This military movement is reported since the capture of Kotah. The Rajah is on trial before a commission for not having saved Major Buren and his suns from being murdered. The Sikh (qy.) force, under Major Evans, after an obstinate battle of some hours, inflicted a severe defeat on a large body of lihoels and Mekrivee (qy.) in the Pantpoora Hills on April 11. Sixty men and 400 women were captured. ' Our 1089 was severe, seventyone killed and wounded; among the latter, five officers —Captain Birch, Lieut. liaeovi, Lieut. Blair, Lieut. Atkins, sal Lieut. Paureut (qy.). GUZ E RAT. The disarming of the Myhee Caunta is in progress, No new disturbances are reported iu the Southern Mail ratta country. The rebel Dessayecs are said to have entered the Sawunt Warre country with a few followers. The outbreak, it is hoped, is nearly suppressed. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. Bombay Castle, April 24, 18.58. _ G. MONTANARO. Malta, May 15,18 a. (Supplement to Mr. Secretary Eilmonstnne's Message from Allalimbed, dated April 10.) AZIMGHUR. On 15th April Sir E. Lugard relieved Azimghur. The enemy retreated with regularity, but lost three gone and a great number of men. In the pursuit, Mr. Venal)les, Civil Service (iv.), and Lieutenant Hamilton were wounded. Sir E. Lugard is pursuing the enemy to the Gogra. C LPE E. It is thought the enemy will make a stand at Cstpee. The rebel Rajah of Mynpooree has arrived at Oursu (Sirsa ?) with some forces. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. Bombay Castle, 24th April, 16A. Malta, 15th May, 1638. G. hIONTANAIIO. By the arrival of the Bombay mail our intelli gence comes down to the 2lth of Aptil. The Lucknow letter of the Times correspondent has mysteriously miscarried. But we learn that the Rohilcund campaign has begun, and that troops are moving in the direction of Bareilly, now the head. quarters of the rebels. Colonel Milman has been relieved at Azimghur by Sir Edward Lugard. On the 27th of March he made a sortie, which was repulsed with the loss of Captain Bedford, of the 37th. In the meantime Lord Mark Kerr bad set out to relieve them from Benares, with a wing of the 13th Light Infantry, a troop of the Bays, and two 6.pounder guns, escorting a convoy of more than :300 waggons. Leaving Benares on the 2nd of this month, Lord Mark arrived on the sth within ten miles of Azimghur, when be found that his further advance would be disputed on the following day. In his front lay a body of rebels, estimated at upwards of 3,000 strong, composed mainly of muti neers of the old Dinapore regiments-Ith, Bth, and 40th, commanded by a eubadar of the last-named corps. They were skilfully disposed along the high banks of the road and in the groves that bordered it, and in particular held a small village with such determination that ten hours' hard fighting was required to capture it. The whole of the little column was hotly engaged, the baggage guard no less than the rest, the long string of waggons tempting the enemy's attack. In reinforcing the rear guard, and driving off the enemy at the point of the bayonet, Captain Wilson Jones, of the 13th,. fell mortally wounded. In all, some forty. t h r ee 01 the force were struck, seven fatally, but the enemy' s dead lay thickly over the ground, at the village especially, and he drew off in all directions, so that by three o'clock in the afternoon the conyconv oy, scarcely , damaged, entered the intrenchnient. Nine days later came Lugard, and the siege was at au end. The Times correspondent writes: — You are already aware that Ketah was stormed by the force under General Roberts on the :30th of March. Eight days before the army had arrived upon the bank of the Uhuinbul, opposite to the city, and encamped out amigo tit the guns, which were immediately brought to bear upon them from the walls. Two batteries were thrown up to answer the ene:ny's fire, but the assault, as you are aware, was delivered front the southern quvrter of the town, which was in the hands of the loyal ltajah. The river was crossed by a ferry to a point under the walls of the palace ; guns were taken across aid mounted upon the wall that separates the quarter held by the Rajah from the rest of the town, and their tire directed down the various streets — a work of great danger, from the number and skill of the enemy's matchlockmen. At noun on the 20th three columns, each ()I WO men, of the 72nd Highlanders, 97104 bard, and tombs) , IOU; and 14th Native IntantrY, euttlred g