The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-18 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE.

Mr. D. GRTFFITH —I wish to ask the sable lord at the
herd of the goverammt whether a deolmatios lean been
made is another pleas by the Foreign aserstary to the effect
that if the confre•es does net come I. a catchment I. •
few days active proosedisp will be takes by the &aids
government ; and, if made or sot, whether it is the ear
that that &Menne...Moo has hem come to. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALLILLILSTON.—No sea dolmans. has her

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Sir J. HAY moved. "That her Majesty's governmeat. '
in landing forces on the Gold Coast for the pupae of
waging war against the King of Aeloatee, without making
any sufficient provision for ptassry ag the health of the
troops to be employed there, have becureed • guns respon-
sibility, and that this house laments the want of foresight
which has caused se loge • loss of life." The bon. and
mllant gentlemen contended that no proper eareagemeate
had been made io the first instant:4ot the proper accommoda-
tion of British troops in such a climate ; and thee the Gladia-
tor, which wee to be sent to bring them home, was altogether
unsuitable for such a service. The question he bad to ask
the house was, Who was to blame? (Hear, hear,) When-
ever questions of this kind were pot then wee a kind of
hushed suggestion that a noble duke, whose illness they ell
regretted, was to be made the scapegoat of the ministry.
He thought he bed shown that the Colonial-Oboe was not
the department to blame. There was also a • that
Governor Pins ma to blame, but be bad only his
instruction. Colosial goveaas could not order officer.
from the Cape of Good Hope ; they could not order troops
from Jamaica, nor transports train England, nor mid they
retain transports in the colony. Therefore, the eoloaial
governor was not to blame foe this misadventure.
He nomad that the Colonial Minister had no power
to declare war. That was always a cabinet question. Surely,
before a disastrous expedition was determined upon, and
2,000 troops sestaway, there mast have been some consulta-
tion among her Majesty's ministers. It appeared to him that
the cabinet was respoadhle for this war. It aeared to
him also that the Warafilos was the special department re-
spoilable for the despatch of the troops, and oleo for the in-
sufficient commissariat. The Admiralty was also slightly
to blame for not redoing transports ; but the responsibility
of making the mutations for transports sad hospital ships
especially meted with the Wer.office. On the other
hand,the Ws:Department could Dot act without the Treasury,
because the expenditure of money was so loge that the
Treasury sad the War-office were the two departmental that
seemed to be especially respormitile. He thee repeated, who
was to blame. He trusted her Majesty's government
would find an &rower. Who was to blame? 'I he men who had
betrayed Denmark and truckled to Germany. (" Hear,
hear," and opposition chasm.). Who was **blame
men who had convulsed China and devastated Japan. Who
was to blame! The same non who, ten yeah ago, sent •
Entitle army to perish from cold and the want of supplies
in • Crimean winter, and who had now seat British troop
to perish of fever, thirst, hunger, and WILD, of shelter, on
the burning plains and fetid swamps of Central Africa.
(Hear, hear,) They clung to the trout bench with wonderful
tenacity, and they sent out other men to die with woodo.
fel omega. He entreated the house to lay the blame
where it was deserved. He prayed of them—the blood of
their brothers cried oat to them from the earth—to fix the
blame on those to whom is should attach, and, so far as it
was in his power, he would lay it at the door of her Ma-
jesty's (mammon.. (Chem.) The bon. and gallant pa-
Raman concluded by moving the following resolution :
" That her Majesty's government, in Mediae fumes on the
Gold Coast, for the purpose of wager war against the
Rise of Atlantan, without making any aufticisat provision
for preserving the health of the troops to be employed
there, have incurred • grave responsibility, and that this
boom laments the want of foresight which her caused so
large a lees of life."
The Marquis of ILLETLNOTON described the step that
had been taken to mei& for the comfort and gaiety of
the men, and contended that the staff of medical officers,
and the supply of medical and hospital noels, were amply
sufficient for • fore) of 1,400 men. He had read a great
many despatches from the governor at the station, and from
the officer cone:audio' the troops, and be could not find
that any complaint bad been made to bear out the charges
brought forward by Sir J. Hay.
Mr. H. SEYMOUR considered the statement of Lord
Harlington moat ansatidectory, as his official infor-
matics was totally 41100011104 Di with the authentic
intelligence coaveyed by the last mail. He did not look
epee this qualities as at all a party one, but he did not feel
'idled upon simply became he was a liberal member to sup-
port her Majesty's Moisten through thick and thin, whether
they were right or wrong. He saw no reason why he should
not adopt the words of On motion ; and he could not con.
mire why it should be oonsiderel as imputing a general
couture upon her Majoty'sgovuument (Hear.)
Mr. B. COCHRANE mad nothing bad struck him with
more surprise in the speech of the noble =nods than the
statement that when them troops wan sent out to Cape
Coast Castle there was no intention of carrying on a war.
(Hear, hear.) Why, thee, if that were so, was this number
of men sent there at all ! The government must have known
what the mortality usually was, and they were responsible
for needing out this large expedition ander such eircnm.
stenos', and without any provision whatever for their
gaiety. The people of Adiantee were of all those
savage countries the meet warlike and murex people, and
we bad done nothing to conciliate but everything to
offend them. Nothing bad met occurred which had struck
the country. with so mush pain as that such • war as this
should have been canted on without phaseout knowing
anything about it, tall me morning they all heard with
surprise, regret, and indigestion the @scam of Ids that bad
taken place upon this horriblitecast. He hoped that the motion
of his hon. and gallant fried would be carried, and that it
would be regarded as a protest smitten the tater-
Teatime and meddling which were meettatly going on in
the affair@ of other countries. (Hear, hear.) At any rate
he trusted that it would be a lesson to the government, ad
that for the future they would see those men who were
ready to menace their lives for their country provided for
in a way suitable to the dignity of the nation to which they
belonged. (Hear. ham)
Loud A. CHURCHILL exposed • general approval of
the mosses adopted for the comfort sad momatties of the
troops, which be considered were all that were required by
the areumetanose of the case.
Mr. LIDDELL said he should vote for the motion not as
a party question, for he believed the lives of our soldiers
were se dear to one side of the house as to the other, bat
became be was of opinion that their lives had bees Non-
Goad by • neglect of those comma procaine's* which the
War Office wen bad to have made.
Mr. FORTESCUE admitted that them bad been a
deplorable lees of life, and there always bad been in these
African settlements ; but be was disposed to think that
there was as great a lose when the troops ware in • state of
inaction as when they were engaged in hostilities. The
mortality in this case was immensely exaggerated, sad little
mare than might be expected under ordinary circumataoces.
The expedition sestina the Aahantess had been so successful
that it would no doubt prevent a repetition of their in-
cursions, and the Duke of Newoutle only did his duty when
h. gave permission to the Governor of the Gold Coast to
dated the territories for whose safety the British 0101/11
was resposeible.
Sir J. PAKINGTON had nothing to my on the policy of
the Ashanate war, bat required as explanation of the de-
lay that had takes phtee fulfilliag the pledge of Mr. Card.
well on the 20th of sat month, that transports should be
immediately @eat, and the troops at Cape Comet Gale ro
deed to • number that might be accommodated with the
mama ordinarily available on the Gold Coast, dee regard
being had to their health and coinfort.
Lord C. PAGET explaieed that on the 27th of May the
Admiralty were furnished with the number of troops
that were to be removed from the Gold Coot, and the fol-
lowing day advertised for transport. ; but no steamer ten.
dined and the first vessel that could be taken up was a
floe @hip of 1,400 tom, which the brokers stated the work-
men were espied epos night and day. There was no
delay, therefore, is hiring • transport after it had been
determieed to withdraw the troops. As to the Glediator,
she was eminently adapted for • troop ship, and she would
wail the day for Cape Coast Castle. He claimed for the
Admiralty that there had bow no negligee* or Cathie*a
to duty on their part

Gtheral PEEL said his object warn to do that which them
papers certainly did not do, and which had not ben
attempted is any of the speeches up to that point—be
would endeavour to extract from the government who it
wm upon whom the reepoissibility meted. (Chan.) Was
it to be the old story over again ? Were thew thing to be
dose sod sobody to be respousiblie ? The speech of the
noble marquis had not removed from his mired the impres-
sion that there had been the grossest neglect, and that
there had been io a minor degree • ropetitioo of all that had
taken place in the Crimes. (Cheers.) There was probably
no man is that house who was so much occupied in the
iequiry respecting the don tea of the Russian war as le hod
been. He believed that if he was landed blued/old at Belaklava
he could find his way to all the loather of which they
had beard so much. He solemnly declared that opus thine ,
gaspers there was evidence of quite as much neglect as them
hd ben is the Crimea. (Cheese) He wished to know
where the responsibility of the Coloahl.ollice waded, and
that of the War.offlos began ? He opposed that the Colo-
aid Secremey would not be allowed to involve the country
Ina war of sash magnitude as to require 2,000 of ler
Majesty's troops and 50,000 natives without con-
sulting his oollemase. Having obtained their emotion the
next thing would be to communicate with the Secretary of
State for War • and from that moment he Woo hesitation
I. clockwise that the whole responsibility rooted upon the
ministers, not oaly for the conduct of the war, but for the
misty and security of the troops. (Her, hear.) As to the
troops taken out by the Tamer, le (ameral Peel) solemnly
declared that if he had bees Secretary of State for
War DO °overact Pine or Would Secretary should
have induced him to !wed hoops at Cape Coast
Castle just at the imettneoceeneal of the inlay
mama. (Cheers) What he thought ought to be dose
was, that a epaulettes should be moved for to inquire into
the whole Oise, sad he did not think that • man would be
feud is that home that would sot vote for such • com-
mittee. He would have every paper, every despatch, every
minute, every oammtinicatlon between the War-odlos, the
Coloaial-oince, the Hone Guards, ad the Admiralty, pm-
dieted ; sod then they would know when this veqabhicea
was made for troops, sad when this vessel
was eiders& by the goverment. The sable

Mr. CORRY was of oplmon that the explanatiou offered
en behalf of the Ad had not mended the matter.
After some observations from Mr. Dams against, and
from Sir J. EtelastrrOrin in favour of the motion,
Lord PALMERSTON said—We have heard it stated in
the moms of this debate more than coos that this is not a
party question. (Ironical &sere and cries of " Hear, hear.")
Now, I should like to know what name you are to give to
• motion which imputes censure to the government. The
word censure has been withdrawn from the resolution,
bat the censure has not been withdrawn from
the spirit and meaning of it. (Cheers and counter
cheers.) It is no doubt • vote of censure upon the severe.
meat generally. The right boo. and gallant *Moor who
spoke from the other aide (General Peel), indeed, com-
plained that he was anxious to censure somebody, but did
not know whom to censure. (Laughter.) He said he wanted
to know upon whom he could justly throw the blame
which he thought belonged to some out I contend that
the statements which have been made by my noble and
right hon. friends in the course of this debate show com-
Oetely and conclusively that at all events the assertion
contained in the resolution, namely, that the government
dad not adequately provide for the comfort and health of
the troops landed for the purpose of carrying on a war
against the King of Asbantee, is utterly at variance with
the truth. It has been over and over again stated, and
proved by documents, that every precaution was taken
to provide the troops with shelter whoa theyarrived—(bear,
bowl—sod that they did obtain shelter, notwithstanding
tie accident which deprived them of the use of those build-
ings upon which we might have reckoned—that in the course
of a few days they were all placed in booms calculated to
protect them against the inclemency of the weather. With
respect to the supplies of food, my right boa. friend has
quoted from documents which prove that the supplies
of meat and biscuit to the troops were ample, that
the medical arrangements were as good as possible—(" Oh,
oh," sad " hear, hear ")—ad that every effort was made to
supply the troop. with distilled water. The right hon.
barn the member for Droitwich stated that the machine
had failed when it got there ; he forgot that it had
been stated by my right hon. friend that instead
of supplying • very large quantity it supplied
500 galloon of water per day. Yet the right boo.
baronet said it broke down, and was of no use whatever.
net WS/I• specimen of the broad and groundless assertions
made in the course of the discussion. It is very easy to con.
duet a debate when you repeat usertiona which are die-
proved by every member who speaks against you, and when
you go on repenting that which is not correct, and then lay
you have proved your ease—a case which has been broken
' down and shattered. (Ministerial cheers.) Well, sir, the
resolution calls upon the house to say it laments the want of
foresight on the pert of the government. Sir, we are ready
to join in an expression of regret at the loss of life which
has occurred, and if thebon. and gallant oiliest had moved a
resolution saying that this house lamented the loss of life that
had been oomeioned, not by • war against the King of
Ashantee, but in preparation for • war ; and expressing •
hops that in future matters might be so arranged—(load
ironical cheers and,oounter cheers, amid which the remainder
of the sentence was lost). That would not have suited the
mos. But we cannot agree, and I hope the house will not
wren in a resolution founded in untruth—Orissa of " Oh,
oh," and " Hear, hear")--and supported by assertions which
have been proved to be unfounded. The right boa. baronet
the member for Droitwich has well said that the motion now
before the house does not) involve a question of the policy of
• war with the King of Athantes. It was very wise
in him to say so, for if war had actually taken place it
would have originated in the ditty devolving spec the Be i-
tfah government to protect certain native tribes. But who
was it that first established that protection! It was not
those who sit uppoons these benches, but the government of
Lord Derby. (Ministerial cheers.) That principle was fol-
lowed up by successive governments, and by the right hoe.
baronet himself. If Reeked formally takes tribes under her
protection, and if those tribes are attacked by a foreign
enemy, the honour of the country requires that they should
be defended. It is easy to say that the goverear
'build have given up the two refugee zeroes who fled
to him for protection. Sir, lam sore there is notrata Mtn ia
the house who would not contend that the governor
would not have been justified in giving up these mita to im-
mediate death. Well, that was the cause of the attack el
the King of Ashantee nom the protected tribes, and that
attack led, very naturally and very necessarily, to some
demonstration in their favour. (Hear, hear.) It is said
that we ought to have foreseen that the rainy season would
have commenced two months earlier than usual—that, In
short, we ought to have known things that could
sot have been knows, and which were guarded against by
the precautions taken. But I contend that statement
of the losses unfortunately sustained has been greatly es-
maraud. That has been proved by the Coder Secretary
of State for War, and the returns show that casualties
wholly unconnected with the cocurrences have bees mixed
up with them. I repeat that it was wise to have abstained
from attempts to condemn the policy of protecting these
tribes, because that policy is theirs sod not ours—that is to
say, they established it, and ere, therefore, precluded from
that was the real cause of losses which
we greatly but which have been greatly exaggerated.
Thee I say I the boom will not be carried away by the
unsupported assertions which have been made. (" Oh,
oh," and cheers.) As to want al forethought and proper
precaution, they have been told, and it has been
proved, that every precaution was takes, and every acreage.
meat made that it was possible to make—that in point el
fact the loss is greatly exaggerated, and that the operations
have not been attended with more disaster than might,
under the cirenmetaaoss, have been expected. The right
bon. baronet said that be had beta • member of the
Crimean commiasion, sad that this expedition reminded
him of those disaster. (No, no.) I beg pardon. It was
the right hoe. awl gallant gentleman who said so, It
might have been pardonable from the right hon. baronet,
es
he is only • yeoman, but it is uspardonalle
en the part of • geaeral who ought to know what military
arrimpamoote should be. ("Oh, oh," and timers.) Well,
then, I can only say that this is undoubtedly • censure upon
the government. (Opposition cheers.) The right ben.
gentleman, the member for Buckingham, is now ready, like
a greyhound io the leash, and anxious to start on his legs„
rsadyd to support the motion. (Ironical cheers.) Bat 1
trust sir, this hones will take • more serious view of this
matter. (Cheers and counter cheers.) No doubt these
questions involve cossiderations of a most merlons character.
(Opposition cheers.) It is • very embamuniog position for
• government to be in, when they find that by a
long course dl policy the country has bees embarked
is • partiaalar course of action which cannot
be adequately followed up without great sacrifice of life.
That is a very painful position. All that any government
can be required to do under those circumstances is to sot
according to the best of their judgment in following out •
line of policy in which to • certain degree the honour and
character of the country are involved, to take every tomes
in their power to render the enforcement of their *blies.
lions as little attended as possible with unnecessary sacri.
firs of life. (Cheers.) It was thought that the best
troops to employ in this service were those troops of
colour whom we had in the West Indies. (Hear, beat.) It
has turned oat unfortunately that, though born in the
West Indies, they have lost that immunity which be-
longs to their race in respect to the effect
of the African climate, and that they suffer
as much as Englishmen would do snider the
same circurattesoes. It was the ditty of the gov?rnmeat,

sad I coutead that that duty has beim perforined, to Saks
every precaution which, macally, or as respeele oriaait
sariat, or in regard to housing and other arrangements, they
could take in order to Protect the troops that were seat there.
though they came from tropical climates. And man par-
ticularly we felt it to be our duty to take thou presactious,
because although the men might he exported to power that
immunity which their colour would give them from the st-
ream of the Atrium climate, the officers were Europeans sad
could not be atpected to be equally protected. (Burt
bear.) Bat I Goateed that say aaa who will mad
these papers, say MA who has beamed to this debate,
most me, sad if as impartial man most aoknowled"
that there is nothing which the government could have
dose that they have failed to do. (" Oh, oh," sad cheers.)
Oh, I dos% expect hon. geotlemea opposite to agree with
that. (" Oh, cob; end cheers.) I am net addressing ray-
nu to boa. gentleman who Gouts hen with
a foregoes ouclusios. (Cheers.) I appeal to the
body of the hose.—(cheers}—sad I say that they
right to make allowsnees for the position el a
goverameak who haying to ponce a Ilse of policy trued
out by those who west before theta for a hug coons of
{Mae, finding that that policy imposed a duty which soubl
au he performed without iocurriag great risk sad surds,
el life, still felt that the honour of the counry is involved,
sad that it wastheir duty to mate as Wart to farm out
that lime of policy. (Cheers.) I am glad to dad that is this
cue that effort his not bees so fatal to Wee who were eas-
I *mod in carrying It Leto eateastios on has hum
tad by was sad so might bare tees hand by
) I ma only au I trust this house will
sett eiss=7;lledsitbarmie joipassi• iv Yi naMsr—

Mr. DISRAPLI—The noble lord mays that he has made •
slip of the toogue—(opposition cheers}—but he is in error in
his subsequent statement also. The noble lord has recalled
his first statement that it wee the whey of Lord Derby's
government. He now says that it was the policy of •
government in which Lord Derby was Secretary of Stets.
I presume the noble lord refers to the government of Sir
B. Peel in 184 L Calms lam entirely misinformed end
have mistaken what I read, the protection of the Puttee
tribes, and of ell thaw tribes who have engaged our
I attention to-night, was placed under this country at the
I cooclusion of a war in 1826, when the Caps Coast settle-
ment was established. (Cheers.) When the noble lord,
therefor*, speaks of bold and unfounded assertions he
ought !to have informed himself of the events which hap-
honed his own official experience—he ought to look at
me, he ought not to make statements which wen utterly
unfounded, or addressed the home under the cireumetubies
in which he address(' them, and with • ocefidenes that was
so characteristic of him. (Cheers.) In that style of parhainsa-
' tary language which distinguishes the noble lord, belays that
I the rawhide's is founded on an untruth. The noble lord did
not prove that assertion. The language of the resolution is
that sufficient provision was sot made to the health
of the troops employed in this service. W ill any one =de-
tain that there was sufiloisat preemies made for maintaining
the health of the troops ? (Hear, hear.) The resolution then
speaks of the want of foresight which caused this Ices of
life. Will any one maintain that there was no want
of foresight' There was sufficient provides made to
I protium disaster, and sufficient foresight to see
that calamity would be accomplished. (Hear, bear.)
The somewhat blustering statement of the noble
lord must end is the refutation of the very position he has
endeavoured to take. It has been said that we on this lids
took are to declare that this was no party question. I have'
not remarked that expression particularly from this side of
the house. Ido not know that I have heard it except from
the colleague of the noble lord who made that peculiar
speech to-eight, from which it would appear that be was
speaking shout what he did not know. (Cheers.) But if
great dimmers have occurred in the conduct of an expedi-
tion, is it not the duty of the opposition to call
the attendee of parliament to it. (Hear, hear.) Lit not in
accordance with the very spirit of coratitutiond govern-
ment to do so? (Hear.) Lit not our duty to ask what is the
cause of public disader, and who are responsible for results
that hays filled the country with mourning! I should he
'Ahmed of ourselves if each incidents were weed un-
noticed. (Hear, hair.) But if the noble lord thinks that
any concerted scheme was got op to make a trial of
strength, be speaks with ins °curate information
on the subject. (Hear, hear.) Nothing was more natural
than that my hon. and gallant friend should have called
attention to this subject. (Hear, beer.) He drew the re-
solution himself. Only one word was omitted,
which mune friend told my honourable and gallant
friend was not • parliamentary phrase. I think it is ex-
pedient and desirable to follow the preoedeats of Lepage
on these occasions, by following which we generally manage
to conduct affairs without any unnecessary acerbity
of expression. (Hear.) But my hon. and gallant friend
did not wish to conceal that his object was to
peas • censure on the adminstration, which is either guilty
or not guilty. (Hear, hear.) I maintain that the House of
Commons could not pus over this occurresce unnoticed.
It is parliamentary and constitutional to ask the opinion of
the House of Commons on such • question. I have beard
no answer to the statements which have base made, and I
maintain that the tone of the prime minister i• quite an-
worthy of the subject. (Cheers.)

Lord PALMERSTON—What I stated in reference to
Lord Derby was, that the protectorate was rammed in 1842,
when Sir EL Peel was prima Milaildo4C and Lord Darby was a
member el his government.

Mr. DiSRARr I—Yes ; bat it wu monied on the report
of a committee al the Hoene of Commas zsoommending the
resumption. (Hew, hear.)
The bones then divided, the numbers were—
For the erigMel motion 233
For the amendment

Majority for the goverament......... 7
As soon as the voting paper was taken by Mr. Brand,
the result of tbe division, being revealed before the aam•
ben wen anuouoced,twas greeted 'nth:prolonged cheering
by the ministaialista.
After the announcement of the camben the chewing wan
taken up by the opposition, and sonliaued for many seconds
from both sites of the boom